Sam Stein and Lauren Egan break down Karoline Leavitt’s announcement the White House will dictate which news outlets will be able to cover Donald Trump in the press pool.
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I see Carolyn no longer wears that huge cross around her neck. Did it finally burst into flames?
I saw a discussion about this on CNN and have been wondering about something. Scott Jennings, who is conservative, said something about Biden dictating or banning hundreds of reporters for some reason. This didn't make any sense to me, but I was wondering if someone could shed some light on it.
Of course, there is nuance around the statement that Biden banned reporters: https://www.foxnews.com/media/440-reporters-lose-press-passes-white-house-changes-requirements
Thanks for this info. Clearly Jennings left out any kind of nuance.
Nuance and context are not in the Newt Gingrich playbook which all Repubs follow.
Here’s the political comment: Why haven’t all media outlets just refused to cooperate with this press pool BS and spend time on investigative work?
I've been wondering the same thing.
Where’s Bulwark’s spellcheck & fact check these days (see JVL’s newsletter talking about our ‘contrary” vs “country”) and now the press secretary’s name is Caroline when I’ve only seen Karoline…once an English major…
Who's that??? Plaistow Karoline!!! The apple doesn't fall far from the low-class tree!!!!
Welcome Lauren! Founding Member here! I just finished watching the video and you are exactly what we need now.
I have an 83 year old Congressmen in an 80+% Democratic district. All I have seen of him in the last few weeks are several emails with a bunch of copy/paste drivel ..."I write to you today to reaffirm my unwavering support for..." or "my deep concerns about..." and "I will continue to flight..." then "I urge you to stay engaged..." blah, blah, blah. (and if you let me know where I can forward them, am happy to share!).
I voted against him in the last 3 primaries, not because I have anything against him, but because we are in the battle of our lives for the future of Democracy and need fighters in Congress (as well as our fighters at the Bulwark, of course!)
Let the last generation be available to share all their great wisdom of the Civil Rights era, but then get out of the way for those who have the energy for real opposition to take control.
Thanks for letting me rant - it felt great!😊
The despair of watching those two (Vance and Trump) acting like school yard bullies in the Oval office was so upsetting I couldn't even watch. What can we do to get rid of them before we are thrown into war?
I don't know if this is all bad. We know for sure his press conferences are full of lies. What's the harm in being shut out of the propaganda fest?
We really need to reconsider these things. It's actually a strength to be locked out of the press pool - it means you're reporting on things they don't like. By itself it doesn't guarantee quality journalism, but in this environment it's an encouraging sign.
Look at the Washington Post. They're killing more and more stories and cartoons to stay in the administration's good graces. They're a perfect example of the kind of corruption and lack of spine it takes to stay in favor with the press corps.
I do think that this will quickly move from Newsmax sending out the Press pool report to the Whitehouse writing it. In little time the Whitehouse comms dept. will be issuing their own "news reports" to the entire pool to be replayed on all local news, cable etc.
They don't want ANY independent media.
That's right! That is their goal. All questions that clarify the brutality and chaos are labeled "disrespectful" or "dumb." We need a press member who will LISTEN silently and then report what they are really saying and doing. We can't go in and show that we see the deception. Time for spy mode
She says it’s back in the hands of the people because that’s going to be this administration’s spin on everything. Their twisted logic is that since the American people elected Trump, anything he decrees is in the name of the people, for the people, and what the people chose. And anything that opposes his will apparently opposes the will of the American people. Good times.
Straight out of the authoritarian playbook.
The WH Press Corps should boycott Bullshit Barbie's press conferences. I have zero interest in hearing about lies from "intimate spaces". They can post their X-rated propaganda on Porn Hub.
The White House press has always been a joke--and their treatment of Biden vs treatment of trump has been appalling. The double standard and whining about 'access' are silly. So, I don't feel any sympathy for them. This decision was always going to happen b/c the press has cowered to trump and his minions for almost 10 years now.
Once the media decided to not stand with the AP told trump they aren't willing to take a stand on anything.
New name White House Cess Pool?
An yes, this is giving the power back to the people.
They're not selling access? Amazing!
The total lack of moral fiber in the WHCA is unsurprising, but deeply frustrating. We all warned them last week that it was imperative they immediately walk out in support of the AP or Trump would come for all of them. Well, here we are!
So you're saying that from now on all the reporters with access to Trump will be from the shallow end of the pool? 🏊♀️
Makes sense since he is too!
The drama over the AP and the Gulf of Mexico may seem relatively trivial. It is not. Free speech includes the right to be free from compelled speech. To compel speech is to force someone to attest to something they do not believe to be true. The Gulf of Mexico does not become the Gulf of America just because a person in power says that it is so. Compelled speech is an attempt to compel thought. We have always been at war with Eurasia. Right? There was a Supreme Court case that involved a rule that required Jehovah’s Witnesses high school students to recite the Pledge of Allegiance. The Court ruled for the students, stating: 'Those who begin coercive elimination of dissent soon find themselves exterminating dissenters. Compulsory unification of opinion achieves only the unanimity of the graveyard”
Thanks Sam. We depend on your reporting.
The interview with Chuck Todd was great and yes for collective action! And so great to see Lauren! Welcome to the Bulwark!
West wing clip
OH, if we could only go back to the standards of the West Wing; worth re-watching for how different government can be.
Define "cover." How much will it really impact that independent journos won't be able to ask Putin Wannabe direct questions?
* Trump doesn't answer questions truthfully anyway
* Right-wing outlets won't show independent questions unless it fits their propaganda anyway
* We get so much Trumparrhea anyway, it's not like we're lacking for Trumpsht
I disagree that this is "inside baseball". Any threat to the 1st Amendment, especially one this substantial, is anything but inside baseball. Your tagline speaks of the "crisis severity" (whatever that means) but I think you've minimized it by saying this White House move is anything but an all out attack on freedom of speech.
https://youtu.be/_RujOFCHsxo?si=6YdzHnI2FccpITtf
Sam, I don't want you to take this personally, but I am starting to develop an unfortunate Pavlovian response to "Hey guys, Sam Stein..." with all this bleak shit you have to report. Maybe you can do a report on some nice cats that roam your neighborhood or maybe a cocktail recipe for the weekend. Just riffing here. Thank you for your consideration.
FIRST AMENDMENT. freedom of the press. This is the opposite of that.
Right-wing news outlets or right-wing anything right now wanting for ca$h? Come on.
Regarding press pool travel expenses.
I can’t believe it, every single day just more and more nightmare scenarios.
djt wants this argument/fight/whatwver-this-is. if it hadn't been the gulf thingy it would have been something else...
Just because he wants it, doesn't mean it's good for him!
It’s a 10! Everything since 1.20.2025 is a 10!
Hey press, does your neck hurt from the Nazi knee pressing down?
1.20.25 was the day after January 6th.
Ms Levitt, sociopathic Trumpler liar for hire. Watching her snark-bitch her way through “information events for the people re their POTUS” stunning new “state tv.”
And here we are, diminishment of military independence, congressional independence, media independence, SCOTUS independence. America now authoritarian oligarchical kleptocracy.
Snark bitch is perfect! I have been trying to come up with a word that fits her (other than the c word!) Thank you!
Another GOPMAGA witch.
She does give the impression she has a broomstick up her backside