“Trumps says” is a cottage industry of reporting. It’s not very informative. How about “Despite lacking unilateral legal power to do so, Trump says Harvard….” - ThreadSky

sifill.bsky.social • 2 days ago

“Trumps says” is a cottage industry of reporting. It’s not very informative.

How about “Despite lacking unilateral legal power to do so, Trump says Harvard….”

Reposted from CNN

Trump says Harvard University will be stripped of its tax-exempt status, the latest move in a fight over free speech, politics and federal funding

Comments

steveberkowitz.bsky.social•2 days ago

This is my biggest complaint over the past decade with the media. So many stories and sentences begin with “Trump says” - and many average folks believe whatever comes after that is true, legal, and now - normal. 🤦‍♂️

moksha05.bsky.social•2 days ago

Churches need to lose their tax-exempt status first!!

sillywienie.bsky.social•2 days ago

Reporters are lazy. Take the easy way out.

mcconn318.bsky.social•2 days ago

Cant do it more lies and bluster

perjosy.bsky.social•2 days ago

Até eu que me considero + burra, observo o US caminhar para o precipício da Autocracia, pois a bolha da ignorante faz um autocrata!

Lamentável ver o que esta acontecendo com uma Universidade que tem 161 prêmios Nobel !!!

tailwaggingdog.bsky.social•2 days ago

He’s like a spoilt brat who has been given every toy and plaything imaginable, who breaks them all out of spite and for attention, knowing he will get more attention and more toys to play with by his supporters who do know better, despite his appalling behaviour. But they get what they want too.

jimraff.bsky.social•2 days ago

How about “Trump illegally threatens Harvards tax exempt status”.

planningforall.bsky.social•2 days ago

Much better and more accurate.

jimpyke.bsky.social•2 days ago

New headline format:
"Trump says [fill in the blank], Everyone in a Position to Actually Stop Trump Says 'Okay. Sure'".

bscoder.com•2 days ago

I hope they will tell fuckface to go pound salt and not pay a penny more tax than whatever they've paid all along, if any.

bexsol.bsky.social•2 days ago

Then there is the matter of 26 USC 7217.

alan-phillips.bsky.social•2 days ago

Call your Rep. and Senators every day.
Capitol switchboard (202) 224-3121.
Email them through their websites.

Tell them this:
1. Call for impeachment. Loudly. Daily.
2. Go see your constituents in the concentration camps in El Salvador.

Or don’t ask for money…

(Please repost)

blewis.bsky.social•1 day ago

Federal law, specifically 26 U.S. Code section 7217, prohibits the President from directly or indirectly influencing IRS tax-related decisions.

He can issue executive orders all he wants, but he cannot legally change Harvard's tax exempt status.

hl-caster.bsky.social•1 day ago

The old rules don't apply. He thinks he's a King. Meanwhile our Congress people are doing fuck all. The fact this charade has gone on as long as it has signals that no one with any kind of Congressional power is willing to do what's right.

hl-caster.bsky.social•1 day ago

The man has been impeached twice and was convicted of 34 felonies. Yet was still allowed to take office because politicians are afraid of civil war. At this point bring it on. A civil war would be welcome compared to the shit that's going on now. Our Congress people are giving away our freedom.

hl-caster.bsky.social•1 day ago

Our allies hate us. Criminals and drug addicts are making decisions they have zero rights to make. Immigrants and American citizens are being put in concentration camps. If it takes a civil war for people to see reason so be it.

hl-caster.bsky.social•1 day ago

Trying to have a rational conversation with a drunk or drug addict is an exercise in futility.

idratherbeinmaine.bsky.social•2 days ago

Exactly!

rappacord.bsky.social•2 days ago

@cnn.com report better! He has zero authority vested to him in the constitution to do anything his executive orders allow. Call him out and start the count, what number is this illegal act?

brookeo.bsky.social•2 days ago

Exactly!!! Thank you, Sherrilyn! Folks need to call it what it is.

hillyyard.bsky.social•2 days ago

🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬

novablackdog.bsky.social•2 days ago

I ignore all of that ish

mediocrecoder.bsky.social•2 days ago

Because cnn is trying to dance the line between keeping customers and not pissing off their friend trump overly much

joshtpm.bsky.social•2 days ago

Exactly. I don't discount that this could happen. But didn't he already announce this two or three weeks ago and then nothing happened?

