I've never been a fan of news organizations making endorsements. However, the idea that such an endorsement is being suppressed because of an owner's fear of re

I've never been a fan of news organizations making endorsements. However, the idea that such an endorsement is being suppressed because of an owner's fear of reprisal against their other businesses by a candidate should they win the election is very very very bad. Intimidation of a free media is how fascist regimes begin and thrive. As Timothy Snyder wrote: Do Not Obey in Advance. In general politics is to be avoided on HN, but I will sacrifice every point I have to for my fellow Americans (international viewers, apologies for the American centric writing). 1)Russia is at war with the United States of America. 2)The goal of this war is to destabilize America. 3)The battle-ground is here at home. 4)The weapons in this war include pervasive laundering of Russian money into a) bend the minds of Americans through pervasive propaganda, b)direct corruption of U.S. citizens with money in return for favors or for promoting propaganda (e.g. influencers), c) corruption of politicians with promises of power, d) our divisions and our platforms for communication. Too few Americans accept or appreciate the veracity of points 1 thru 4, and this makes us weak. We have a free and open internet, and while this is great, it means that U.S. citizens are accessible, viable targets to any foreign-influence campaign, which can be all the more effective given the amount of data accumulated on each individual, and the ease at which these attacks can be individualized at scale. The United States does not protect its citizens from these attacks. Its hard to do right, and it poses difficult questions about freedom of speech, and freedom more generally. Nevertheless, we are exposed and blind, and in a war, that is asking for defeat. Offense is a form of defense. Why not take it back to Russia? Maybe we are. I do not know. But there, free-speech is dangerous, and the rebellious mind gets crushed quickly. China has the great firewall, and for all the terrible things this allows, it does protect their citizens from easy targeting to influence campaigns. Could the West do the same? Is it time to imagine an internet that excludes Russia, one which only includes liberal Democracies, partners and allies? [1] Do not obey in advance. Lesson 1, first page, by Timothy Snyder's pamphlet "On Tyranny." https://snyder.substack.com/p/on-tyranny https://snyder.substack.com/p/on-tyranny