Tag: Donald Trump

The Inscrutable Glamour of Melania Trump’s Mother

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 Jan. 11, Rhonda Garelick, distinguished professor of English and journalism at SMU Dallas, for a piece about the late Amalija Knavs, the mother of Melania Trump, and her quiet but certain influences on members of the First Family. Published in Garelick’s New York Times ‘Face Forward’ column under the heading:  The Inscrutable Glamour of Melania Trump’s Mother: http://tinyurl.com/4t87ucs2 

Throughout the Trump presidency, Amalija Knavs — mother to first lady Melania Trump — was something of a mysterious figure. Mrs. Knavs, who died earlier this week, rarely made public comments or gave interviews. Striking and perfectly coifed, Mrs. Knavs was a recurring but almost entirely silent presence during the Trump presidency, much like her daughter.

Mrs. Knavs and her husband Victor appeared often in the background of photos of the first family, accompanying them on trips to places like Camp David or Mar-a-Lago, and attending special events. And there’s something startling, even uncanny about photos containing both the Trumps and the Knavses: The two couples look like mirror images of each other. Mr. Trump and Mr. Knavs, just two years apart in age, have similar physiques and stature — even hair styles.

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Attacks on Section 230 reveal much more dangerous tech-policy strategy

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Dec. 14, Jared Schroeder, associate professor of Journalism specializing in Free Press/Free Speech at SMU Dallas, for an op-ed identifying the ulterior motives of lawmakers who want you to believe their goal is to scrap Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. Published in The Hill with the heading Attacks on Section 230 reveal much more dangerous tech-policy strategy: http://bit.ly/37hiV3g

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Let’s say the quiet part out loud for once: Republican lawmakers don’t really care about Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act (CDA). They also don’t believe social media platforms are intentionally limiting conservative voices. It’s all a ruse. A game. But the game is not without a point.

Lawmakers such as Sens. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas) aren’t making genuine policy arguments when they malign Section 230, which protects online forum providers from legal liability for how people use their platforms. They also know content moderation is not a First Amendment issue, despite what they say. President Trump last week threatened to veto the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) if it did not include a Section 230 repeal. None of these efforts are out of concern for policy change or democracy. They are instead using the quickly evolving misinformation playbook to inflame their bases. It’s working.

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Evangelicals shouldn’t be defending Trump in tiff over editorial

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Dec. 26, Stephanie Martin, assistant professor of communication and public affairs at SMU Dallas, for an op-ed chastising Evangelical Christian leaders who steadfastly side with Trump rather than consider reasoned criticisms from their own ranks (Christianity Today). Published in The Hill: http://bit.ly/37GX02W 

When “Christianity Today” issued its editorial last week calling for Donald Trump’s removal from the American presidency, I thought evangelicals — including prominent leaders — would sit up and take note.

What I did not expect was for them to rebuff the magazine’s call utterly.

Franklin Graham, son of the magazine’s founder the late Billy Graham, told The Washington Post that his father would have been “embarrassed” by the editorial. “For Christianity Today to side with the Democrat Party in a partisan attack on the President of the United States is unfathomable,” he added in a Facebook post. . . 

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