Free Republic

President Donald Trump is free to bar the Associated Press from some White House media events for now, after a U.S. appeals court on Friday paused a lower court ruling mandating that AP journalists be given access. The divided ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit temporarily blocks an order by U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden, who ruled on April 8 that the Trump administration must allow AP journalists access to the Oval Office, Air Force One and White House events while the news agency's lawsuit moves forward.

THE HILL – A federal judge on Tuesday ordered the Trump administration to restore the Associated Press’s access to key White House spaces after it exiled AP reporters over the organization’s refusal to use “Gulf of America” in its popular stylebook. U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden, an appointee of President Trump, directed the White House to resume allowing the AP into the Oval Office, Air Force One and other limited spaces when they’re made available to other press pool members. The judge also granted the AP’s request for returned access to events open to all credentialed White House reporters, though...

Mark Hamill says the force is with President Biden — the actor made a surprise visit Friday to the White House briefing room and offered a “Star Wars”-inspired nickname for the commander in chief. “How many of you had ‘Mark Hamill will lead the press briefing’ on your bingo cards?” Hamill, sporting a pair of sunglasses, told reporters at the top of the White House’s press briefing. “I just got to meet the president, and he gave me these aviator glasses,” added Hamill, known for his role as Luke Skywalker. Asked about his Oval Office visit with Biden, Hamill said,...

French President Emmanuel Macron’s office is closing the press room inside the presidential palace amid broader efforts by the French leader to control his public image.Advisers for Macron announced Wednesday that journalists will be moved to a new site out of the presidential Élysée Palace with less access to presidential activity. […] Macron’s office has increasingly used Facebook and YouTube to spread his message instead of publicly answering media questions. …

"There definitely aren't a lot of laughs around the briefing room these days," says Washington Examiner White House correspondent Julie Mason. "Robert's little digs and evasions have lost their power to amuse — particularly since we haven't had a presser since July."