Trump loses and we all win

Trump withdrew access to the White House from a number of media outlets and now a federal judge has ordered him to let them back in because the ban was likely unconstitutional.

This is not just another scandal or headlines disguised as news, created with the hope of capturing our attention. Both the ban and the remedy are major pieces of news. A guy who aspires to instill fear like Trump is still bothered by independent questions and unfavorable journalistic coverage. The fact that the judge is having the credentials returned serves as a reminder that, despite the unbridled global race toward authoritarianism in which we are fully immersed, freedom of the press is a guarantee of democracy.

Journalism is not here to give lessons (in both senses, the figurative and the real), but when I am asked if I still believe in my profession I answer that it is as if they asked me if I like football. It depends on who is playing. And there are players and teams that play very well.

If journalism were all sold out and harmless, neither the egomaniac in the White House would ban access to some media outlets, nor would journalists be murdered by armies, drug traffickers and secret services, nor would they make lists of journalists at the Spanish Interior Ministry, nor would a group of anonymous and paid trolls ridicule them every day on social media. And, of course, they would not be censored.

The day that, in the Oval Office, a journalist reminded Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Salman that American secret services had concluded that he had organized the brutal murder of Jamal Khashoggi in Turkey, the world breathed easier for a moment. That is why Trump silenced her, called her a liar and discredited her media outlet. Now, even if he disobeys the judge, he will have to continue hearing questions he does not like.