# Banning the Associated Press from White House briefings? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** magazines-newspapers\ **Created:** [February 25, 2025, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banning-the-associated-press-from-white-house-briefings/1014791 "2025-02-25T20:36:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JoePockets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8dc957/32.png) [@JoePockets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoePockets)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2025, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banning-the-associated-press-from-white-house-briefings/1014791/1 "2025-02-25T20:36:37Z")
I’m trying to understand this, So the press can’t cover him because he is upset that they don’t use the made up name of an international waterway. Is it legal for the President to pick and choose who attends when he briefs the public in the People’s House? I realize he is extremely petty but this is beyond, but now a judge agrees ? ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2025, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banning-the-associated-press-from-white-house-briefings/1014791/2 "2025-02-25T20:43:27Z")
> **[White House press corps | History](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_House_press_corps?useskin=vector#History)** > > The White House press corps had their first duties in the White House in the early 1900s. An urban legend exists of President Theodore Roosevelt noticing a group of correspondents in the rain looking for sources for their stories and inviting them into the White House. Subsequent historical research outlines how reporters were able to start with small stories in the White House and then grew their presence and influence over a span of many years. > In 1977, a court ruled in Sherrill v. Knight that... > In 1977, a court ruled in _[Sherrill v. Knight](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sherrill_v._Knight)_ that the White House had a limited right to deny a press pass.[[6]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_House_press_corps?useskin=vector#cite_note-ABA-6)[[7]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_House_press_corps?useskin=vector#cite_note-ABA_fact_check-7)[[8]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_House_press_corps?useskin=vector#cite_note-Foreign_Policy-8) In 2018, the White House withdrew the pass of [Jim Acosta](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Acosta) of [CNN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cable_News_Network). CNN sued, and a federal judge temporarily ordered the pass to be restored, on grounds of [due process](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Due_process).[[9]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_House_press_corps?useskin=vector#cite_note-Pass_Guardian-9) In May 2019, under a new standard, the White House revoked dozens of press passes.[[10]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_House_press_corps?useskin=vector#cite_note-CJR-10) > > In February 2025, the White House announced that it would determine which outlets are allowed access to the president, instead of the [White House Correspondents’ Association](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_House_Correspondents%27_Association).[[11]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_House_press_corps?useskin=vector#cite_note-11) [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White\_House\_Correspondents](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_House_Correspondents)’\_Association?useskin=vector Interestingly… > The WHCA was founded on February 25, 1914, by journalists in response to an unfounded rumor that a [United States congressional committee](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_congressional_committee) would select which journalists could attend press conferences of President [Woodrow Wilson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodrow_Wilson).[[4]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_House_Correspondents'_Association?useskin=vector#cite_note-WHCA_History-4) ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2025, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banning-the-associated-press-from-white-house-briefings/1014791/3 "2025-02-25T20:44:57Z")
I am very curious about the law here as well. Locally, we have laws that any meeting of Philly city council members must be open to the press. A few years back, two council members objected to being followed by reporters while they were talking to eachother. The reporters insisted the law required such a meeting to be open to the press. The city council members insisted they were not discussing any official business and were just chatting. IIRC the court found in favor of the reporters. ---
**Author:** ![JoePockets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8dc957/32.png) [@JoePockets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoePockets)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2025, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banning-the-associated-press-from-white-house-briefings/1014791/4 "2025-02-25T20:48:19Z")
So basically Trump wants a rally environment with extra softballs for questions! ---
**Author:** ![JoePockets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8dc957/32.png) [@JoePockets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoePockets)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2025, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banning-the-associated-press-from-white-house-briefings/1014791/5 "2025-02-25T20:48:48Z")
Large….sorry ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2025, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banning-the-associated-press-from-white-house-briefings/1014791/6 "2025-02-25T20:49:42Z")
> [@JoePockets](#): > > the press can’t cover him because he is upset that they don’t use the made up name of an international waterway. Which in itself is an illegal reason, since the federal government has no authority to impose on private citizens what names are used for geographic features. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2025, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banning-the-associated-press-from-white-house-briefings/1014791/7 "2025-02-25T23:36:24Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > In February 2025, the White House announced that it would determine which outlets are allowed access to the president, instead of the [White House Correspondents’ Association](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_House_Correspondents%27_Association). (From the wikipedia article quoted above.) This is actually rather huge. As some have noted, this kind of takeover of press access has been seen in Orban’s Hungary and other authoritarian states. > **[White House will choose journalists who have access to Trump in press pool](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/white-house-journalists-access-to-trump/)** > > The White House announced it will choose which news outlets get to cover President Trump in close quarters or in events with limited access. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2025, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banning-the-associated-press-from-white-house-briefings/1014791/8 "2025-02-26T19:14:58Z")
