Mastodawn

#Trump's plans to gut #VOA get boost from appeals court

A federal appeals court on Thurs dashed the hopes of #journalists & #FreePress advocacy groups seeking to stave off the near-total dismantlement of #VoiceOfAmerica by the Trump admin.

The admin, led by snr adviser [& crackpot] #KariLake, has iced almost the entire workforce.

#law #SeparationOfPowers #journalism #FirstAmendment #censorship #dictatorship #tyranny #AmericanAutocracy
https://www.npr.org/2025/05/22/nx-s1-5407923/voa-voice-of-america-appeals-court-kari-lake-trump

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Nonilex

The admin laid off hundreds of contract employees & put permanent workers on indefinite leave, citing a Mar 14 #ExecutiveOrder from #Trump.

Last month, US Dist Court Snr Judge Royce C. Lamberth ordered #KariLake & #VoiceOfAmerica's federal parent, the #USAGM, to bring back workers & get the network up & running, as #Congress intended through #law. He also ruled that the admin had to restore #RadioFreeAsia & #MiddleEastBroadcastingNetworks, calling their dismemberment "arbitrary & capricious."

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Nonilex 1d ago

"Not only is there an absence of 'reasoned analysis' from the defendants; there is an absence of any analysis whatsoever," Lamberth wrote.

Earlier this month, by a 2-to-1 margin, an appeals court panel temporarily froze Lamberth's ruling, as it takes time to consider the full merits of the case. It has not yet issued a decision on the full case.

#Trump #VoiceOfAmerica #law #SeparationOfPowers #journalism #FirstAmendment #censorship #dictatorship #tyranny #AmericanAutocracy

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Nonilex 1d ago

In the meantime, however, #KariLake has plunged back into slashing the ranks of the workforce, w/hundreds of contract employees let go for a second time over the past weekend. The #VoiceOfAmerica website hasn't posted new stories in >2 months.

On Thurs, the full appellate court made clear it would not intervene, at least for now.

#Trump #VOA #law #SeparationOfPowers #journalism #FirstAmendment #censorship #dictatorship #tyranny #AmericanAutocracy

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Nonilex 1d ago

"We are devastated & concerned that this ruling might lead to further adverse reactions from the administration," Patsy Widakuswara, the lead plaintiff & White House bureau chief for #VoiceOfAmerica tells NPR. "But our day in court is not over yet, & we are committed to fighting until we can return to our congressionally mandated right to broadcast factual, balanced, & comprehensive news."

#Trump #VOA #law #SeparationOfPowers #journalism #FirstAmendment #dictatorship #tyranny #AmericanAutocracy