On Tuesday August 17, 2026, ABC News filed a First Amendment lawsuit against the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), in an attempt to stop the early broadcast license renewal proceedings, initiated by the FCC. Although ABC is not a fan of progressive social causes, this action by the FCC is retaliatory; it is also an abuse and a weaponization of its position as a media regulatory agency. This goes beyond ABC; this is about the right of all citizens to exercise their First Amendment rights, whether we agree with their position or not. This is about an Administration that is unrelenting in pursuing its fascist ideology of intimidation, demonization, and repression against political opponents and news content they do not like.

Stephen Miller, White House adviser - Photo: Reuters.com

The Trump Administration’s relentless attacks on civil liberties and infringement on the US Constitution, is without forethought or any sense of moral apprehension. On July 16, 2026, the US State Department hosted an international conference, to address what they perceived as “the resurgence of political terrorism.” White House adviser Stephen Miller clearly outlined the Administration’s intent to crush dissent. Miller said in part: “Here in the United States, we have taken the necessary and essential action of formally recognizing left-wing violence as a form of political terrorism that is a direct threat to our national security and the survival of our republican form of government. President Trump issued a directive — in our parlance, it’s called a national security presidential memorandum, or NSPM — NSPM-7, to be exact — that directs, for the first time in American history, all of our law enforcement and intelligence agencies to work together to disrupt, identify, defund, debank, arrest and prosecute these political terrorists that are operating in our country. It is very important to understand that left-wing political terrorism seeks as its ultimate end the overthrow of our system and form of government.”

The Resurgence of McCarthyism and the “Red Scare”

The late Wisconsin senator Joseph McCarthy - Photo: quizlet.com

The late Joseph McCarthy was a Senator from Wisconsin from 1947 to 1957. His anti-communist paranoia created fear, distrust, and upheavals across the United States. He used his position as chairman of the Senate Committee on Government Operations, to virulently investigate and question government employees about their perceived affiliation with communist organizations, and supporters of the Soviet Union. His obsession and attendant actions resulted in the firing of thousands of federal employees. His attacks on political opponents and dissenters also resulted in subpoenas being issued to dozens of US citizens to appear before the House Un-American Activities Committee, most notable was Paul Robeson. Robeson was an internationally known singer, actor, athlete, and a social justice activist who had his passport revoked in 1950. Despite his unsuccessful lawsuit to regain his passport, Robeson was unable to make a decent living, practicing his craft. He was not able to regain his passport until 1958, when the Supreme Court ruled in his favor. What became known as “McCarthyism” was responsible for the destruction of the social life of thousands of US citizens. It is reported that over 2,000 federal employees were dismissed because of McCarthy’s interrogation and fear of “communist infiltration.”

Paul Robeson - Photo: Black Agenda Report

Entrapment and the Criminalization of Dissent

The New York Times and other corporate media sources have released Federal documents about an extensive spy program initiated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) against labor unions, activists, community groups and even a bicycle repair collective, in Minnesota, following the ICE killing of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. The spy program called “Operation Puppet Master” followed on the heels of mass demonstrations in response to the ICE killings. Even a church group was spied on by DHS agents. At the same time, mention must also be made of the role the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) played in targeting and crushing dissent. A podcast titled Alphabet Boys, has laid out how the FBI paid an informant approximately $20,000 to infiltrate and spy on social activist groups in Denver, Colorado. In keeping with the CIA’s and FBI’s ages-old tactic of planting “agent provocateurs,” the podcast reports that the informant encouraged activists to buy guns and engage in violent activities.

The Trump Administration is actively and maliciously criminalizing dissent; dissention is an ideological position that is legal under the US Constitution. By leveling spurious charges, issuing subpoenas, and demonizing activist groups and independent media organizations, the Administration is hoping that these same groups will end up in financial ruin. This not only infringes on the First Amendment of the US Constitution, which grants citizens freedom of assembly, speech, freedom of the press, and to petition the government “for a redress of grievances.” Several independent news and activist organizations are being targeted and harassed with bogus and ridiculous lawsuits. The intent is to intimidate and force them into financial collapse, by having to pay enormous legal fees to defend their Constitutional Rights and clear their names. It is clear that if an organization, individual, or news outlet speak out about the Trump Administration’s corruption and paternalism, the rollback of hard-won Civil Rights victories, the gestapo operations of ICE, the takeover of the electoral process by “big money” donors and corporations, the US’s global militarism and continued material and financial support for genocidal and apartheid Israel, they will incur the wrath of a fascist Administration.

Empire is on “life Support”

The current national debt of the United States stands at $40.14T, this is the highest it has ever been in US history; in fact, it has grown exponentially ever since Donald Trump was first elected President in 2016. Capitalism globally and the United States specifically, has gotten itself into a deepening crisis from which it cannot recover, because of its structure and modus operandi. Faced with this reality, it has no choice but to resort to fascism to enable it to “breathe.”

Alongside the unconstitutional crackdown on progressive media and activist organizations, is the adventurist, murderous, and coercive actions taken outside the borders of the United States. The unprovoked and illegal bombings on Iran, the invasion and kidnapping of the President and First Lady of Venezuela, and the unilateral and illegal escalation of the embargo against Cuba, including The State Department’s report on Cuba, are all an extension of a fascist ideology of preserving and fortifying a dying empire.

The increased verbal and institutional attacks against progressive movements nationally, and outside the United States globally, is a morbid sign of a dying empire trying desperately to resuscitate itself ideologically and materially. The Trump Administration is becoming more and more unpopular locally and internationally and has lost the admiration of even long-standing allies. What is taking place across the country is that progressive social activism is gaining ground among the working class, struggling under the yoke of administrative corruption, a shrinking economy, and an expanding oligarchy. Social Democratic candidates are winning Primary Elections across the country; the corporate media is becoming increasingly isolated because of their kowtowing to and “parroting” the Administration’s narrative of lies and misinformation. The independent media organizations are gaining more traction from a growing section of the public because those organizations are publishing empirical facts from their investigative work and exposing the lies and dishonesty of the Administration. The continued genocide in Palestine, the bombing of Lebanon, and the continued attacks on Iran are all getting push-back from citizens and some allies alike.

Mass protests, a united front against increasing fascism are the most effective weapons to defeat this menace. Progressive social groups, organized labor, faith-based organizations, and all people who are opposed to the trampling and weakening of their First Amendment rights, must confront this fascist menace. It is an existential imperative.