Senator Bernie Sanders criticized Paramount's $16 million settlement with former President Donald Trump, describing it as a setback for independent journalism and freedom of the press. Sanders argued that the settlement would embolden Trump to continue his attacks on the media, which he views as an attempt to undermine American democracy and move the country toward authoritarianism. This sentiment was echoed across multiple media outlets highlighting concerns about the implications of the settlement on press freedom. Additionally, a recent Variety cover story titled "Defeat the Press" explores how Trump's attacks on news organizations threaten the First Amendment. Jameel Jaffer of the Knight First Amendment Institute commented that Trump's anti-media efforts seem aimed at making the government the sole source of information and authority, a scenario unprecedented in American history.