The White House has begun picking and choosing which media outlets can have access to the nation’s top health officials and which ones need to start treating Trump more nicely, mainly by giving him free on-air time to promote himself.
Vice President Mike Pence‘s office reportedly told CNN this week that it wouldn’t give the network access to the nation’s leading coronavirus experts until it started airing Donald Trump’s daily campaign rallies coronavirus briefings in their entirety every day.
“When you guys cover the briefings with the health officials then you can expect them back on your air,” a Pence spokesperson told the network in response to its request to interview Dr. Deborah Birx or Dr. Anthony Fauci.
Evidently, Pence’s office isn’t familiar with the whole “freedom of the press” thing outlined in the First Amendment of the Constitution that states the government can’t tell the media how to do its job, including demanding what it does and does not cover.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Pence’s office has been handling all media bookings for health officials during the pandemic. Over the last week, NBC, CBS, ABC, and, of course, Fox News have all been granted access to Fauci, Birx, FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn, and Surgeon General Jerome Adams. But CNN, it says, cannot have them.
CNN reports:
Pence’s office, which is responsible for booking the officials on networks during the pandemic, said it will only allow experts such as Dr. Deborah Birx or Dr. Anthony Fauci to appear on CNN if the network televises the portion of the White House briefings that includes the vice president and other coronavirus task force members. CNN often only broadcasts President Donald Trump’s question and answer session, which sometimes includes the health care officials, live on-air. After Trump leaves the podium, CNN frequently cuts out of the White House briefing to discuss and fact-check what the President had said.
Of course, fact-checking Trump is very important.
In January, before this coronavirus thing has really taken off in the United States, The Washington Post reported he had made more than 16,000 false or misleading claims so far during his tenure as president, averaging about 14.8 lies per day.
Trump is also a three-time winner of the watchdog group PolitiFact’s “Lie of the Year” award, taking home the top prize in 2015, 2017, and 2019. He lies so much that there’s an entire Wikipedia page devoted to the “veracity of statements by Donald Trump.”
The fact that the White House is denying the press access to the nation’s health experts during a time of crisis is, of course, appalling, but it’s not the least bit surprising. It falls in line with Trump threatening to withhold life-saving ventilators from blue-state governors unless they started saying nicer things about him to the media.
“It’s a two-way street,” Trump told Fox News on March 24. “They have to treat us well, also. They can’t say, ‘Oh, gee, we should get this, we should get that.’”
Related: Why is non-expert Laura Ingraham having secret meetings with Donald Trump about coronavirus?
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
The founding fathers look down and weep as our beloved republic slowly devolves into a third world banana republic dictatorship. Not a single Republican in the Senate or House will stand up for the oath that they swore to…..
TomG
The less we hear from ANYONE in this administration the better since all they do is LIE. And they do that blatantly and with impunity.
Bob LaBlah
Be mindful of bringing up those selfish fore fathers. Every single one of the founding fathers were slave owners and would have fought against Lincoln for their emancipation had they been alive.
beckyrowe680
It is very boring for me, talk to me! ?? Write me. ? Maybe we will make friends ?? ==>>2.gp/a71mk
jayceecook
Geez Queerty. Actually if you read the CNN article it’s HIS briefing he wants CNN to air. They already show Trump’s and sometimes the health officials. Pence is demanding they air his part as well. But CNN said that would take up too much airtime. So he won’t them have access to interview the health officials until they do.
Coruna2018
Jaycee,
So Pence extorting the news media in order for it to air his segments isn’t a strong-arming tactic, worthy of Fascists in the 1930’s or Communists until now? It’s dangerous, disturbing, and damaging to any notion of a free press and a republican democracy. When you’re fitted for a brown shirt, let me know if Pence’s move is no big deal.
jayceecook
@Coruna2018 Dafuq you talking about? I’m simply pointing out that the actual story here is about Pence NOT Trump. Queerty is saying it’s because CNN won’t air all of Trump’s briefings. They do and then they follow it up with their fact checking commentary show. This is about Pence’s narcissistic ego and Queerty should be pointing that out.
When did I ever say it was no big deal? Huh? Where. Show me. Or are you just another Cam and just go on the attack whenever you feel personally slighted even when it’s got nothing to do with you?
