Media Politicize

Stopping WH Media Ban

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Article in AP by Michael Kunzelman, Jocelyn Noveck, and Rebecca Boone

Headline: “Media attorneys ask court for help in preventing White House ban until legal case is resolved”

“. . .An attorney for three news organizations told a federal judge Thursday that the Trump administration must be prevented from barring their reporters from the White House, saying the ban is a classic example of “viewpoint discrimination” that is punishing people for what they say — and violating the media outlets’ First Amendment rights. . .”

Read the full article at:

https://apnews.com/article/trump-networks-media-ban-cnn-6459d3612a0a845a0cf1a093acafbe6f

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Article in The Guardian by Jeremy Barr, 10/8/26

Headline:  “Trump made ‘clear’ that media ban was due to critical coverage, court told”

Subhead: “Lawyer for CNN, MS Now and Politico says Trump admitted he banned networks from White House over their coverage”

“Donald Trump continues to be the strongest witness for the media companies arguing that they were unfairly barred from the White House at his direction, a lawyer representing CNN, MS Now and Politico told a federal judge on Thursday afternoon. . .”

Read the full article at:

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2026/oct/08/trump-media-ban-hearing

Media in the Lifeboats!

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Article in Mediaite by Alex Griffing, 10/7/26

Headline: “Pete Hegseth Welcomes USS Lincoln Crew Home With a Rant Against the Media: They Tried to Say it Was a ‘Failed Mission!’”

“. . .Hegseth slammed the media for its reporting on the conditions aboard the vessel during his remarks. ‘And there were a few folks in the media who tried to turn the USS Abraham Lincoln into some sort of symbol: a symbol of dysfunction, or a symbol of low morale, or a symbol of a failed mission,’ Hegseth fumed, adding:

“‘And what I look out at right here, and what I talked to your leadership about – and I have had a chance to talk to a number of you – I know it’s the exact opposite, which is actually what the media does so often.’. . .”

Read the full article at:

https://www.mediaite.com/media/news/pete-hegseth-welcomes-uss-lincoln-crew-home-with-a-rant-against-the-media-they-tried-to-say-it-was-a-failed-mission/

Of a Feather – On Same Branch

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Article in Mediaite by Zachary Leeman, 10/6/26

Headline: ” ‘It’s Gonna Be a Great Company!’ Trump Raves About Ally David Ellison Taking Over Warner Bros in Massive Merger”

“President Donald Trump raved about the $111 billion merger between Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery, saying it will be a “great company” headed by “terrific people.”

“Trump spoke with the press before a departure to Maryland on Tuesday. He avoided multiple questions about his recent remarks about Iran’s ability to ‘take out’ Los Angeles and San Diego, but he was full of praise over Paramount’s David Ellison taking over Warner Bros. . .”

Read the full article at:

https://www.mediaite.com/media/tv/its-gonna-be-a-great-company-trump-raves-about-ally-david-ellison-taking-over-warner-bros-in-massive-merger/

Steaks, University, Watches, and Trump

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Article in The New York Times by By Maggie HabermanHamed AleazizShane Goldmacher and Jonathan Swan, 10/2/26

Headline: “Trump Directed Use of Taxpayer Money for Ads Praising His Presidency”

Subhead: “The government-funded ads show just how much President Trump has been able to use federal money for his own aims.”

“President Trump personally instructed his budget director to use taxpayer money for TV ads praising him and his presidency, setting in motion a $20 million contract that used funds from the Department of Homeland Security, according to people familiar with the matter.

“The ads have run across cable and network television — on Fox News, CNN and MS Now, with football games on Fox and with national newscasts on CBS, ABC and NBC, including ‘Meet the Press,’ which Mr. Trump is known to watch. . .”

Read the full article at:

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/02/us/politics/trump-ads.html

Don’t Repeat Fake Information? – Get Punished?

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Article in Media Matters by Matt Gertz. 9/28/26

Headline:  “Trump’s press grievances are based in their refusal to do propaganda”

“The Justice Department sought last week to justify President Donald Trump’s decision to ban three news outlets from the White House by arguing that their reporters had jeopardized national security. But Trump’s own statements show what he actually wants from the press: servile propaganda that parrots what he and his political allies say about his administration. . .”

