Is TV News ‘The Enemy?’ Don’t Ask FCC Chairman Pai

[Commentary] Well, that was a disappointment. Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai, who has set himself up as a champion of the First Amendment, failed to stand up for TV news at the Senate Commerce Committee hearing. Sen Tom Udall (D-NM) asked him if he agreed with President Trump's tweet that CNN, ABC, CBS and NBC are "the enemy of the American people." Chairman Pai evaded the question. First, he said, he didn't "want to wade into the larger political debates" and, then, when pressed, said weakly that everybody is entitled to First Amendment protections. Pai's answer should have been simple: "No, Senator, I don't." He did not have to elaborate. Not only would that have assured us that Pai is a thinking man and the free press advocate we believe him to be, it would also have assured us that the Pai FCC will be independent of the White House. Chairman Pai also refused to disclose what was discussed in his meetings with President Trump before his elevation to chairman in January and his re-nomination to another term this week.