margueritefahey.bsky.social•2 days ago

Trump’s MO.

pre3chorded.bsky.social•2 days ago

Yes "Trump rambling about same shit over and over again" is the same story, different angle, no hook.

clavdiaminor.bsky.social•2 days ago

Call me a cynic, but 1) obvious distraction; 2) possibly a ham-handed way to save face? B/c 26 U.S. Code § 7217 prevents him directing an investigation, but IRS can’t remove status w/o one, no? Then he can say, “I tried to remove it but lawfare, 😩” (any legal battle = more distraction). N.B., IANAL.

tsbigler.bsky.social•2 days ago

"Trump admits to conspiring to commit crime"

jstjst.bsky.social•2 days ago

Yes! I have been saying that journalists need to start with dependent clauses when righting about Trump. Usually the most important part of his message is there is no evidence what he is saying is true. “Despite most majors economists declaring him wrong, Trump said. . . “ Same way for RFK Jr.

ehhauck.bsky.social•2 days ago

Thank you

louisamiller.bsky.social•2 days ago

Take "unilateral" out to allow even more people to process. "Despite lacking the authority to do so..."

nywonk.bsky.social•2 days ago

"Trump says" is stenography. It's laziness and fear.

And some outlets even don't do that. They go straight for "Harvard to lose its tax-exempt status", as if it was a done deal.

ameliaregalia.bsky.social•2 days ago

But, this is actually why it's important to have "tr*mp says" first. Rather than assert something and only afterward note who said it. Maybe they could use "According to tr*mp..."?

nywonk.bsky.social•2 days ago

It's important only if they reiterate in the same sentence that what he says he's doing is not legally allowed for him to do.

ameliaregalia.bsky.social•1 day ago

Oh yes, very true. if they would give proper context and be direct that would be fantastic.

I see too many headlines that assert something that's nonsense where it would have helped if the reader was at least primed with "tr*mp says" or tr*mp's health secretary says".

something2fight4.bsky.social•2 days ago

Trump has no principled objection against Harvard.

It's just "harassment du jour."

junovela.bsky.social•2 days ago

Maybe we could also stop accepting anything he says on a social media platform as policy or law.

vanfirth.bsky.social•2 days ago

More like "Despite a Federal law expressly forbidding him from doing so, Trump says Harvard…"

26 USC §7217. Prohibition on executive branch influence over taxpayer audits and other investigations

surfesq.bsky.social•2 days ago

Journalists, please embrace Sherralyn’s phraseology. You should not pass on the opportunities that you are given to partake in truth telling. Notice how the minor tweaking of the headline more effectively frames the issue and guides the reader to the correct conclusion.

thecorrectopinion.bsky.social•2 days ago

It's incredibly irresponsible journalism

pottersquash.bsky.social•2 days ago

“Despite lacking unilateral
legal power to do so, and it being a crime to for him to personally attempt, Trump says Harvard….”

mattbirnbaum.bsky.social•2 days ago

2025 mainstream media:
“Trump says he is god’s representative on earth, some dems have argued otherwise. The truth is usually somewhere in the middle.”

jcbrotherhood.bsky.social•2 days ago

He can try

pre3chorded.bsky.social•2 days ago

We should standardize tar and feathers for any "reporter" that does a Trump says story

carlosmoreira.bsky.social•2 days ago

Exactly! Following you just for that

falcon598.bsky.social•2 days ago

trump pissed off because his dad couldn't buy him into harvard

mollagus.bsky.social•2 days ago

That's CNN, Axios, Politico, and too many others for you.

jeremynt.bsky.social•2 days ago

Good reason to avoid rage bait factories like CNN: it's too hard to distinguish the fascist stuff the administration is *actually* doing from the senile ramblings of their front man

19thgrade.bsky.social•2 days ago

Willful criminal violation of federal law

smiles7.bsky.social•2 days ago

He probably applied and was denied! Vindictive Trump.

scarymel.bsky.social•2 days ago

Have you seen the new Newsweek articles that basically say “Trump says he will deport citizens”, “democrats say they don’t think that’s right”. It’s lazy.

mandilindner.bsky.social•2 days ago

It's stenography. Not journalism.

soxfan2024.bsky.social•2 days ago

He cannot do that.

terg.bsky.social•2 days ago

It's a crime to use the IRS against political opponents. Not just the lack of legal power.

hthiefs.bsky.social•2 days ago

Amen.

