The term Fourth Estate or fourth power refers to the press and news media in their explicit capacity, beyond the reporting of news, of wielding influence in politics. The derivation of the term arises from the traditional European concept of the three estates of the realm: the clergy, the nobility, and the commoners.
The ones that step out of line get banned or sued. ABC paid up just to stay in the game. AP refused to capitulate, and now they’re banned from the White House. It’s making them more timid when questioning KKKaroline.
When the consequences for being critical were less severe they were doing the exact same stuff