Americast
Why has ABC News given Donald Trump $15 million?
Episode notes
Donald Trump has achieved a legal victory after ABC News announced that it was paying Trump $15 million and legal fees to settle a defamation lawsuit related to remarks made in March by morning news presenter George Stephanopoulos.
Following the settlement Trump said he intends to pursue further lawsuits against “dishonest” media, including the Des Moines Register newspaper for "brazen election interference" over a poll published days before the 2024 presidential election.
Could ABC’s decision to settle with Trump set a dangerous precedent for media freedoms in the US, and will there be a chilling effect on future coverage of the incoming president?
HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 Presenter • Marianna Spring, Social Media Investigations Correspondent • Anthony Zurcher, North America Correspondent
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This episode was made by George Dabby with Rufus Gray, Catherine Fusillo and Claire Betzer. The technical producer was Michael Regaard. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.
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