Dear White House Reporters: WTF?
A letter from a former AP White House Correspondent
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Dear White House reporters:
Hello. It’s me. A few of you might remember my time on the beat for The Associated Press. Many of you have never heard of me and that’s okay. You’re busy people. You’ve got tough jobs, which is why I’ve hesitated so long to write.
I don’t want to sound like an old crank and I don’t want to add to your troubles. It’s hard enough serving an American public that doesn’t want to be served — a nation consisting mostly of lemmings using the democratization of communications to avoid facts and opinions that challenge our biases.
But I’ve got to ask: Why are you and your bosses putting up with this shit?
First the White House sidelined The AP for refusing to adopt State Speech regarding the Gulf of Mexico. Then they seized control of pool coverage, effectively choosing who covers President Trump up close. Now, according to our mutual friend Mike Allen at Axios, they're going to decide who sits where - and who sits out - at the White House briefing room.
Trump seems determined to turn the White House press corps into his personal propaganda machine, and the precedents he sets today will be exploited by all future presidents. I repeat my February warning:
The next step on the slippery slope could be to control who has access to video and audio feeds of presidential events. The communications wing of the U.S. military both records and distributes audio/video feeds at the White House now. Trump could break precedent and limit distribution to MAGA-friendly outlets or individuals.
Another step on the slippery slope could be to dictate the content of official transcripts of presidential events. No White House has dared to seize full control of those historical documents for regular Orwellian scrubbings. This White House could; they control the livelihoods of the stenographers whose work is traditionally nonpartisan.
Your bosses need to stop capitulating, band together, and take a stand. A few options:
Boycott the briefings, an unpopular idea defended here.
Cancel the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. Use the time to catch up on your rest or FOIAs.
Join The AP lawsuit, or at least frame it properly: A strong-arming government vs. every American’s First Amendment rights.
When the White House pulls a reporter from the pool or the briefing room, don’t take their place (you know who you are, and you ought to be ashamed).
When Trump or his people duck one of your competitor’s questions, repeat the question and demand an answer.
Devote more resources to investigative journalism that highlights the human cost of policies in Washington. No fear or favor. But especially no fear.
In February, I called the media’s response to all this pathetic. It’s only gotten worse. Just this weekend, the White House Correspondents’ Association caved to pressure from the administration and cancelled Amber Ruffin’s appearance at the WHCA’s annual dinner. The WHCA leadership is spinning a defensive narrative — not unlike the dissembling politicians you cover — but the bottom line is they capitulated.
The details in the Axios piece are outrageous, including a suggestion that Trump's press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, serve as president of the White House Correspondents’ Association.
“The White House plans to impose its own seating chart for reporters in the briefing room in coming weeks, taking over a function long managed by the reporters themselves through the White House Correspondents' Association,” Axios reported.
It's the latest — but likely not the last — effort by the White House to take a heavier hand in shaping who covers President Trump. In public and private, White House officials make it clear they are determined to upend decades-old press corps traditions.
Behind the scenes: Some members of the correspondents' association (WHCA) have been looking for ways to de-escalate. A senior White House official told Axios that a WHCA member had privately raised the possibility of changing the organization's bylaws so the sitting White House press secretary, currently Karoline Leavitt, always serves as WHCA president.
I don’t believe the anonymous White House official’s claim about a proposed presidency for Leavitt. But I do worry that some members of the WHCA want to “de-escalate,” which is a polite way to say capitulate. Please don’t do that.
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Who Is This Guy?
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This morning, the MRI featured stories on:
Trump telling me 25 years ago how he wanted to dramatically raise taxes on wealthy Americans, including himself.
The March Sadness part of March Madness.
Trump wondering whether he should fire Michael Waltz for his role in SignalGate
The career heartbreak of Generation X.
The most successful version of Florida Man who has ever lived.
Trump seeking to impose his imperialism on the U.S. election system.
The White House Correspondents’ Association capitulation.
Great post. I so wish these journalists would understand what is happening and what we all have to lose as they capitulate .
Ron, this is fabulous and needs broad circulation. Ok to share with some media friends?