It's a classic trait of authoritarianism to not just censor what could be considered 'bad' news, but to actively limit the ability for potential sources of 'bad news' to be known / gathered in the first place.

Refer: DOGE.

Good news only!! Why are these history museums just focusing on "how bad slavery was." https://www.cnn.com/2025/08/19/politics/trump-slavery-museum...

> “The Smithsonian is OUT OF CONTROL, where everything discussed is how horrible our Country is, how bad Slavery was, and how unaccomplished the downtrodden have been — Nothing about Success, nothing about Brightness, nothing about the Future,” Trump wrote.

He also asks for two dossiers each day filled of good news only. If there isn't enough good news they fill it with flattering photos: https://www.vice.com/en/article/trump-folder-positive-news-w...

> One White House official said the only feedback the White House communications shop, which prepares the folder, has ever gotten in all these months is: “It needs to be more fucking positive.”

> White House staffers then cull the information, send out clips to other officials, and push favorable headlines to a list of journalists. But they also pick out the most positive bits to give to the president. On days when there aren’t enough positive chyrons, communications staffers will ask the RNC staffers for flattering photos of the president.

its also a trait of authoritarianism to not value what others think.

They will lie, over state and misdirect and not care that lots of people find those statement as incredulously ridiculous. Because its all dog whistles all the time. they're speaking to some people who hear it exactly as it was intended.