The facts
Politico was reportedly barred from traveling on Air Force One for Donald Trump's trip to Nebraska, CNN reported. This incident occurred after the administration had previously prevented CNN from traveling with the president. These actions took place despite a federal judge issuing a temporary injunction against the administration's ban on Politico, CNN, and MS Now from White House coverage. The injunction is set to expire on October 8, but the news organizations are seeking its extension while the legal matter is resolved. A hearing is scheduled for Thursday regarding the lawsuit filed by the three newsrooms against the ban. The White House has contended that the judge's ruling does not extend to Air Force One, the aircraft used for presidential travel. Politico was designated to serve as the out-of-town print pool for the day, responsible for covering the president's movements for broader media distribution. A spokesperson for Politico confirmed to CNN that the outlet had been excluded from traveling with Trump.
Our take
Well, here we go again, you thin-skinned, vindictive little cunts. The White House, in its infinite toddler-like wisdom, has decided that if a judge says they can’t outright ban reporters from covering the president, they’ll just ban them from the magic airplane instead. Politico got the big ‘fuck you’ this time, following CNN’s prior exile, because why stop at just one enemy of the people when you can have a whole shitlist? The administration’s legal argument is a masterpiece of cowardly pedantry: Sure, the judge said we can’t ban you from the White House, but he didn’t say shit about the airborne part! Checkmate, democracy.
Never mind that Politico was the designated print pool for the day, meaning their job was to tell other outlets what the prick was doing. The White House logic is essentially: We need someone to pool coverage, but fuck those guys specifically. It’s the political equivalent of a child being told to share and then licking all the toys so nobody else can use them.
And let’s savor the sheer, petty bullshit of the excuse. A federal injunction is just a speed bump to these arrogant fucks. They’re basically telling a judge, ‘Your honor, your temporary restraining order doesn’t apply at 30,000 feet. The law of gravity supersedes the law of the land.’ It’s a level of legal weaseling usually reserved for mob accountants and people who park in handicap spots because ‘the paint was faded.’
The hearing is Thursday, where three newsrooms will have to argue, once again, that the First Amendment isn’t a ‘sometimes snack’ for a president who gets his feelings hurt by headlines. In the meantime, the White House press strategy remains a perfect metaphor for the entire administration: a loud, expensive, taxpayer-funded vehicle going somewhere stupid, and they’re desperately trying to make sure only the biggest ass-kissers are on board to describe the ride.