4ron4.bsky.social•2 days ago

RESIST! FIGHT LIKE HELL!

mamoo40.bsky.social•2 days ago

Put it in context please. Not just “Trump says”.

pathillis65.bsky.social•2 days ago

He has no authority to do this. Would someone walk up to him and scream NO in his face, please?

potch-hctop47.bsky.social•2 days ago

The man’s a monster pure and simple! Anything else is giving him too much credit!

patnasonsongs.bsky.social•2 days ago

When a sentence includes the words “Trump says,” the rest of the sentence is meaningless and worthless.

citoyenken.bsky.social•2 days ago

Insightful analysis:
https://youtu.be/aPFo2nS19D0?si=sSSut37uosuH6FmJ

noclownzone.bsky.social•2 days ago

YES, THIS!!!!

dcenviro00.bsky.social•2 days ago

Thank you, Sherrilyn!

1mingcat.bsky.social•2 days ago

Beautiful ”How About” ! Most honest thing I’ve heard in some time!

pegbush.bsky.social•2 days ago

Amen, Stop letting him act like executive orders are some sort of kingly prerogative.
And-- stop with each signature showing mommy how he can write his name so good.

rudelyvangelder.bsky.social•2 days ago

Or at the very least “Trump wants to...” [do a thing he lacks the authority to do].

hmfic.bsky.social•2 days ago

It's lazy and cowardly.

joeybthinks.bsky.social•2 days ago

Thank you for that clarity. If only everyone would frame it the same way.

miamimarks.bsky.social•2 days ago

....and why is he still manufacturing his Trump/Maga shit IN CHINA? Is that stuff tarriff free??

jdknight69.bsky.social•2 days ago

The very fact that the orange felon can threaten Harvard’s tax exempt status is evidence of the Trump regime’s violation of the law.

smpl62.bsky.social•2 days ago

How about we strip tax exempt status from the right wing evangelical churches due to their meddling in politics?

spsnomad.bsky.social•2 days ago

I realize that they have to deal with the same character limit as the rest of us, but an important part of the lede here is that Congress explicitly passed legislation barring the president from directing the IRS to investigate/audit/take action against anyone because Nixon harassed people with it.

spsnomad.bsky.social•2 days ago

As usual, the authors of the article included a summary of how Trump is breaking the law and a link to the actual legislation and the headline writers biffed it.

spsnomad.bsky.social•2 days ago

As a side note, it's going to be fun to watch what is left of the DOJ go up against the Harvard Supreme Court Justice Factory on a case where they're facially in the wrong. As a bonus, it looks like Harvard is putting the Conservative all-stars on the field.

tahtah.bsky.social•2 days ago

“Trump falsely asserts…”

youpersuade.bsky.social•2 days ago

You're on the right track. But simplify it. "Trump illegally orders...."

donnamaemuse.bsky.social•2 days ago

https://bsky.app/profile/marcelias.bsky.social/post/3lo6tzjbzjc2z

iamashleystearns.bsky.social•1 day ago

🎯

baja-hacker.bsky.social•2 days ago

Folks don't understand Trump's Harvard fight - it's a test case to him.

SCOTUS gave him immunity and the GOP are all acolytes so he faces few consequences. From his perspective, makes sense to just do it and see what happens. If he gets away with it, he'll do it again and again and again . . .

stefantigges.bsky.social•2 days ago

And it's not an effing "chess match" either!

sucks2suck.bsky.social•2 days ago

On goddd

zpunkyy.bsky.social•2 days ago

Thank you for fixing that!

andywebb.bsky.social•2 days ago

Amen

lcthompson.bsky.social•2 days ago

Exactly!!! They should have been doing this as all along.

salbr29891.bsky.social•2 days ago

Because CNN doesn't want to anger Uncle Don...🫤

moleatmal.bsky.social•2 days ago

Applause!!! Every news exec & numerous access journalists should have to read what you just said, out loud!

topiltzin.bsky.social•2 days ago

One thing they ought to do is report the actual reliability of what "Trump says". Give him a believability index, like 25%, or 37%, or whatever it is.
Include a Believability Factor (BF)
"Trump (BF: 0.37) says this or that....," might be helpful.

lunarbike.bsky.social•2 days ago

I actually couldn’t care less what he says. He lies constantly.

Comments

Posting Rules

Reply