Thursday Scoop: ‘We are not the Enemy’
Welcome to the Morning Scoop for August 16, 2018. We’re thinking about John Adams’ quote today: “The liberty of the press is essential to the security of freedom.”
We couldn’t agree more. That’s why we’re training the next generation of writers, editors and storytellers. You can keep our project going strong by spreading the word about our courses and writing opportunities.
American Newspapers Challenge Trump’s Anti-Media Rhetoric
More than 300 US newspapers are publishing editorials today denouncing President Trump’s description of the media as the “enemy of the people” and defending the role of a free press in American society.
The Boston Globe loosely organized the editorials and opened its own this way: “A central pillar of President Trump’s politics is a sustained assault on the free press. Journalists are not classified as fellow Americans, but rather ‘the enemy of the people.’ This relentless assault on the free press has dangerous consequences. We asked editorial boards from around the country – liberal and conservative, large and small – to join us today to address this fundamental threat in their own words.”
See the full list of papers and their editorials here.
Trump Revokes Security Clearance of ex-CIA Chief
President Trump revoked former C.I.A director John Brennan’s security clearance Wednesday in an act of retaliation against an outspoken critic.
The New York Times reports, “Citing what he called Mr. Brennan’s ‘erratic’ behavior and ‘increasingly frenzied commentary,’ Mr. Trump dispatched Sarah Huckabee Sanders, his press secretary, to read a statement saying that Mr. Brennan had abused his access to the United States’ secrets ‘to make a series of unfounded and outrageous allegations.’”
Trump also warned that he would revoke the security clearances of any other former national security officials if they continued to antagonize him.
46 People Overdose in Connecticut Park
So many people overdosed on New Haven Green in Connecticut yesterday that paramedics had to be stationed there. Synthetic marijuana — also known as K2 — is the suspected cause.
The park borders part of the Yale University campus, and Rick Fontana, the city’s emergency operations director, told the Associated Press, “we literally had people running around the Green providing treatment.” The city issued a public statement asking people not to come to the Green to purchase drugs.
No deaths were reported, but many of the victims were transported to the hospital, including two with life-threatening symptoms. Reports this morning said an unidentified man was arrested in connection with the overdoses.
Today in a Tweet
Happy 60th birthday Madonna! 🎉 pic.twitter.com/RgVddBsG3F
— BBC One (@BBCOne) August 16, 2018
Last But Not Least: Maine Restaurant Owners Threatened for Changing Shape of French Fries
Bolley’s Famous Franks in Waterville, Maine is a longstanding tradition for many customers, however, restaurant owners Leslie and Jim Parson have been reportedly had been cursed at, threatened and treated hostilely after they switched their menu from crinkle-cut French fries to straight-cut.
CMN’s Senior Correspondent Erin Whitten has the deep fried details in her story.
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