Hdtex
Another triggered reich-wing troll heard from.
jayceecook
@Hdtex Far from it. You know nothing about me or my life. Especially my political leanings. Just someone trying to point out that Queerty’s long history of getting shite wrong because they are too busy masturbating to straight dudes on Instagram strikes again.
The actual story was never about denying access to CNN unless they air more of Trump. This was about, until he probably was forced to by Daddy Donald, Pence throwing a temper tantrum and demanding CNN air HIS part of the briefings as well if they want access to the health officials. Despite the fact that ABC, FOX, NBC, etc usually don’t show his part either yet they were getting access to the health care officials.
I’m all for dumping on Trump when he deserves it but this is about Pence who, in my opinion, is far more sinister and dangerous, especially to the LGBTQ community, than his boss. But eff me for wanting to point out the facts amirite? I guess those aren’t important around here.
So screw you and the high horse you rode in on to name call somebody you don’t know two shites about. Now run along back to your troll hunting circle jerk with Cam. If you’re not his alt account.
Cam
Republicans don’t care if Americans die as long as they can line their pockets and get airtime.
wancell
Just to be fair.
Democrats and CNN don’t care if Americans die as long as they can line their pockets and get airtime as well.
Patrick
I see there is a Republican troll here! Why are you here? Are you out shopping or promoting the real “fake news” agenda that this virus is a hoax. He is on tape., on more than one occasion. I hope you have health insurance Wancell. Your president is a liar. FULL STOP
ShiningSex
@wancell, i think you’re confusing democrats with republicans because republicans are notorious for not wanting anyone who doesn’t think like them to NOT have rights. Also, isn’t the republicans the ones who take away regulations that actually help our environment? Why? because of money from the corporations that pay them to get rid of such regulations. Duh. Do some homework instead of talking out of your ass.
cubcmh
Um, isn’t quid pro quo blackmail? Abuse of office? Illegal?
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
Rimshot!!
TomG
Not according to Trump and his minions.
wancell
I could see CNN point if the demand from Pence was that the President’s part must be aired in it’s entirety but it’s not.
The VP part after the President is when the very medical experts they want to talk to do their speaking during the daily briefing.
So instead of showing the part of the briefing with the medical experts, CNN cuts away to fact check or bash Trump.
How stupid of CNN.
ShiningSex
NO, HOW STUPID OF ANYONE TO SUPPORT TRUMP. HE’S TRASH AND SO IS HIS KKKULT.
Prax07
The immediate fact checking part they do is extremely important to show viewers all the misleading, incorrect, and outright lies Trump says each time he holds a briefing each day. If Pence wants airtime he needs to stop his idiot boss from speaking in the first place.
LumpyPillows
I’d love for every organization to just walk away from every Trump press conference. I turn the channel when he comes on.
GayEGO
Now and then I watch Trump to get a good laugh at his bizarre acting on TV. Sometimes I change the channel as he disgusts me.
butchqueen
I can’t listen to Trump. I lose an IQ point with every minute I hear that doddering old fool.
I get a good laugh out of the transcripts.
dinard38
That’s exactly how I feel. I literally cannot watch that man speak. That voice. Those jazz hands. The extremely juvenile way he talks. The talking in circles. I just can’t listen to him.
Aires the Ram
Now isn’t it funny, I’ve been watching these press conferences every weekday, and I always flip to CNN to see if they’re carrying it, and, guess what!! They are. This story is entirely bogus, and nothing more than yet another attempt to bash Trump. CNN has been carrying the press conferences, as do FoxNews, and on most days MSNBC. The ones not carrying them are ABC, NBC, CBS, PBS. Queerty, do your homework before you write lies like this. Do you not know how to use your tv’s remote control to just flip around the news channels for a minute, and see who’s carrying the press conference and who’s not? Would that be so difficult? I’m no fan of CNN, but by God they’ve been carrying the press conferences. I know this will not suit the poor little ‘victim-ists’, but too bad, facts are facts.
scotty
truck fump and puck nurse fence
dre23222
He is a puppet to the orange orangutan in the office with him. Just patiently waiting for both of them to go away and never be heard of again.
ShiningSex
REPUBLICANS ARE SCUMBAGS