Catherine Rampell, a columnist for the Washington Post, has recently criticized the Trump administration for what she terms "government censorship." This comes after Rampell previously advocated for social media companies to suppress alleged "misinformation," particularly surrounding COVID-19. Rampell's recent piece in the Washington Post expresses concern over a perceived "eerie hush" spreading across America, suggesting that companies, researchers, and Trump critics are becoming increasingly silent due to this alleged censorship. She directly challenges the idea of Trump as a proponent of free speech, citing his "Restoring Freedom of Speech and Ending Federal Censorship" executive order as an Orwellian attempt to control thought.
Rampell highlights several instances to support her claim, including the CDC's temporary halt of its morbidity and mortality data report, new directives for government employees regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, and an executive order impacting school funding based on curriculum content. She also points to actions by Trump allies, such as a letter from Republican attorney generals regarding Costco's DEI policies and Rep. Dan Crenshaw's interaction with Apple's CEO. Rampell suggests that media and tech companies are preemptively complying with this perceived pressure, referencing settlements between Trump and ABC News and Meta, and a potential settlement with CBS News. She also mentions Elon Musk's lawsuit against Media Matters and his potential legal action against CNN for defamation.
Rampell's previous stance on social media content moderation contrasts sharply with her current concerns. In a 2021 article, she argued for greater efforts by tech companies to combat misinformation, even acknowledging the political challenges involved. She cited Facebook's removal of millions of posts related to COVID-19 misinformation and expressed support for stronger moderation policies, despite potential backlash. This shift in perspective raises questions about the evolving definition and implications of censorship in the digital age.
Washington Post columnist Catherine Rampell expressed concern over perceived "government censorship." (Screenshot/CNN)
Elon Musk considered suing CNN for defamation. (ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images)
Rampell criticized President Trump's anti-censorship executive order. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