Trump has now also banned the Huffington Post and Reuters from press briefings, in addition to the AP. Stay tuned for more outrages. When this kind of thing happened before, I heard that the other outlets refused to play along. I hope they have the guts to do so again, and to “press pool” the results of the briefings, even if the banned can’t get to ask questions. > **[White House Kicks Out HuffPost Reporter From Press Pool](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/white-house-kicks-out-huffpost-reporter-from-press-pool_n_67be9224e4b0d509934aa224)** > > Breaking with decades of precedent, the Trump White House is insisting on the ability to choose which reporters cover the president. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2025, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banning-the-associated-press-from-white-house-briefings/1014791/9 "2025-02-26T19:54:23Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > When this kind of thing happened before, I heard that the other outlets refused to play along. When it happened before, Fox was kicked out and the other networks fought to get them back in. I would be surprised if Fox reciprocates. > **[White House attempted to shut out Fox News reporter](https://www.rcfp.org/white-house-attempted-shut-out-fox-news-reporter/)** > > Tension between the White House and Fox News continued to mount this week after broadcast bureau chiefs in Washington refused to go along with the Obama’s administration’s attempt to squeeze Fox News out of an interview. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2025, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banning-the-associated-press-from-white-house-briefings/1014791/10 "2025-02-26T19:59:00Z")
I doubt any of the other news services reciprocate. They could boycott Obama’s press conferences secure in the knowledge that Obama wasn’t a petty, vindictive tyrant who would revoke broadcast licenses, get people to literally threaten death against editors, etc. If ABC News decided to boycott the press conference in support of AP, there’s a real likelihood that Trump’s FCC would try and shut them down. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2025, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banning-the-associated-press-from-white-house-briefings/1014791/11 "2025-02-26T20:13:38Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > If ABC News decided to boycott the press conference in support of AP, there’s a real likelihood that Trump’s FCC would try and shut them down. Does ABC News itself actually broadcast anywhere? As opposed to an individual station. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2025, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banning-the-associated-press-from-white-house-briefings/1014791/12 "2025-02-26T20:16:49Z")
If you count streaming/cable as broadcast, then yes. Otherwise, I don’t think so. So, the FCC would pull the license from ABC NY or something. The formerly independent FCC has been specifically subsumed by the executive branch according to a recent executive order. ETA: Or, if that’s too extreme, feel free to substitute some other vindictive action by the administration that the Obama administration wouldn’t consider doing. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2025, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banning-the-associated-press-from-white-house-briefings/1014791/13 "2025-02-26T23:24:12Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > So, the FCC would pull the license from ABC NY or something. The NBC, CBS, and ABC stations in the three biggest markets (NYC, LA, Chicago) are all network owned., The Philadelphia stations (5th largest market) are all network owned. Look here: [ABC Owned Stations](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ABC_Owned_Television_Stations#Current) [NBC Owned Stations](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NBC_Owned_Television_Stations#Current) [CBS Owned Stations](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CBS_News_and_Stations#Current) Network-owned stations are concentrated in [big markets](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_television_stations_in_North_America_by_media_market#:~:text=There%20are%20210%20Designated%20Market,Chicago%20(%233)). Networks cannot survive without them. This is a real vulnerability. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2025, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banning-the-associated-press-from-white-house-briefings/1014791/14 "2025-02-27T02:27:16Z")
I’m not sure the AP is missing a whole lot by being shut out. They miss the opportunity to help spread the trump narrative, and all trump does is lie and bullshit. It’s not like trump would answer substantiative questions even if he could. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2025, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banning-the-associated-press-from-white-house-briefings/1014791/15 "2025-02-27T02:41:05Z")
What I’d like to see is all the fact-based media to simply boycott any event that any one of them is refused entry. Instead of covering the event, they should cover whatever current facts are embarrassing to the regime. ---
**Author:** ![aurora\_maire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aurora_maire/32/328_2.png) [@aurora\_maire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aurora_maire)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2025, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banning-the-associated-press-from-white-house-briefings/1014791/16 "2025-02-27T04:45:05Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > It’s not like trump would answer substantiative questions even if he could. Yes. What’s the point of having the privilege to ask questions when the answers are word salad from Trump and propaganda from his press secretary? The reporters can get better information almost anywhere else. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2025, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banning-the-associated-press-from-white-house-briefings/1014791/17 "2025-02-27T05:03:06Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > It’s not like trump would answer substantiative questions even if he could. Note that, generally speaking, the press briefings in question are conducted by the White House Press Secretary (or one of their assistants). It’s not typical for the President themselves to participate in them. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2025, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banning-the-associated-press-from-white-house-briefings/1014791/18 "2025-02-27T12:39:06Z")
I thought they were also kicked off AF1. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2025, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banning-the-associated-press-from-white-house-briefings/1014791/19 "2025-02-27T12:48:55Z")
Two tidbits for context: _“If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it. The lie can be maintained only for such time as the State can shield the people from the political, economic and/or military consequences of the lie. It thus becomes vitally important for the State to use all of its powers to repress dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth is the greatest enemy of the State."_ –Hugh Trevor-Roper, English historian, paraphrasing Joseph Goebbels, WWII German Propaganda Minister 14 Characteristics of Fascism: 1. Powerful and Continuing Nationalism 2. Disregard for Human Rights 3. Identification of Enemies as a Unifying Cause 4. Supremacy of the Military 5. Widespread Sexism # 6. Controlled Mass Media 1. Obsession with National Security 2. Religion and Government are Intertwined 3. Corporate Power is Protected 4. Labor Power is Suppressed 5. Disrespect for Intellectuals and the Arts 6. Obsession with Crime and Punishment 7. Rampant Cronyism and Corruption 8. Fraudulent Elections –Lawrence Britt, Author, “Fascism, Anyone?” Who’s keeping score? Like everything else in Trump 2.0, he isn’t going to be a fundamentally more decent person or benevolent leader. He’s going to eliminate government officials of conscience and tear down any conceivable checks and balances as soon as they can find a way to do so. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2025, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banning-the-associated-press-from-white-house-briefings/1014791/20 "2025-02-27T17:22:49Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > I’m not sure the AP is missing a whole lot by being shut out. They miss the opportunity to help spread the trump narrative, and all trump does is lie and bullshit. Exactly. Blondie Baghdad Bob reads from a script. When asked a question about the propaganda she just read, she simply rereads it. There isn’t any remotely newsworthy about what she is spewing unless you want to write an article about how to spot propaganda. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banning-the-associated-press-from-white-house-briefings/1014791.md?page=2)