Outgoing Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) delivered a searing criticism of President Trump's attacks on the media on Jan. 17. (Reuters)“The free press is the despot’s enemy, which makes the free press the guardian of democracy,” said Flake. Learn how freedom may be threatened in your country → https://t.co/89SoST0j70 #FreedomReport pic.twitter.com/mes2lDlnhF — Freedom House (@FreedomHouseDC) January 16, 2018That was also the conclusion reached this week by Freedom House, a Washington-based nonpartisan watchdog, in its annual report on the state of global democracy. But this year, the report noted, the global plight of democracy has been made all the more dire by the Trump administration's rhetoric and posturing. Freedom House bemoaned Trump's “retreat” from America's supposed traditional role as a champion of democratic principles around the world.

Source: Washington Post January 18, 2018 06:00 UTC