The White House barring Associated Press, Reuters, and other news organizations from covering a cabinet meeting is a deeply troubling development. It’s a blatant act that raises serious questions about the administration’s commitment to transparency and the free press. The decision to exclude these prominent and respected news agencies, especially Reuters, often considered a gold standard for neutral reporting, is particularly alarming.
This move suggests an attempt to control the narrative and limit access to information. With AP and Reuters used by almost every other news outlet, their exclusion creates a significant information gap, potentially leaving the public reliant on a more limited and potentially biased range of reporting.… Continue reading
During a town hall meeting in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, former Democratic candidate Teresa Borrenpohl was forcibly removed after speaking out. Plainclothes officers, possibly working for Sheriff Robert Norris, apprehended Borrenpohl following verbal instructions from the event’s emcee. The removal, met with mixed reactions from the audience, escalated into a physical altercation as Borrenpohl resisted. This incident represents a concerning escalation of political tension, mirroring recent disruptions at other political events nationwide.
Read More
A leaked FDA document lists over two dozen prohibited words, including “woman,” “disabled,” and “elderly,” causing confusion and concern among scientists. The directive, whose origin remains unclear, is reportedly a misinterpretation of a presidential executive order targeting “gender ideology,” though the White House disputes the breadth of the ban. This restriction on language, coupled with recent staff firings, is hindering the agency’s ability to effectively communicate and review medical devices. Public health experts warn that such limitations compromise the ability to address diverse health needs.
Read More
The Washington Post declined to run a Common Cause advertisement calling for President Trump to fire Elon Musk from his advisory role. The ad, which also criticized Musk’s influence on government, was intended to appear as a wraparound on the front and back pages and was to be distributed to Congress, the Pentagon, and the White House. Common Cause suggests the Post’s decision may be linked to the relationship between Post owner Jeff Bezos and President Trump. The Post stated that it has the right to require factual substantiation in advertisements and to obtain necessary permissions for use of individuals’ names and likenesses.
Read More
X, formerly Twitter, is blocking links to Signal.me, a URL shortener used by the encrypted messaging app Signal, preventing users from sharing contact links via direct messages, posts, and profiles. This action coincides with DOGE’s efforts to reduce federal spending, leading to widespread federal employee firings and increased use of Signal for secure communication. X’s actions are generating concern, particularly given Musk’s history of silencing dissent on the platform. The blocks appear to be automated, triggering error messages for users attempting to share Signal.me links. TechCrunch’s attempts to replicate the issue were successful.
Read More
The Washington Post declined to publish a $115,000 Common Cause advertisement demanding President Trump fire Elon Musk from his advisory role. The ad, featuring an image of a laughing Musk and questioning his influence, was intended to run in the Post and be distributed to Congress and government officials. The Post’s rejection, coming after it showcased a pro-Trump ad as a sample, raises concerns about censorship and potential conflicts of interest given owner Jeff Bezos’s business interests. Common Cause President Kase Solomón questioned whether the Post’s decision stemmed from the ad’s criticism of Musk and potential repercussions from President Trump.
Read More
A Moscow court levied a 3.8 million ruble ($41,530) fine against Google for YouTube content providing instructions on surrendering to Ukrainian forces. This penalty follows Russia’s ongoing practice of fining foreign tech platforms for allegedly illegal content related to the Ukraine conflict. The fine comes amidst accusations by critics that Russia is intentionally throttling YouTube speeds to suppress dissenting viewpoints. Google has yet to publicly respond to the ruling and denies Russia’s claims of equipment failures causing the speed issues.
Read More
The Trump White House indefinitely banned the Associated Press from the Oval Office and Air Force One due to the AP’s continued use of “Gulf of Mexico” despite the President’s renaming of the body of water to “Gulf of America.” This decision, condemned by the White House Correspondents Association as a First Amendment violation, prevents the AP from participating in pooled press events crucial for White House coverage. While the AP retains White House grounds credentials, the ban significantly impacts its ability to report on presidential activities. The AP is preparing a legal challenge, citing viewpoint discrimination.
Read More
Following criticism over its renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to “Gulf of America” for US users, Google Maps has temporarily disabled user reviews for the location. This action, defended by Google as a measure to prevent irrelevant or abusive content, comes amidst accusations of censorship due to the removal of negative reviews. The company cites a previous blog post detailing its policies on combating fake reviews and managing user-generated content. This incident highlights the increasing use of “review-bombing” as a form of online protest.
Read More
The White House barred Associated Press (AP) journalists from presidential events after the AP refused to use President Trump’s newly decreed name, “Gulf of America,” for the Gulf of Mexico. The White House deemed the AP’s continued use of “Gulf of Mexico” as a lie and retaliated by restricting access, a move condemned by press freedom advocates as a violation of the First Amendment. While the White House claims Oval Office access is a privilege, critics argue this action constitutes censorship and intimidation. Several major news organizations, including the New York Times and Washington Post, similarly rejected the name change, citing the body of water’s international boundaries and long-established name.
Read More
Matt Underwood 
John Q. Hosedrinker