Stephen A. Smith has weighed in on the White House’s decision to bar CNN, MS NOW, and Politico. The Straight Shooter host said media organizations shouldn’t accept restrictions tied to coverage.
What We Know: Donald Trump announced September 18 that CNN, MS NOW, and Politico were banned from the White House over what he characterized as “FAKE NEWS.” Reporters from the three organizations were subsequently denied access and had their press credentials revoked. The decision also prompted television networks, including Fox News, to participate in a coordinated response involving White House pool coverage.
What They Said: “I think the TV pools are doing the right thing. Pool members are doing the right thing, and you know it’s a good day when CNN and Fox News are in agreement with one another because there are certain principles that can’t be violated. See, what you have is a president — and he’ll make the argument that this isn’t a violation of anybody’s First Amendment rights, but freedom of the press is a part of our First Amendment rights, freedom of speech, etc. And because you don’t like the coverage that you’re receiving, you’re going to try and ban people from covering you? You can’t go for that as a member of the media. You can’t go for that.” -Stephen A. Smith
What Remains Unclear: Trump has indicated that additional media outlets could face similar restrictions. Meanwhile, CNN, MS NOW, and Politico have challenged the administration’s actions in court, arguing that the restrictions violate First Amendment protections.
What It Means: Smith’s comments place him among media personalities publicly discussing the implications of the White House’s restrictions on news organizations. His remarks specifically highlighted the unusual alignment between CNN and Fox News over the issue and framed the dispute around press freedom and access.
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