flak, n.All

Flak (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠the press's punishment — letters, calls, lawsuits, petitions, bills before Congress — and its mere prospect is often enough to keep a story from running.

Flak (n.) falls ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠on one side only: the critic on air must dot every i and cross every t, while the approved expert can tell outright lies and the flak machines stay silent.

Flak (n.) cuts ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠only one way: wild claims against the official view draw heavy fire, while wild claims in its favor are pushed by the flak toward still greater hysteria.