The Cut?
Governments breaking their own laws. Companies so big you can't avoid them. Courts that punish you for being broke.
Every week there's a new outrage. That's the point.
Gordian Cut finds what could actually change things.
That's the cut.
#GordianCut #FollowTheMoney
Governments breaking their own laws. Companies so big you can't avoid them. Courts that punish you for being broke.
Every week there's a new outrage. That's the point.
Gordian Cut finds what could actually change things.
That's the cut.
#GordianCut #FollowTheMoney
February 1, 2026 at 3:15 PM
The Cut?
Governments breaking their own laws. Companies so big you can't avoid them. Courts that punish you for being broke.
Every week there's a new outrage. That's the point.
Gordian Cut finds what could actually change things.
That's the cut.
#GordianCut #FollowTheMoney
Governments breaking their own laws. Companies so big you can't avoid them. Courts that punish you for being broke.
Every week there's a new outrage. That's the point.
Gordian Cut finds what could actually change things.
That's the cut.
#GordianCut #FollowTheMoney
475 celebrities signed a letter.
Disney ignored it.
7.1 million people canceled their subscriptions.
Disney reversed in 5 days.
The cut isn't the letter. It's the economic action.
#GordianCut
open.substack.com/pub/thegordi...
Disney ignored it.
7.1 million people canceled their subscriptions.
Disney reversed in 5 days.
The cut isn't the letter. It's the economic action.
#GordianCut
open.substack.com/pub/thegordi...
February 3, 2026 at 3:12 PM
475 celebrities signed a letter.
Disney ignored it.
7.1 million people canceled their subscriptions.
Disney reversed in 5 days.
The cut isn't the letter. It's the economic action.
#GordianCut
open.substack.com/pub/thegordi...
Disney ignored it.
7.1 million people canceled their subscriptions.
Disney reversed in 5 days.
The cut isn't the letter. It's the economic action.
#GordianCut
open.substack.com/pub/thegordi...
179 to 443 broadcast stations consolidated in a decade. (Pew)
2025: Nexstar acquires Tegna. 265 stations. $6.2B. One owner.
The 1996 Telecommunications Act lifted ownership caps. The consolidation it enabled is accelerating.
Correction thanks to @badfcctakes.bsky.social
#GordianCut
2025: Nexstar acquires Tegna. 265 stations. $6.2B. One owner.
The 1996 Telecommunications Act lifted ownership caps. The consolidation it enabled is accelerating.
Correction thanks to @badfcctakes.bsky.social
#GordianCut
February 17, 2026 at 8:08 PM
179 to 443 broadcast stations consolidated in a decade. (Pew)
2025: Nexstar acquires Tegna. 265 stations. $6.2B. One owner.
The 1996 Telecommunications Act lifted ownership caps. The consolidation it enabled is accelerating.
Correction thanks to @badfcctakes.bsky.social
#GordianCut
2025: Nexstar acquires Tegna. 265 stations. $6.2B. One owner.
The 1996 Telecommunications Act lifted ownership caps. The consolidation it enabled is accelerating.
Correction thanks to @badfcctakes.bsky.social
#GordianCut
179 to 443 broadcast stations consolidated in a decade. (Pew)
2025: Nexstar acquires Tegna. 265 stations. $6.2B. One owner.
The Fairness Doctrine died in 1987. The consolidation it prevented is accelerating.
#GordianCut
2025: Nexstar acquires Tegna. 265 stations. $6.2B. One owner.
The Fairness Doctrine died in 1987. The consolidation it prevented is accelerating.
#GordianCut
February 17, 2026 at 6:11 PM
179 to 443 broadcast stations consolidated in a decade. (Pew)
2025: Nexstar acquires Tegna. 265 stations. $6.2B. One owner.
The Fairness Doctrine died in 1987. The consolidation it prevented is accelerating.
#GordianCut
2025: Nexstar acquires Tegna. 265 stations. $6.2B. One owner.
The Fairness Doctrine died in 1987. The consolidation it prevented is accelerating.
#GordianCut
Section 230 was written to protect speech online. Platforms weaponized it to protect negligence.
They don't censor you. They just set your reach to zero. Organic reach: 16% in 2012. 1.37% in 2024.
Economic censorship. No law broken.
#GordianCut
They don't censor you. They just set your reach to zero. Organic reach: 16% in 2012. 1.37% in 2024.
Economic censorship. No law broken.
#GordianCut
February 17, 2026 at 2:50 PM
Section 230 was written to protect speech online. Platforms weaponized it to protect negligence.
