Klas Granström: Now Trump's grip on US media policy is weakening

After the successful mid-term elections for the Democrats, parts of media policy in the US are now expected to go in a different direction. For example, Congress can get through the previously noticed so-called "shield law", which is supposed to protect journalists from being forced to reveal their confidential sources - something that has been a talking point under Donald Trump.

The House of Representatives passed the proposal back in 2024, with support from both Democrats and Republicans, but the Senate did not act.

If the law becomes a reality, it would prevent federal agencies and courts from forcing reporters to identify sources, or release sensitive work material, except in a few limited situations.

It is clear that during his time in power, Donald Trump has on several occasions launched frontal attacks against the media and freedom of the press in the country. The president has called reporters fat and incompetent. He has kicked media outlets like CNN and Politico out of the White House, sued The New York Times and other giants, cut public service funding, and branded reporting he doesn't like as illegal or false.

The election result means that senators and members of the House of Representatives can make a difference by opposing Trump's various attacks on the press, which of course will not stop because of this.

Even the American media and telecom authority FCC may be subjected to significantly tougher scrutiny. Among other things, members of Congress can call for public hearings of officials and managers, as well as appoint investigations into the authority's actions - for example, whether the FCC's decisions were politically motivated.

That last one is particularly interesting. As recently as October, Bloomberg reported on the dissatisfaction with how FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has used his powers under Trump. This applies, for example, to how the authority has investigated radio and television companies and approved mergers such as the giant deal between Paramount/Skydance, where the Ellison family of owners has documented close connections to the president.

Brendan Carr's actions against talk show host Jimmy Kimmel is another notable example. After a controversial joke about Charlie Kirk's suspected killer, the FCC chairman went on a podcast and threatened action against Disney-owned ABC if the program was not stopped.

The FCC, which issues licenses for those allowed to broadcast radio and television in the United States, is just one of a series of agencies that Trump has effectively taken control of during his time in power.

When the political shift in the country now appears to be a fact, at least at a lower political level than the presidency, in other words, there is a lot that can change on the other side of the Atlantic.