When the President Shakes Down the Media

What are the implications for our divided country when a bullying president shakes down the news media to get his way? In this episode of the Lean to the Left Podcast, John DeDakis, veteran journalist, former CNN editor, White House correspondent, novelist, and writing coach, explores the challenges of journalism in today’s fractured media landscape and the implications of Donald Trump's attempts to bully the media to his own ends. 👉 Topics include: • The crisis of trust in mainstream media • How Trump and bullying politicians have influenced journalism • The rise of digital media and the internet’s double-edged sword • Artificial Intelligence and its limits in creative storytelling • DeDakis’ novel Enemies Domestic, inspired by today’s political climate • Writing as a tool for healing grief and trauma • Helping aspiring authors find their voice DeDakis shares candid reflections on truth in reporting, holding power accountable, and why integrity and human touch still matter in an age of information overload.  📚 Learn more about John DeDakis and his books.  If you care about media integrity, politics, or the power of storytelling, this episode is a must-listen. 👍 Don’t forget to subscribe, hit the like button, and share your thoughts in the comments! #Media #Politics #JohnDeDakis #LeanToTheLeft #Journalism #truthmatters CHAPTERS: 00:00 Introduction to the Lean To The Left Podcast 00:31 Introducing John DeDakis: Journalist and Author 01:47 Trump's Impact on America 03:33 The Role of Journalism Today 04:26 Challenges in Modern Media 07:38 Personal Experiences in Journalism 10:37 The Evolution of Journalism 15:23 The Influence of Social Media 16:15 The Impact of AI on Writing 16:54 Experimenting with AI in Creative Writing 18:26 The Ethical and Environmental Concerns of AI 20:03 Discussing 'Enemies Domestic' 22:18 Writing About Personal Grief 25:50 Helping Authors as a Manuscript Editor and Writing Coach 27:02 Current and Future Writing Projects 28:24 Where to Find John's Books 30:08 Conclusion and Final Thoughts