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I've always thought that the FAKE NEWSies would have to be at least partially restrained from Mockingbird activities prior to major information releases because they would distort the truth beyond recognition. With this in mind, I was pleased to read Dana Millbank's lament that he, along with many others, lost his "hard pass" to the White House.

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https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-white-house-has-revoked-my-press-pass-its-not-just-me--its-curtailing-access-for-all-journalists/2019/05/08/bb9794b4-71c0-11e9-8be0-ca575670e91c_story.html

By Dana Milbank
Columnist
May 8 at 5:00 PM

For the past 21 years, I have had the high privilege of holding a White House press pass, a magical ticket that gives the bearer a front-row seat to history.

I was in the White House the night Bill Clinton admitted his affair with Monica Lewinsky, and the day he was impeached. I was there on Sept. 11, 2001, and the fearful days thereafter, when we were trained to use escape hoods. I watched George W. Bush make the case for the Iraq War and Barack Obama pitch his remedies for the market crash. There, too, I have witnessed the carnival-like briefings and high histrionics of Donald Trump’s presidency.

But no more. The White House eliminated most briefings and severely restricted access to official events. And this week came the coup de grace: After covering four presidents, I received an email informing me that Trump’s press office had revoked my White House credential.

I’m not the only one. It was part of a mass purge of “hard pass” holders after the White House implemented a new standard that designated as unqualified almost the entire White House press corps, including all six of The Post’s White House correspondents. White House officials then chose which journalists would be granted “exceptions.” It did this over objections from news organizations and the White House Correspondents’ Association.

PDATED: CNN Buys Out Hundreds, Brian Stelter Insists ‘No Layoffs’

https://saraacarter.com/cnn-layoffs-hundreds-brian-stelter-spin-them-as-voluntary/

Hurting in ratings, CNN is now pushing for ‘voluntary layoffs’.

CNN says roughly 100 employees have accepted voluntary buyouts a month after an overhaul by parent company AT&T.

Brian Stelter, also confirmed the rumor, trying to spin it as “hundreds of staffers leaving CNN, as voluntary buyouts.”

In a tweet, Brian Stelter said:

There’s a rumor making the rounds today about big impending layoffs at CNN. A CNN spokeswoman is knocking it down on the record: “No layoffs.” There WERE voluntary buyouts throughout the organization, and about 100 people opted for it.

This morning SaraACarter.com was contacted by CNN’s Brian Stelter, who asked our editorial to update the story. This is what he said:

“Sara, your blog post about me yesterday was factually incorrect. Will you be fixing it?

Buyouts: a voluntary way to leave with a big payout. Layoffs: forced firings. It’s strange that you pretended not to know the difference.”

However, “buyouts are a common method for reducing the number and cost of employees.”