I think it’s just another example that there is a state influenced/controlled media in the US.
For other examples see here:
or just remember what happened during/before the second Gulf/Iraq War to Peter Arnett - NBC and National Geographic, Brian Walski - Los Angeles Times, Phil Donahue - MSNBC for criticizing the Government and War.
No one would bat an eye if things like this happened in Russia or China … you know the jokes “In Soviet Russia …”
