"It was a quiet way to announce a revolution: In 2019, in an obscure case that the Supreme Court refused to even hear, Justice Clarence Thomas raised the prospect of overturning the legendary New York Times vs. Sullivan decision. Though hardly a household name, Sullivan is one of the most consequential free speech decisions ever. By shielding journalists from abusive lawsuits, the ruling has enabled everyone from top national publications and revered local newspapers to independent bloggers and podcast hosts to pursue the truth aggressively and hold the wealthy, powerful, and corrupt to account. Thomas's words were a warning--the public awakening of an idea that had been fomenting on the conservative fringe for years. Now it is going mainstream. From the Florida statehouse to small-town New Hampshire to Donald Trump's White House, this movement consists of some of the world's richest and strongest people and companies, who believe they should be above scrutiny and want to silence or delegitimize voices that challenge their supremacy. Their goal is simple: to change the laws and the First Amendment to make it harder for individuals to critique powerful institutions and individuals ... In this [book], David Enrich ... traces the roots and reach of this growing threat to our modern democracy"-- Dust jacket.
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