The Moynihan Report What happened last week with Colby Hall | The Moynihan Report
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Jan 31, 2026 Colby Hall, founding editor of Mediaite and media commentator, joins to dissect fast-moving media and political stories. They spar over Don Lemon’s arrest and press freedom. They debate media incentives, Trump’s narrative tactics, the Melania film reaction, and how video footage reshapes public perceptions.
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Arrest As A Chilling Political Signal
- Don Lemon's arrest raises a chilling First Amendment concern about using laws to punish journalists critical of power.
- Colby Hall and Michael Moynihan argue the action fits a pattern of the administration weaponizing legal tools against critics.
Context Alters Legal And Ethical Lines
- Context matters: if a journalist actively plotted an operation it changes legal exposure but coverage alone shouldn't equal accomplice liability.
- Both hosts stress poor judgment entering a house of worship but reject criminalizing routine reporting.
The Steve Baker Jan 6 Example
- Michael Moynihan recounts Steve Baker, a conservative journalist indicted for entering the Capitol on Jan 6 and later pardoned by Trump.
- The story shows unequal attention and inconsistent defenses for journalists depending on politics and profile.
