White House, CNN continue fight over press room access in dispute over coronavirus briefings

Just The News ^ | April 24, 2020 | Carrie Sheffield

[McGruff]

The White House and CNN reportedly continued their fight over press room access in dispute over a reporting seat at Friday's coronavirus briefing.

The altercation could be the next step in the White House exerting what it argues is its constitutionally-sound right to maintain order in its press briefings.

Under the existing media seating chart created by the journalist-run White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA), CNN has prime real estate on the front row.

"Earlier today before the briefing, a White House official instructed the print pooler to take CNN’s seat in the briefing room because the seating would be swapped for the briefing," Chris Johnson, the chief political reporter and White House reporter for the Washington Blade, wrote in a press pool report. "Given the seating assignment is under the jurisdiction of White House Correspondents' Association, not the White House, pooler refused to move."

[McGruff]

Maybe the reason for no questions asked during yesterday's briefing.

[McGruff]

Earlier this month, the Justice Department rejected a CNN political analyst’s legal claim he deserved access to President Trump’s coronavirus briefings, warning the White House press room is ultimately federal property and not the legal domain of journalists.

The DOJ’s letter rejecting CNN and Playboy journalist Brian Karem’s demands to access the briefings appeared to serve notice to WHCA that its power to regulate who attends White House press briefings was based only on years of “tradition” and not a legal right.

[A_perfect_lady]

And I wouldn’t mind if it stayed that way.

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

Put your foot down so hard, President Trump, that the floor cracks and the White takes over the press room again.

[Carl Vehse]

The Chicom Noise Network

[Caipirabob]

I ours coordinate White House briefing pecking order as BURN IN HELL CNN!

But that’s just my opinion, of course.

[Caipirabob]

Spell checker is a birch!

[Drango]

BEAT the Press should be more than a show.

[Junk Silver]

I have no idea why Trump permits the ongoing abuse he receives from the Mainstream Media during these briefings. Barack Obama would have never stood for this. There are plenty of independent media outlets that could make good use of the opportunity to appear in these briefings and would ask challenging questions while still behaving like respectful adults.

Ban CNN from the White House press pool. What’s the worst thing they could do? Is it going to somehow make their coverage of Trump’s administration less favorable?

And for God’s sake defund NPR already. I have no problem with any media outlet broadcasting whatever criticisms of our President they wish to, but I am damn sick and tired of being compelled at gunpoint to pay for it.

[AndyJackson]

While states generally recognize adverse possession claims, you cannot lay adverse possession to federal government property.

[wastoute]

Because Trump gets more and better publicity from humiliating CNN than “shunning” them. It’s great entertainment and supports the work of the MOS 37Alphas.

[FrdmLvr]

Yes, because they’re not actually asking questions they need further clarification on in order to write they’re stories. They’re badgering and being confrontational, trying to send a message to the audience.

[FrdmLvr]

When Trump calls CNN out for being fake news, he needs to add, you are the reason I tweet, so the people know what I’ve actually said, not what you tell them I’ve said, which is always inaccurate.

[Thank You Rush]

“”Put your foot down so hard, President Trump, that the floor cracks and the White takes over the press room again.””

Wasn’t that room built OVER the old WH swimming pool? Too bad there’s not a trapdoor to open and dump them all in but I suppose it was filled up - probably where all the skeletons - ahem - were kept...

[Bobalu]

Boot CNN and give their seat to whoever the libs hate most.

Alex Jones?
OANN?

[McGruff]

Meanwhile the only honest reporter is forced to stand in the pack of the room.

Chanel Rion OAN

[AndyJackson]

Create a new "White House Journalist's Association" to control access and appoint actual journalists to the board to run it with the requirement that only journalists who uphold the Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics can attend.

Some provisions of the Code

• Take responsibility for the accuracy of their work. Verify information before releasing it.
• Use original sources whenever possible.
• Remember that neither speed nor format excuses inaccuracy.
• Provide context.
• Identify sources clearly
• Pursuit of the news is not a license for arrogance or undue intrusiveness

The board chaired by Candace Owens will evict violators of that standard.

[Petrosius]

Karem, a frequent Trump critic, objected to being denied access to the briefings by WHCA while the White House allowed Chanel Rion, a reporter for conservative outlet One America News, into the briefing room independently of WHCA approval. The WHCA recently voted to ban Rion from the briefings, however Rion returned to the briefing room as a guest of the White House press secretary.

What, the WHCA exercising censorship? Who are they to say who can come to a White House press briefing?

[A_perfect_lady]

Agree. When they are shouting questions like “Mr. President, is now the time for sarcasm... is it appropriate for you to...” I would like to see those reporters thrown out a window.

[demkicker]

Great idea!