Nobel Prize winner Maria Ressa recently expressed her concerns regarding the state of American democracy, likening the populace to “deer in the headlights” amidst what she sees as a significant collapse of US institutions and free speech under the Trump administration. During an engaging discussion with Jon Stewart on the satirical news program The Daily Show, Ressa reflected on the rapid decline of these institutions, which she believes has occurred much faster than anticipated.
Ressa, who authored the influential book How to Stand Up to a Dictator, drew stark comparisons between the Trump administration and the regime of former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. She emphasized the critical need for citizens to actively protect their rights, stating, “If you don’t move and protect the rights you have, you lose them. And it’s so much harder to reclaim them.” This warning resonates deeply within the current political landscape, where many feel that the erosion of rights is occurring at an alarming pace.
Ressa’s comments come in the wake of ABC's suspension of late-night host Jimmy Kimmel due to remarks he made regarding the MAGA reaction to the tragic killing of Charlie Kirk. Kimmel, long known for his critical stance against Trump, faced backlash from the chair of the US media regulator, who threatened ABC affiliates’ broadcast licenses unless action was taken against the host. This has sparked a growing outcry for a boycott against Disney, ABC’s parent company, amid accusations that Kimmel was removed to placate the Trump administration.
In a chilling statement, Trump recently suggested that television networks that report on him negatively could face government punishment. This assertion further underscores Ressa's argument about the precarious state of free speech in the United States and the potential repercussions for media outlets that challenge the status quo.
During her conversation with Stewart, Ressa highlighted a troubling trend: people worldwide are electing “illiberal leaders democratically due to insidious manipulation.” She pointed to how the manipulation and corruption of the public information ecosystem serve as the crux of this challenge. Ressa referred to what she calls a “dictator’s playbook,” drawing parallels between Trump’s actions and Duterte’s brutal anti-drug campaigns in the Philippines, which have drawn international condemnation.
When asked about the future, Ressa offered a powerful message rooted in her journalistic experience in the Philippines. She stated, “We just kept doing our jobs, we kept putting one foot in front of the other.” This determination reflects the resilience needed to uphold democratic values and to fight against the growing threats to freedom of expression, not only in the Philippines but also in the United States and beyond.