They don't censor you. They just set your reach to zero. Organic reach: 16% in 2012. 1.37% in 2024.
Economic censorship. No law broken.
#GordianCut
They don't censor you. They just set your reach to zero. Organic reach: 16% in 2012. 1.37% in 2024.
Economic censorship. No law broken.
#GordianCut
"That's right out of 'Goodfellas.' That's right out of a mafioso coming into a bar going, 'Nice bar you have here, it'd be a shame if something happened to it.'"
— Senator Ted Cruz, September 2025
#GordianCut
— Senator Ted Cruz, September 2025
#GordianCut
February 4, 2026 at 3:30 PM
"That's right out of 'Goodfellas.' That's right out of a mafioso coming into a bar going, 'Nice bar you have here, it'd be a shame if something happened to it.'"
— Senator Ted Cruz, September 2025
#GordianCut
— Senator Ted Cruz, September 2025
#GordianCut
The FCC can regulate exactly 4 things in broadcast content:
1. Obscene material
2. Children's advertising
3. Sponsorship identification
4. Contest conduct
That's it. Everything else is leverage, not law.
#GordianCut
1. Obscene material
2. Children's advertising
3. Sponsorship identification
4. Contest conduct
That's it. Everything else is leverage, not law.
#GordianCut
February 4, 2026 at 2:39 PM
The FCC can regulate exactly 4 things in broadcast content:
1. Obscene material
2. Children's advertising
3. Sponsorship identification
4. Contest conduct
That's it. Everything else is leverage, not law.
#GordianCut
1. Obscene material
2. Children's advertising
3. Sponsorship identification
4. Contest conduct
That's it. Everything else is leverage, not law.
#GordianCut
The FCC's "news distortion" policy has been used 8 times in 55 years.
The last time was 1982.
That's the enforcement mechanism that suspended a network show in 2025.
When you understand the leverage, you understand the cut.
#GordianCut
The last time was 1982.
That's the enforcement mechanism that suspended a network show in 2025.
When you understand the leverage, you understand the cut.
#GordianCut
February 4, 2026 at 12:34 PM
The FCC's "news distortion" policy has been used 8 times in 55 years.
The last time was 1982.
That's the enforcement mechanism that suspended a network show in 2025.
When you understand the leverage, you understand the cut.
#GordianCut
The last time was 1982.
That's the enforcement mechanism that suspended a network show in 2025.
When you understand the leverage, you understand the cut.
#GordianCut
Disney lost $6.4 billion in 5 days.
How much is that?
More than AMC, Build-A-Bear, Papa John's, AND Under Armour combined.
The leverage wasn't the letters.
The leverage wasn't the signatures.
The leverage was 7.1 million cancel buttons.
#GordianCut
How much is that?
More than AMC, Build-A-Bear, Papa John's, AND Under Armour combined.
The leverage wasn't the letters.
The leverage wasn't the signatures.
The leverage was 7.1 million cancel buttons.
#GordianCut
February 3, 2026 at 7:42 PM
Disney lost $6.4 billion in 5 days.
How much is that?
More than AMC, Build-A-Bear, Papa John's, AND Under Armour combined.
The leverage wasn't the letters.
The leverage wasn't the signatures.
The leverage was 7.1 million cancel buttons.
#GordianCut
How much is that?
More than AMC, Build-A-Bear, Papa John's, AND Under Armour combined.
The leverage wasn't the letters.
The leverage wasn't the signatures.
The leverage was 7.1 million cancel buttons.
#GordianCut
Nexstar preempted Kimmel hours after the FCC threat.
Why so fast?
They were awaiting FCC approval for a $6.2 billion merger.
Sinclair moved immediately too. Same reason.
When you find who has something pending, you find the cut.
#GordianCut
thegordiancut.substack.com/p/the-64-bil...
Why so fast?
They were awaiting FCC approval for a $6.2 billion merger.
Sinclair moved immediately too. Same reason.
When you find who has something pending, you find the cut.
#GordianCut
thegordiancut.substack.com/p/the-64-bil...
February 3, 2026 at 5:26 PM
Nexstar preempted Kimmel hours after the FCC threat.
Why so fast?
They were awaiting FCC approval for a $6.2 billion merger.
Sinclair moved immediately too. Same reason.
When you find who has something pending, you find the cut.
#GordianCut
thegordiancut.substack.com/p/the-64-bil...
Why so fast?
They were awaiting FCC approval for a $6.2 billion merger.
Sinclair moved immediately too. Same reason.
When you find who has something pending, you find the cut.
#GordianCut
thegordiancut.substack.com/p/the-64-bil...