This week, several major news outlets have been denied access to Pentagon briefings, which are instead being held for media organizations approved by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The move comes as investigations are underway regarding U.S. military strikes. These new briefings are part of a special orientation event for a new Pentagon press corps primarily comprised of conservative outlets that agreed to new operational rules. Many mainstream outlets left the Pentagon in the fall after refusing to agree to the new rules.
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The White House’s decision to eliminate a regular reporting slot for independent newswires represents a concerning move towards controlling information flow. This action directly impacts access for smaller news organizations, raising serious questions about transparency and the administration’s commitment to a free press. The elimination of this slot isn’t simply a matter of rearranging press access; it’s a calculated step to limit diverse perspectives and potentially silence critical voices.
The stated rationale for this change is often vague, lacking transparency itself. Claims of expanding access to “non-traditional” media by favoring print outlets seem contradictory and arbitrary, particularly given the broader context of suppressed independent voices.… Continue reading
The White House must now allow the Associated Press full access, a judge has ruled, solidifying the principle of equal access for journalists within the government’s purview. This ruling correctly emphasizes that if the government chooses to open its doors to some members of the press, it cannot selectively shut those doors to others based on their perceived viewpoints. This is a fundamental aspect of the First Amendment’s protection of free speech and the press, ensuring an even playing field for disseminating information to the public.
However, the practical implications of this ruling are far from straightforward. The question arises: what are the exact requirements for inclusion in the White House press corps?… Continue reading
A TASS journalist, from Russia’s state-owned news agency, was mistakenly included in the Oval Office press pool during a meeting between President Trump and President Zelensky, despite not being on the approved list. The White House subsequently removed the journalist and acknowledged the unauthorized access as a breach of protocol, occurring just days after the White House assumed control of press pool selection. This incident contrasts sharply with the exclusion of AP and Reuters reporters from the meeting, highlighting concerns about press access and potential security lapses under the new system.
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President Trump’s second-term Cabinet meeting concluded with him requesting positive coverage from Fox & Friends co-host Lawrence Jones, who was present due to recent White House press pool changes. The administration, unilaterally altering decades-long press pool selection practices, now hand-picks attendees, excluding outlets like the Associated Press. This decision follows a White House statement asserting that press access is a privilege, not a right, and a claim of unprecedented transparency. The White House Correspondents’ Association, bypassed in the process, vows to resist government control over White House coverage.
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A US judge denied the Associated Press’s request for immediate White House access reinstatement following a ban stemming from a dispute over the term “Gulf of America.” The Trump administration, citing the AP’s refusal to adopt the president’s executive order renaming the Gulf of Mexico, maintains its decision to bar the agency from presidential events. The judge scheduled a further hearing for March 20th to address the AP’s claim that the ban violates First Amendment rights. The AP vows to continue its fight for press freedom, while the White House celebrated the initial ruling.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood