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Journalists counter President Trump’s anti-press epithet “enemy of the people” with examination of the tyrants who have also used this phrase, and also report on the threats of death and harm journalists receive. President Trump insults intelligence of CNN anchor Don Lemon and LeBron James after the basketball star and philanthropist criticizes the president for divisiveness. Apple removes podcasts by Infowars, right-wing promoter of fake conspiracies, from iTunes and Podcast apps. In tweet, U.S. Secretary of State calls on Myanmar two Reuters journalists held on charges of possessing secret documents, saying they were just doing their jobs. (See PEN America’s actions on behalf of the journalists who were honored with the PEN/Barbey 2018 Freedom to Write Award.) -Dru Menaker, Chief Operating Officer

The most pressing threats and notable goings-on in free expression today

U.S.

How to Counter Donald Trump’s War on the Media
“Trump has attempted to delegitimize the entire fact-based press… What can be done?… [Recognize] it for what it is: a reckless descent into the demagoguery, misinformation, and incitement that [is natural to] authoritarian regimes.”
NEW YORKER

Trump Mocks LeBron James’s Intelligence and Calls Don Lemon ‘Dumbest Man’ on T.V.
Trump lashed out at basketball star LeBron James in an attack on Twitter after James criticized him during a CNN interview. The latest attacks, directed at prominent black people, appeared to widen the racial divide that James spoke about on CNN.
NEW YORK TIMES

Apple is Removing Alex Jones and Infowars’ Podcasts from iTunes
Apple’s decision to remove all episodes of Jones’ popular show—rather than just specific offending episodes—is one of the largest enforcement actions intended to curb conspiratorial news content by a technology company to date.
BUZZFEED NEWS

Pompeo Calls on Myanmar to Release 2 Reuters Journalists
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo spoke with Myanmar’s foreign minister and urged him to release two Reuters journalists held on charges of possessing secret documents, saying they were “detained in Burma for doing their job.”
U.S. NEWS AND WORLD REPORT

Washington Post Publishing Book on Trump and Russian Election Interference
The Washington Post is set to publish a book, “The Apprentice: Trump, Russia and the Subversion of American Democracy”, this year about Russia’s interference in the 2016 election, and special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation of the matter.
HILL

 
Global

Oleg Sentsov is 82 Days into a Hunger Strike–I and Many Others Are by His Side *PEN Case List
“I am writing to you—without knowing if this letter will ever reach you—to let you know that, in thought at least, you are not alone: throughout the world many… [are] supporting you, and wishing with all their hearts soon to see you free.”
GUARDIAN

Bangladesh Protests: How a Traffic Accident Stopped a City of 18 Million
For more than a week, Bangladesh has been gripped by mass protests triggered by the death of two children in a traffic accident. The movement turned violent, as the government cut internet speeds in an effort to stifle free speech and expression.
BBC

Ai Weiwei Responds to Chinese Authorities Destroying His Beijing Studio
Ai, a longtime critic of the Chinese government, said that demolition of his studio began without warning, and with “no precaution”. “Those who do not belong to the establishment are always the first to be discriminated against.”
NPR

German Court Rejects ‘Nazi Grandma’ Appeal, as it Rules Holocaust Denial is Not Covered by Free Speech
Holocaust denier Ursula Haverbeck has been sentenced to two and a half years in prison after Germany’s highest court ruled that denying the mass murder of Jews is not covered by the right to free speech and “threatens public peace”.
TELEGRAPH

Anti-Semitic Graffiti Sprayed on Home of Late Holocaust Survivor Elie Wiesel
The childhood home of the late Elie Wiesel, the Holocaust survivor, renowned author, and winner of the Nobel Prize for Peace, was vandalized with anti-Semitic graffiti. Local police have opened an investigation and noted it documented by cameras.
HAARETZ

DARE is a project of PEN America’s #LouderTogether campaign, bringing you a daily-curated roundup of the most important free expression-related news from the U.S. and abroad. Send your feedback and story suggestions to [email protected]