1. United States
2. Iowa
3. Letter

I am writing to express serious concern over recent reports that President Trump may have pressured Paramount to silence criticism in exchange for regulatory approval of a major corporate merger. If these allegations are true, this is not just political interference—it’s a textbook case of Republican cancel culture, and it’s deeply dangerous to our democracy. According to the report, Paramount is seeking approval from the Trump administration for a massive merger. At the same time, the company appears to have abruptly canceled programming and removed voices critical of President Trump—coincidences that reek of political pressure and backroom corruption. If the White House is leveraging federal power to silence dissent and reward obedience, it is nothing less than bribery. The irony here is staggering. For years, Republicans have railed against so-called “cancel culture,” yet here we are watching the President of the United States allegedly cancel journalists and media figures behind closed doors, using billion-dollar deals as leverage. This isn’t about protecting conservative values—it’s about crushing opposition and rigging the narrative. Let’s be clear: real cancel culture isn’t when someone faces criticism for harmful rhetoric—it’s when the government strong-arms media corporations into silencing dissent to stay in the President’s good graces. That’s not free speech. That’s authoritarianism dressed in a business suit. I urge you to support a full investigation into these allegations. If President Trump is offering regulatory favors in exchange for loyalty, it is a blatant abuse of power—and it must be exposed. This is bigger than one show or one company. This is about whether our democracy will allow a sitting President to censor the press and manipulate the truth for personal and political gain. We need accountability. We need courage. And we need leaders who are willing to stand up to this dangerous abuse—not quietly enable it.