The facts
President Donald Trump announced he is banning three major news outlets, CNN, MS NOW, and Politico, from the White House. Trump cited "unfavorable coverage" and accused the outlets of reporting "fiction and lies." In a social media post, the president stated, Media outlets shouldn't be able to constantly write or report fiction and lies. He also suggested that other news organizations could face similar actions. Trump elaborated in the Oval Office, saying, "They purposely write negative news. And they do that because they want to try and diminish the Republicans and a Republican administration." White House Correspondent Liz Landers reported that Trump admitted there was no particular reason for the ban on that specific day, but that he frequently expresses grievances with the press. Landers noted this is a troubling escalation, as during his first administration, Trump banned individual reporters, but not entire news outlets. She also mentioned the Associated Press has been removed from the press pool during this term. When asked about when the White House press badges would be pulled, Trump said he did not know but wants the ban to extend as far as possible, indicating more outlets might be added to the list. CNN responded by stating they stand by their reporting and that the ban would be an "illegal assault on constitutionally protected right to free speech." Politico stated they will continue to defend their First Amendment rights. The Freedom of the Press Foundation called the ban a "blatant violation of the First Amendment." Former Republican White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer suggested that winning arguments with reporters, rather than banning outlets, is the solution.
Our take
So, the President of the United States has officially declared that his official house is a no-fact zone. In a stunning display of his signature political strategy - throwing a shitfit when criticized - Donald Trump has announced he’s banning CNN, Politico, and MS NOW from the White House. His stated reason? They report "fiction and lies." His unstated reason? They report things he doesn’t like, which, for a man whose entire worldview is a fiction built on lies, must be fucking exhausting.
The real kicker, as reported by White House Correspondent Liz Landers, is that even Trump couldn’t muster a specific reason for picking that particular day to have his meltdown. He just frequently has grievances. This is governance by mood swing. It’s the political equivalent of banning vegetables from the kitchen because they made a face at you.
This petty escalation from banning individual reporters to banning entire outlets is like a dictator graduating from flicking peas to launching the whole dinner plate. He’s already booted the Associated Press from the press pool, and when asked when the badges would be pulled, he said he didn’t know but wants the ban to go ‘as far as possible.’ Translation: The list of enemies is a living document, written in crayon on the back of a room service menu.
The targeted networks called it what it is: an illegal assault on the First Amendment. The Freedom of the Press Foundation called it a blatant violation. But to Trump, the Constitution is just the annoying small print on the back of a coupon he’s trying to use. His argument, that these outlets ‘purposely write negative news to diminish Republicans,’ is the cry of a man who thinks ‘negative news’ is any story that doesn’t end with him getting a gold star and a juice box.
Even a former Republican press secretary, Ari Fleischer, suggested maybe, just maybe, you should win arguments with facts instead of banning the people who point out you have none. What a fucking concept. Trump’s solution to unfavorable coverage isn’t to govern better; it’s to build a smaller, sadder room where everyone has to pretend he’s wearing clothes. The only fiction being reported is the one where this pathetic, thin-skinned bastard is fit for office.
