The Trump White House blocked several news outlets from attending a press briefing yesterday. The banned outlets included CNN and The New York Times. Notably, reporters from Time and AP, who were invited to attend, declined to do so.

This is the kind of move dictators use to secure their power. But if you’re not a dictator, it’s the kind of move that can backfire on you fiercely.

From Richard II:

O! if you rear this house against this house,
It will the woefullest division prove
That ever fell upon this cursed earth.
Prevent it, resist it, let it not be so,
Lest child, child’s children, cry against you ‘woe!’

Shift around the letters, and it becomes:

The little negotiator-in-chief’s cruel lie did deride this TV outlet here, but has lost his only value with the press: access. Now, they can vividly report up on his Russia ties, without fear of losing it.

Loser!

I’m a basketball game where you’re calling your shot;
I’m worth something in trade and — to Richard — a lot;
I’m the measure of power your vehicle’s got;
And equipment for vaults, fit with handles or not.

Who am I?

UPDATE: Riddle solved by Asher. See comments for answer.

From Twelfth Night:

As the old hermit of Prague, that never saw pen and ink, very wittily said to a niece of King Gorboduc, “That that is is.”

Shift around the letters, and it becomes:

At his unhinged fake press conference took to brag, Trump lied away, distorting to validate his vanity with hate.

From A Midsummer Night’s Dream:

The dove pursues the griffin; the mild hind
Makes speed to catch the tiger: bootless speed,
When cowardice pursues and valour flies.

Shift around the letters, and it becomes:

Paid fops chid Warren, cut off to divulge the King letter.

Nevertheless, she persisted.

Ah, she has now succeeded to a sublimer podium.

From Love’s Labour’s Lost:

What did the Russian whisper in your ear?

Shift around the letters, and it becomes:

Putin (hard): Iran war!

White House: Yes, sir! – D.

I’m an old-time screen icon who carries it still;
I’m bestowing the property left in your will;
The Commander-in-Chief on the half-Franklin bill;
And conceding a point, or a wish to fulfill.

Who am I?

UPDATE: Riddle solved by Rebecca. See comments for answer.

Civic protest can take many forms. Some choose to march. Others write letters and call their representatives. A few even organize members of their community to ignite collective activism.

But as far as I know, I’m the only one anagramming passages from Shakespeare into snide political commentary and posting it to the Internet.

And so, the struggle continues…

From Richard II:

Or if it be, ’tis with false sorrow’s eye,
Which for things true weeps things imaginary.

Shift around the letters, and it becomes:

I press your ire: Shifty thief tries to win a show fight with “Bowling Green Massacre.”