[Bolduan:] President Trump's constant attacks on the media, the cries of "fake news," and his disdain for tougher reporting, appears to be reaching a new and troubling level. The publisher of the "New York Times," A.G. Sulzberger, detailing in a new speech to students of Brown's University, what he considering the most stark and real-world example of the Trump administration retreating, quote, "from our country's historical role of defenders of the free press." He says this, in part, "The hard work of journalism has long carried risks, especially in countries without democratic safeguards. But what's different today is that the brutal crackdowns are being passively accepted and perhaps even tacitly encouraged by the president of the United States." Sulzberger is talking about is what happened when of his own reporters was in trouble. CNN chief media correspondent, Brian Stelter, host of "RELIABLE SOURCES," is here with more. This is getting a lot a attention. It should. What did Sulzberger reveal about reporter, Declan Walsh?
[Brian Stelter, Cnn Chief Media Correspondent & Cnn Host, "reliable Sources":] He talked about a case from two years ago, that "The Times" never shared until now. That Declan Walsh, a reporter based in Egypt, who had been writing stories, challenging the Egyptian government. According to Sulzberger, there was a phone call at the "New York Times" from an anonymous government official in the U.S. saying Declan Walsh is about to be arrested in Egypt, you need to do something. Typically, in a situation like this, the United States government, the State Department supports journalists who are working for American newsrooms who are in trouble. The embassy would rush to the aid of a reporter who in that situation. In this case, Sulzberger said, rather than try to stop the Egyptian government or assist the reporter, the official believes that the Trump administration intended to sit on the information let the arrest be carried out. The official feared being punished for alerting "The Times" to the danger. This was a whistleblower of the government saying, warning, your reporter is in trouble. What the "New York Times" did instead was call the Irish government, because Declan Walsh lives in Ireland as well. The Irish diplomats went and got him out of the country and out of Egypt. That's an example of the United States not necessarily being trusted to serve, to take care of news reporters the way they used to.
[Bolduan:] It's also an example, our boss made a really good point about this, this morning, saying there's many occasions, known and unknown publicly, where journalists from CNN and other news organizations have been in peril. And our bosses and other media organizations have been able to reach out for help from the federal government. Because of the U.S.'s long tradition of being the leaders and defenders of free press, more than anywhere else in the world. If that is no longer something that can be relied upon, what does that mean?
[Stelter:] That puts democracy at risk and it endangers reporting all around the world. It's very troubling. That's why I'm so glad Sulzberger spoke out about this. This case is two years old. It makes you wonder what has happened that we don't know about, other cases possibly like this. He also told a story about earlier this year, another "New York Times" reporter in Egypt, David Kirkpatrick, was detained and deported from the country. When the "New York Times" reached out to the embassy for help a senior official in the embassy, the U.S. embassy in Cairo, said this, according to Sulzberger: "Well, what did you expect would happen to him? His reporting made the government look bad." That's an incredibly cynical
[Bolduan:] That's terrifying.
[Stelter:] terrifying reaction to say, well, what did you expect. As you said, Kate, the United States has been standing up for press freedom and free press for many, many decades. If the U.S. isn't going to do it, who is?
[Bolduan:] And what message is it sending to leaders of autocratic countries and what they should be and what they can get away with.
[Stelter:] It makes the world less free, it makes the world less open when reporters are not safe to do their jobs around the world. And, unfortunately, every time President Trump says "fake news" or "enemies of the people," he endangers reporters around the world.
[Bolduan:] Brian, thanks for highlighting it.
[Stelter:] Thanks.
[Bolduan:] We really, really appreciate it. Thank you so much. Coming up for us, a former top Ukrainian official is speaking out to CNN about President Trump's controversial phone call in July. What he says about the president withholding military aid to Ukraine. And why he says Russia is celebrating.