Imagine for a second that President Trump, even before he was elected, sent a letter to TV news anchors demanding that they adjust their editorial content so that it was more to his liking.

If that ever happened, the national newspapers would devote at least eight editorials each decrying Trump’s “authoritarian tendencies.” Jim Acosta would don his cape, and every hour on the hour he would look daringly into CNN’s camera to say in his best newsman voice, “No, Mr. President! We will not be caving to your demands!” And Dan Rather would emerge from his tomb to type out a grave Facebook message on the importance of a free press.