Let me simplify Trump's new executive order for you:

* Having told 16,000 lies, Trump wants to be able to keep lying on Twitter, free of any fact-checking

* Trump doesn’t want Twitter to inform people on how to vote safely amid a pandemic

New piece: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/05/28/trump-has-told-16000-lies-now-hes-trying-silence-those-who-correct-him/

Trump’s new exec order enshrines the hallowed principle that he should be free to lie and spread disinformation on social media without any fear of moderation that might challenge or fact-check those lies.

We know this because Trump told us so himself.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/05/28/trump-has-told-16000-lies-now-hes-trying-silence-those-who-correct-him/

"A hallmark of authoritarian regimes is to call truth into question — except as the regime defines it."

That's from @GlennKesslerWP's new book, which documents Trump's assault on truth in great detail.

That's the context for Trump's assault on Twitter:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/05/28/trump-has-told-16000-lies-now-hes-trying-silence-those-who-correct-him/

Something very fundamental is getting lost here.

Trump has made it *explicit* that the new exec order is direct retribution for Twitter daring to fact check him.

His *own words* tell us this. Even if nothing happens, that's a flagrant abuse of power:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/05/28/trump-has-told-16000-lies-now-hes-trying-silence-those-who-correct-him/