OnPolitics Today: No, Trump can't take NBC's broadcast licenses
President Trump on Wednesday called the freedom of the press, guaranteed by the Constitution's First Amendment, "disgusting," lamenting that "the press is able to write whatever they want to write."
Trump fumed about NBC News on Twitter that morning over a report that he requested to up America's nuclear arsenal by nearly tenfold. When, he asked, "is it appropriate to challenge their license?"
Except, as Axios notes, NBC's main network doesn't have a government license — individual local stations do. And, on top of that, the Federal Communications Commission doesn't answer to Trump, and its chairman, Ajit Pai, is industry-friendly, the site noted.
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Americans to Trump: Uh, we're worried
A Paste BN/Suffolk University poll of 1,000 voters found that Americans overwhelmingly disagree with Trump on issues from North Korea to his anti-NFL criticism of recent weeks.
"He's not doing his job the way he's supposed to do," said Robert Pounds, 58, of Aiken, S.C., who voted for Trump last year and wants him to "get health care figured out."
Sixty-one percent said Trump should use diplomacy, not military might, to curtail North Korea's nuclear threat. Even more, 69%, are against pre-emptive military strikes. Two-thirds said his call to fire protesting NFL players was inappropriate. See the full poll here.
Bannon, Democrats and conservatives take aim at GOP establishment
Former Trump strategist Steve Bannon wants to take down Paul Ryan and Democrats will lend a hand: Disdain for the GOP establishment unites middle America's voters, their polling shows, and few embody that establishment like Ryan, the House speaker. While Dems launch an ad campaign aimed at Ryan ahead of 2018, Bannon is digging up dirt on Republican lawmakers up for re-election next year. Meanwhile, ultra-conservative leaders are calling for Senate leader Mitch McConnell to resign.
Elsewhere in politics:
- Dems call Trump 'openly hostile' to LGBTQ on Coming Out Day
- What Trump's not telling you: Some will pay more in taxes
- Trump nominates Chief of Staff's deputy to lead Homeland Security
- As Trump seethes at the NFL, Congress plays game with NFL alumni