Dear NPR

NEW:

We reviewed Trump’s speeches, interviews, and social media posts since 2022 and found that he has made more than 100 threats to investigate, prosecute, jail or otherwise punish his opponents, whom he sometimes calls “the enemy from within.”

🧵

— Tom Dreisbach (@TomDreisbach) October 22, 2024

What took you so long?

Now that Vice President Harris is his opponent, Trump said she should also be “impeached and prosecuted.” pic.twitter.com/Y4aZdZcJ0g

— Tom Dreisbach (@TomDreisbach) October 22, 2024

I mean, this didn’t exactly all just happen yesterday.

Trump suggested that former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley could face the death penalty. (Milley has since called Trump a “fascist,” per journalist Bob Woodward.) pic.twitter.com/Yjv7ndI0M9

— Tom Dreisbach (@TomDreisbach) October 22, 2024

Although I appreciate the detailing of what a loose cannon Trump is, and always has been.

Last year, Glenn Beck asked Trump if he would lock people up if he wins the election.

Trump said yes, and indicated it would be justified because of the four criminal cases brought against him since leaving office. pic.twitter.com/sdTqldWbca

— Tom Dreisbach (@TomDreisbach) October 22, 2024

As I was saying: last year, not last week.

At a rally, Trump said people who protest and criticize the Supreme Court “should be put in jail.” pic.twitter.com/3tct1Y6SBO

— Tom Dreisbach (@TomDreisbach) October 22, 2024

Not even “hiding in plain sight.”

Another target of Trump’s threats: election workers. pic.twitter.com/bu6eyBesIT

— Tom Dreisbach (@TomDreisbach) October 22, 2024

I’m pretty sure you could find Trump supporting Rudy’s claims against Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss, long before the libel suit. 

These are just some examples out of more than 100.

You can read our full story - with comments from @ianbassin @rgoodlaw @OMGrisham @AdamKinzinger and response from the RNC - here: https://t.co/NdYv4joDtW

— Tom Dreisbach (@TomDreisbach) October 22, 2024

"Read the full story”? I’m old enough to remember when NPR would devote 30 minutes of air time to a single story on your flagship news programs. Does this indicate this “full story” won’t reach the widest audience possible? Please tell me that’s not true.

This is another defense that Trump's allies have made: That he did not go after his rivals and opponents in his first term.

As we detail in the story, that is false. https://t.co/bJVVGg5Oba pic.twitter.com/23hN3reXW4

— Tom Dreisbach (@TomDreisbach) October 22, 2024

I mean, I appreciate the effort, but where have you been for 8 years? These aren’t even revelations.

I should have come here before I wrote a post. I ended up slamming NPR, but got there by a different way. I miss listening to the radio, I can't find much of anything to listen to on American radio and I'm not getting the CBC on my radio these days. I need a better antenna.

I miss Susan Stamberg and Bob Edwards. I was a devoted listener when he left ATC to start “Morning Edition.” Both shows became a part of my daily ritual.

I still remember when they would devote 30 minutes of a 90 minute show to one story. When they truncated news stories for time to interview celebrities and someone who’d released a new album, I gave up. By that time they’d stopped being plucky little journalists and become so institutionalized they made the Gray Lady look spritely.

I chalked my dismay up to being an old fart, but they didn’t just change, they degraded. 💔

Which, BTW, was long before 2006. I hadn’t quite given up by then; but NPR had.