It hardly matters at this point what tissue-thin justifications the administration concocts for these efforts. They are all so thin as to be more than sufficiently transparent. The administrations has its policy objectives, and it will work to overcome troublesome facts not by addressing them, but by suppressing or destroying them. Tax cuts for the rich, huge deficit spending, climate change — it doesn’t matter. What matters is power. Power to manipulate or create information is power to steamroll. Power to intimidate or terminate independent sources of information is a spigot of hot-and cold running domination.

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The Trump administration is doing to scientists what Harvey Weinstein allegedly did to women — bend them to his will. Because of power.

So, what does the United States now have in common with Syria, the most broken and dysfunctional nation on Earth? Why, we agree with them that the Paris climate accords are a bad idea. This is occurring when everyone understands that the 21st century will belong to the leaders in science and information.

So what do we do about citizens who actually want to stay informed and advocate for solutions based on true information? Intimidate them and cut off their access to information. And how bad will this get? As bad as Trump can get away with. Do you think for one second that if or when Trump manages to consolidate his executive power, he will somehow start to moderate this behavior? Rhetorical question. Power to him is a one-way valve, and he presses as hard on this valve as he can get away with at any given moment.