Bernie Sanders Freaks Out as Trump, Musk, and Bezos Upend Liberal Media [WATCH]

Independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders voiced deep concerns about the current state of the media and democracy, calling this period “the scariest times in my lifetime.”

Speaking on the liberal podcast Pod Save America on Tuesday, the 83-year-old senator cited President Donald Trump, tech billionaire Elon Musk, and Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos as key figures contributing to what he described as a dangerous media landscape.

“These are, you know, the scariest times in my lifetime … I think that’s objectively the truth,” Sanders said.

“You know, it is not just they want to give tax breaks to billionaires and cut programs to working people. Frankly, that’s happened before. But you combine that with the power of the oligarchy in general. You combine that with Mr. Musk owning Twitter and able to send out his messages to hundreds of millions of people.”

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Musk’s 2022 purchase of Twitter, now rebranded as X, has been a major point of contention for Democrats and left-leaning media figures.

Upon acquiring the platform, Musk pledged to restore free speech and roll back censorship policies that had been in place during the 2020 election and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sanders argued that Musk’s control over the platform gives him too much influence over public discourse.

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“You combine that with the fact that people like Bezos, the second wealthiest person in the country, fired or got rid of most of his editorial staff and is going to convert ’em into a right-wing thing,” he said.

Bezos, who has owned The Washington Post since 2013, recently made changes to the paper’s editorial direction, shifting its op-ed section to emphasize defending free markets and personal liberties.

The move has frustrated some longtime liberal journalists, with veteran reporter Al Hunt admitting in February that he had “never been as depressed” about the state of the media.

The Post’s digital readership has plummeted in recent years, dropping from 22.5 million daily active users in January 2021 to just 2.5-3 million by mid-2024, according to Semafor.

The drastic decline in readership has prompted restructuring within the outlet, fueling claims that Bezos is changing its editorial stance.

Sanders also took issue with Trump’s legal actions against major media companies, mentioning his lawsuits against outlets such as ABC News.

In December, ABC News and anchor George Stephanopoulos settled a defamation lawsuit with Trump, agreeing to a $15 million settlement, which was designated as a charitable contribution toward a future presidential foundation and museum.

The senator further accused Trump of attempting to reshape the media landscape through legal and political pressure, pointing to his criticisms of taxpayer-funded broadcasters PBS and NPR.

“Combine that with the fact that Trump is suing major media outlets and is threatening to investigate PBS and NPR,” Sanders said.

Beyond media concerns, Sanders claimed that Trump is moving toward authoritarianism, citing his recent budget decisions.

“When Trump unilaterally cuts federal funding that was passed by Congress, that is illegal,” Sanders said. “That is unconstitutional.”

He also expressed alarm over statements from within the administration, claiming that Trump’s vice president suggested the courts “don’t have the right to stop unconstitutional acts of the president.”

Sanders argued that Trump is undermining the structure of government by challenging the balance of power between the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.

“He is now trying to end what the Founding Fathers were pretty smart about—creating a form of government where there were checks and balances, you know, a legislative body, an executive body, and a judiciary,” he said. “So he’s moving aggressively in all of these areas … This is a scary moment.”

As the 2024 election fades into history and Trump’s second term moves forward, Sanders’ remarks highlight ongoing tensions between the administration and its critics in the media and political establishment.

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