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Why Trump's Latest Attack on the Press is So Alarming

Trump is now controlling what information gets from the White House to the public

Dan Pfeiffer

Mar 2

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On Tuesday, the Trump White House drastically changed how the media covers the president. Michael Grymbaum wrote in the New York Times:

The Trump administration said on Tuesday that it would start handpicking which media outlets were allowed to participate in the presidential press pool, the small, rotating group of reporters who relay the president’s day-to-day activities to the public.

Long-time readers of this newsletter know that I am skeptical about the political relevance of the traditional press and very critical of Democrats — including Joe Biden and Kamala Harris — for depending on these outlets to communicate our message. The media ecosystem is changing. The influence of legacy media brands continues to decline, while podcasters, YouTubers, TikTok influencers, and independent media are more popular and relevant than ever.

I also have little patience for the overly dramatic complaints from reporters about the lack of access and insufficient interviews and press conferences. As an example, recall the temper tantrum thrown by the publisher of the New York Times over Biden’s unwillingness to sit down for an interview with the paper. The press should advocate for as much access as possible, but too often they treat the absence of a formal press conference as a violation of the First Amendment.

Despite these biases (stemming from many years of arguing with members of the White House Press Corps), the change in the White House Press Pool deeply concerns me — and should concern you too...