Trump’s Media Threats & Todd Blanche’s $1.8B Slush Fund (with Skye Perryman)

Threatening the broadcast licenses of news networks is a direct assault on the free press. Corey Brettschneider and John Fugelsang tear down Trump’s extraordinary primetime speech and explain why standard media fact-checking is no longer enough to protect democracy. They also break down Todd Blanche’s attorney general confirmation hearing and a judge’s condemnation of Trump’s IRS self-dealing.Then, Democracy Forward President and CEO Skye Perryman joins Corey to expose the administration’s hidden $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization" fund. Blanche told senators the fund was dead, but Perryman explains why the receipts say otherwise—and why this controversy could derail his confirmation.What we cover in this episode:• Media Extortion: The legal reality behind threats to network broadcast licenses.• The $1.8 Billion Loophole: Why the admin's secret fund might still be alive.• IRS Self-Dealing: A federal judge’s blistering condemnation of administrative overreach.• ICE Misconduct: Why state prosecutors must step in when the feds refuse to act.Timestamps:1:54 – Trump’s Election Interference Speech16:53 – Todd Blanche Confirmation Proceedings22:05 – Federal Judge on the Trump–IRS Agreement31:51 – FBI to Stop Investigating Confrontations Involving ICE38:48 – Interview with Skye Perryman