Read the full article at:

https://www.mediamatters.org/donald-trump/trumps-press-grievances-are-based-their-refusal-do-propaganda

Will Reporter’s Barricade Last?

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Article in The Wrap by A.J. Katz, 9/25/26

Headline:   “Trump’s War With the Press Keeps Escalating. How Long Can the Guardrails Hold? | Analysis”

Subhead:  “A court victory and an unusual show of media solidarity ended the latest White House standoff — for now”

“The Trump administration’s latest confrontation with the press ended, for now, with the institutional guardrails holding. But not for lack of the president trying to barrel his way through them.

“A federal judge on Thursday ordered the White House to restore access to CNN, MS NOW and Politico. The major television networks stood together rather than replace CNN in the White House TV pool. . .”

Read the full article at:

https://www.thewrap.com/media-platforms/journalism/trump-press-war-white-house-guardrails-analysis/

New Media No-Fly List?

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Article in AP by Billie Golden, 9/25/26

Headline:  “CNN left off Air Force One for Trump’s upcoming trip, White House signals in new media restriction”

“The White House signaled Friday night that CNN would be left off Air Force One for President Donald Trump’s Saturday trip, the latest media restriction from the administration in an ongoing dispute with First Amendment implications.

“The news organization was replaced by Real America’s Voice News, a conservative network, for the president’s trip to Knoxville, Tennessee, according to White House guidance. . .”

Read the full story at:

https://apnews.com/article/white-house-media-ban-cnn-network-pool-c32504981ee2f5b3c137e57d9d36f33e

Paramount Grabs CNN

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Article in FAIR by Ari Paul, 9/24/26

Headline:  “CNN Cleared to Join CBS Under Trumpian Paramount Ownership”

“Paramount’s purchase of Warner Bros. Discovery, which faced legal action and concern that Paramount boss David Ellison may be consolidating too much media power, is now going forward. A dozen states brought litigation that tied the merger up in court, but they announced a settlement this week. According to California Attorney General Rob Bonta. . .”

Read the full article at:

https://fair.org/home/cnn-cleared-to-join-cbs-under-trumpian-paramount-ownership/

Tonight, WH Defies Judge?

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Article in the New York Times by Peter Baker, 9/24/26

Headline:  “In Trump’s White House, China’s Dictator Is Welcome. American Media, Less So.”

Subhead:  “The showdown over President Trump’s partial media ban played out as he welcomed President Xi Jinping, whose government is ranked among the most repressive in the world.”

“At the White House gate, a throng of Chinese journalists was being admitted onto the grounds of the Executive Mansion to cover the visit of President Xi Jinping. Out on the street, several American journalists were blocked from entering the White House on the orders of President Trump. . .”

Read the full article at:

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/24/us/politics/trump-xi-press-pool-boycott-media.html

Here Comes the Media Judge

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Article in Reuters by Jan Wolfe and Jack Queen, 9/23/26

Headline: “Judge skeptical of Trump’s White House media ban at hearing”

“US judge appeared skeptical on Wednesday about the legality of Donald Trump’s decision to bar CNN, ​MS NOW and Politico journalists from the White House, indicating he may grant their request to lift the ban they describe as unlawful retaliation for news coverage ‌the president dislikes.
US District Judge Timothy Kelly said at a hearing in Washington that Trump’s ban did not appear to comply with past legal precedents by failing to give the news outlets an opportunity to respond. . .”

Read the full article at:

https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/news-outlets-will-ask-judge-end-trumps-white-house-ban-hearing-2026-09-23/

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Article in The Guardian by Jeremy Barr

Headline:  “Judge seems inclined to side with media outlets who were banned from White House in lawsuit”

Subhead:  “Due process was not followed, said judge, when CNN, MS Now and Politico were banned from White House”

Read the full article at:

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2026/sep/23/white-house-media-ban-lawsuit