Recently, it seems like so many things we in the U.S. have taken for granted are in danger of being eliminated: free speech/expression, right to vote, right of bodily autonomy, etc. It also seems like there are some very brave journalists who are working to alert us to the dangers of our current slide into autocracy. David Enrich, the New York Times Business Investigations Editor, is one of those brave people, and his new book Murder The Truth strives to define and to alert those who will pay attention to an ongoing campaign by powerful forces to silence dissent and maintain their power.

Anyone listening to campaign rhetoric from the current administration has been inundated with commentary about the press, with words and phrases like “nasty,” “dishonest,” and “enemy of the people” thrown around frequently. The President has also campaigned on wanting more laws that will LIMIT the ability of the press to cover the political scene.

It’s no secret that there is an effort to get rid of the protection afforded journalists against libel or defamation lawsuits. That protection dates back sixty-plus years, to the Supreme Court decision known as New York Times v. Sullivan (or “the Sullivan decision”). That decision established that public officials can only win a libel suit by proving the statement was made with “actual malice,” meaning with knowledge it was false or with reckless disregard for the truth.

In “Murder the Truth,” Enrich documents a well-funded effort to undo that protection.Referring to the N.Y. Times, he contends that “…basically every time we were starting to report on a powerful person or a powerful institution, we were on the receiving end of threatening letters from that person’s lawyers.” He recognized that “The New York Times has resources and very good lawyers. And so we’re equipped to deal with that. But it got me thinking what that experience would be like if I worked at a smaller news outlet or was an independent journalist…so I started calling around to journalists all over the country and began hearing these absolute horror stories about the experiences they had been through, either being threatened or sued or otherwise intimidated and bullied. The bottom line was that journalists and members of the public all over the country, based on my reporting, were really — they were shying away from stories that needed to be told, or in some cases were being sued out of business when they had the guts to actually tell the stories.”

This book is terrifying, thought-provoking, and deeply troubling for anyone who cares about the liberties most of us (I hope) continue to take for granted. There really are scary times, and although it is difficult to read about what is actually going on, I hope this will be widely read. Five stars, and a huge thank you to Mariner Books and NetGalley for providing a copy in exchange for my honest review.

If you're going to pick one book to red this rear then this is the book. Our country is on the brink of autocracy and David Enrich is here for to help get out of this situation. He has compiled a story of how we got to be we where we are and how they did it. It's a complete takedown that allows the reader to understand the drip drip of things and how if we remain complacent that things will only get worse for us a nation. I never thought in a million years that our country would be where it is today but I was also part of the problem worrying about silly things when the big things were happening behind the scenes. Mr. enrich gloripusly skewers the people who thought they could get away with things are now exposed. Will they be punished for it or will our nation allow it to persist. Stay tuned. Thank you for this brilliant book!!! Thanks to #netgalley and #marinerbooks for the read

4.5 rounded up. Murder the Truth follows the New York Times v. Sullivan decision from 1964, which determines that for libel cases to be successful against public figures one must show actual malice, from its inception to current day. Specifically, Enrich follows a few lawyers that have pushed to reduce the strength of Sullivan in order to allow for those with money (and power) to stifle stories about them, regardless of their truth. Murder the Truth is written from the perspective of a journalist, but as an attorney I would say its legal analysis holds up. This book is very fitting in a time when support for the Supreme Court is at an all time low, as it discusses important Judges/Justices' reasons for wanting it to be overturned (looking at you, Clarence and Samuel). My favorite part was toward the end, when Enrich examines the Dominion lawsuit against Fox News, which pushes against the right's reasons for wanting to overturn Sullivan. I wish this part had a more in depth examination, but I understand the record on this case is less developed due to Fox News' last minute decision to settle.

If you have any respect for the First Amendment, I would recommend this book.

Thank you to Mariner Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Murder the Truth is a compelling and well researched exposé that delves into the covert efforts by influential people to undermine press freedom and suppress dissent.

