Welcome back to Monday Barf Bag.
During a Q&A session with editors and journalists in April 1985, former President Ronald Reagan said that “One of the first institutions to be attacked by tyrants, whether they’re dictators of the left or right, is the press.” Unfortunately, the man’s probably frowning upwards at his postdecessor from hell right about now, because flash forward 41 years and five presidents later, and Donald Trump has gone and banished three major news outlets from the White House. Great! Love this for democracy!
The consequences of this, naturally, landed Trump some legal backlash on Monday morning, after CNN, MS NOW, and Politico—the three outlets that were suddenly banned on Friday—filed a critical First Amendment lawsuit. In a joint statement, they wrote:
“This morning, we notified the government that we are filing a lawsuit today to protect our First Amendment rights and defend the principle that the government does not decide what the press reports or publishes. Without notice or process, the White House revoked our journalists’ credentials because it objected to our reporting. Left unchallenged, this threatens press freedom and the public’s right to independent journalism free from government interference.”
Trump first announced he was “banning” the outlets from the White House on Friday, taking to Truth Social to say it was “a result of their constant ‘reporting’ FAKE NEWS!” He defended the decision shortly afterward at the Oval Office, saying, “You get so tired of reading and seeing fake news. When you look at CNN, it’s just fake. That’s why their ratings are no good.” (Here’s your weekly reminder that pretty much every reputable pollster has the president’s approval ratings pegged to some record-low 30s.)
Immediately afterward, reporters from all three publications found themselves unable to enter White House grounds, despite having permanent badges. (Journalists from MS Now and CNN were first to find their security badges were suddenly no longer working.)
Speaking of his decision at the Oval Office, Trump explained that, “Our country has to have honest news.” Which is… w-e-i-r-d. Especially given this is someone who’s regularly been caught lying on the job. But, well, given the *checks list* dodgy elections, an illegal war, and not-so-disguised existential threats, what’s another tick off the deconstitutionalizing bucket list?
More barf:
- Melania posted a 9-second video of preparations for the White House State Dinner, and it’s pretty much exactly what you’d expect if Marie Antoinette had TikTok. (HuffPost)
- Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) is denying accusations of inappropriate sexual relations with her (female) staffers and has slammed the journalist who made the claim. Still, this seems like a good time to remind y’all she has an extensive anti-LGBTQ+ voting record. (them.us)
- Seems like Health and Human Services RFK Jr. had himself some coastal holidays, thanks to his top donor! (WSJ)
- Secretary of
WarDefenseInfluencer Pete Hegseth invited Jake and Logan Paul to the Pentagon so they could speak to American troops. (Daily Beast)