The book centers on the potential erosion of the landmark decision in New York Times v. Sullivan, a cornerstone of First Amendment jurisprudence that has safeguarded journalists for decades. Enrich traces the origins and development of a movement aimed at dismantling these protections, revealing how some of the nation's most powerful individuals and entities are leveraging the legal system to both intimidate and silence press.

Additionally, the book reveals how fear of retaliation, whether through financial ruin, public smears, or legal harassment, forces many journalists and publications to self censor. This has real consequences: corruption, abuse, and wrongdoing go unchecked because those in power can manipulate the system to bury inconvenient facts. The sheer brazenness of these tactics, combined with their success in silencing critics, makes this a chilling and infuriating read.

Enrich's narrative is both engaging and alarming, offering readers a vivid portrayal of the threats facing journalistic integrity today. His thorough reporting and insightful analysis make the book an important read for anyone concerned about the future of free speech and the essential role of a free press in a democratic society.

This is a deeply necessary book.

It’s sad that because a majority of our country is functionally illiterate, in purpose, they won’t read it.

Everyone should read this book as we come into a second Trump Reich. It made me so angry and so ready to start a revolution.

An incredibly engaging and entertaining behind the scenes look into the war on “libel law”. Reading as a lawyer myself I can confirm that Enrich does an incredible job of explaining the legal intricacies of first amendment law in an informative way that makes sense for laypeople to understand better. The look behind the curtain of the inner workings of the Supreme Court and the right’s (and the left’s) war on free speech. A huge takeaway: speech is free for everyone until you start criticizing those in power, then, you better be willing to pay up. They’re willing to kill the truth for their own motives and ambition.

Thank you to Mariner Books and Netgalley for sharing this ARC. I must say this was a lot more interesting than I might have thought it would be. Fascinating retelling of the events that have led up to the current unsettled state of libel laws in the U.S. I recommend this for those who enjoy nonfiction and/or are interested in the media and legal system.

Murder the Truth is an amazing and detailed and well researched account of how we are slowly and methodically murdering truth was embracing and promoting "alternative facts". The examples cited are amazing and, again, well researched and documented. It is eye opening to learn that the press and social media influencers can say whatever they want with no real ramifications. Well, that was until now. Never have we lived in a time where lying is the absolute norm, especially given the fact that all can be fact checked. Ah, that doesn't matter. People will believe absolutely whatever is told to them. One missing topic in detail seems to be the history of "News" sources, which in the past had to be based on fact, and "entertainment" sources, which are admittedly bias. A great, great book that will sure to get everyone talking. I forgot how many lawsuits were filed about this topic, but all were discussed with great detail. I found the author has a very easy to read style, and the relatively different examples flow together incredibly well. Two enthusiastic thumbs up!

this book was way too slow and dull for me, personally. I did not want to continue reading this book so finishing it was a chore for me. It was extremely hard to finish this book. It lacked a plot, lacked excitement, and felt so boring at all points of the book

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for an honest review!!

Thank you, Mariner Books, for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I just finished Murder The Truth: Threats, Intimidation, and a Secret Campaign to Protect the Powerful, by David Enrich.

This book will be released on March 11, 2025.

In 1964, the Supreme Court issued the most significant First Amendment ruling in history in New York Times v. Sullivan, which held that public figures must show “actual malice” in order to sue for libel. The right-wing has hated the ruling, especially Clarence Thomas and Donald Trump.

This book is about their efforts to attempt to overturn that decision. It thorough covers cases over the years in which efforts were made to bring a case up to the Supreme Court to get Sullivan overturned.

I give this book an A. Goodreads and NetGalley require grades on a 1-5 star system. In my personal conversion system, an A equates to 5 stars. (A or A+: 5 stars, B+: 4 stars, B: 3 stars, C: 2 stars, D or F: 1 star).

This review has been posted at NetGalley, Goodreads and my blog, Mr. Book’s Book Reviews

I finished reading this on September 27, 2024.

This was a really well written and researched nonfiction book, it had that concept that I was expecting and thought the overall feel worked. David Enrich has a strong writing style and was what I was expecting from this type of book.