Trump backs off moving news briefings from White House

“Look, I don’t like tweeting. I have other things I could be doing. But I get very dishonest media, very dishonest press. And it’s my only way that I can counteract,” he said.

Comedy gold, right there.

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump scrapped a proposal to move news briefings out of the White House, but said he wants his team to choose who gets into the press room.

I'm curious to see which of Putin's global media outlets Trump's team choose to allow greater access into the press room. Putin is said to be the richest man in the world (from being a politician?). Everyone knows that Trump only admires the superrich and powerful, and that could be one of many reasons Trump wants to join forces with Putin. (Maybe also to learn from him how to get richer as a politician?)

Putin is a man who's gone from being portrayed as a pariah by some in the non-Russian media to a man who's now being shown by the global corporate media as having been misunderstood and even victimized by them.

According to many, Putin is now entering the US political arena to save Americans from themselves. Lately Putin has had an enormous amount of positive press from both the alt right and corporate media. Perhaps owning his own global media network has helped him understand how to manipulate them?

said he wants his team to choose who gets into the press room.

And so it begins. He wants to have a favorabity rating system whereby if someone reports badly on him, he can ban them, and if someone reports good on him, he'll allow them in. Thereby creating a system wherein the press is motivated to not report bad things on him, out of worry that they will lose their reporting privileges. We've seen that happen in Japan (the kisha club system), and it results in the media not reporting on negative things about the government. Which of course benefits Trump immensely, but does not serve the people one whit. And the president is supposed to be serving the people. That's literally the core of his job.

What a douche.

What a douche

Don't worry, in 48 hours after 8 long years he'll be on a chopper waving his last goodbye.

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump scrapped a proposal to move news briefings out of the White House, but said he wants his team to choose who gets into the press room

.

Fair enough, during the Obama years, his press core selected their favorite reporters to cover them, some were chosen more than others and some, were just ignored or weren't called upon so often, now the tables are turned and it's Trump's turn to decide who can cover him fairly and who shouldn't be in the room. Excellent move.

According to many,

Uh-oh...who are these many?

Putin is now entering the US political arena to save Americans from themselves. Lately Putin has had an enormous amount of positive press from both the alt right and corporate media. Perhaps owning his own global media network has helped him understand how to manipulate them?

You guys make my mornings seriously entertaining. Lol

“Look, I don’t like tweeting. I have other things I could be doing. But I get very dishonest media, very dishonest press. And it’s my only way that I can counteract,”

Of course. There are plenty of things he could be doing at 3 in the morning other than tweeting about fictional sex tapes in a catfight with a beauty queen.

“Look, I don’t like tweeting. I have other things I could be doing. But I get very dishonest media, very dishonest press. And it’s my only way that I can counteract,”

He's definitely right about that.

Of course. There are plenty of things he could be doing at 3 in the morning other than tweeting about fictional sex tapes in a catfight with a beauty queen.

What? Oh....jeeez...ROFL!

StrangerlandJAN. 19, 2017 - 08:23AM JST said he wants his team to choose who gets into the press room. And so it begins

Not to defend our Cheeto-elect in chief, but I wouldn't worry just yet.

The press room has always been too small for the number of reporters who want in. Access to the room itself has always been limited as I understand it. There is just a gentleman's agreement among the press corps to share WH briefings with everyone after.

So what we're seeing is not exactly Trump-the-tyrant. More like Trump-the-tantrum throwing a fit for being criticized, and not caring if his tantrum makes him sound like a dictator. Of course the moment he actually bans a press org for political reasons he should be busted and impeached. But I think the talk we're seeing right now is more in the vein of a petulant child stomping as they get sent to their room.

we’ll have to just have to pick the people to go into the room - I’m sure other people will be thrilled about that

Big Oil will be ecstatic.

said he wants his team to choose who gets into the press room.

I'm sure he does but that isn't the way it is handled. Obama tried that too with Fox News before the media threatened a boycott and eventually backed down.

I like the idea of the media balancing Trump, especially the fact checking. It helps to safeguard democracy.

Everyone agrees with that.

So what we're seeing is not exactly Trump-the-tyrant. More like Trump-the-tantrum throwing a fit for being criticized, and not caring if his tantrum makes him sound like a dictator.

Yeah, it kinda reminds me of Obama's failed war against FNC to the point where they would skip over James Rosen who was later audited interestingly by the IRS that was headed at the time by Lois Lerner and during the 2012 election cycle and the. Who could forget that benign Anita Dunn that screamed to reinstate the fairness doctrine that whole war was a giant exploding cigar in their face.

Of course the moment he actually bans a press org for political reasons he should be busted and impeached.

Obama should have as well, I wonder why he wasn't? Given his attacks on Fox, he should have been, I mean, it's been a long slug out fest between them.

But I think the talk we're seeing right now is more in the vein of a petulant child stomping as they get sent to their room.

Obama was very childish in thinking he could shut down Fox or even take on their pundits.

So he says he wants to move it to a bigger room so everyone can join and the press says no. So now he has no choice but to use the smaller room and pick who gets in. If the press had agreed to the bigger room then its no problem, right?

Hey Bass, I made a template for your future posts, feel free to use it :)

Trump blah blah blah>

Obama too Dems too blah blah blah

Trump blah blah blah>

Obama too Dems too blah blah blah

Trump blah blah blah>

Obama too Dems too blah blah blah

This moron is beginning to sound more like Putin everyday, surrounds himself by YES people, and ban anybody who doesn't agree with him. He doesn't get the basic principle of a democratic country.

The entire point of the free press and giving the press extensive access to the government is to act as a check and balance on the government. A President who is trying to undermine and limit that access is subverting democracy, which is treason

I like the idea of the media balancing Trump, especially the fact checking. It helps to safeguard democracy.

Except the fact checkers are just as biased as their editors and corporate owners. Journalism as it is practiced today does not seek to protect democracy - they are just furthering their own ideological viewpoint.

Trump should have moved the media out into a circus tent on the White House lawn. It would be a suitable venue for both parties.

How is he limiting access? The size of the room is limiting access.

How is he limiting access?

Did you not read the article? At the very top:

he wants his team to choose who gets into the press room.

Nah, we will keep the fact checkers in place. You somehow think that removing them will assuage your pent up anger, but it won't. Try jogging instead. You are going to run out of adjectives soon anyway.

There is an important part right before that.

scrapped a proposal to move news briefings out of the White House but said he wants his team to choose who gets into the press room.

So the reporters refuse to move (they are the reason the proposal was scrapped),. So Trump said they will stay in the small room where everyone doesnt fit. But MORE press wants in the same room now that Trump is there. So his team will have to choose who gets to be there yes.

He wanted to add MORE press who would fit in another location. But they dont want to move so as a result, some of the current press will need to leave. If they would move as he suggested, EVERYONE gets in.

bass

Yeah, it kinda reminds me of Obama's failed war against FNC

So you hate Trump now?

You are going to run out of adjectives soon anyway. what he's already used up the 3 he already knows.

Odd, but I just did a quick search of Russia Today, Breitbart and FOX'news' and couldn't find an article on this topic. Maybe someone can check those sites to prove me wrong.

Not mentioned in this JT article is an objection some in the media have to moving to another room is if they shift they'll be in a location farther away from White House staffers, a traditional source of additional info and insights into the exec's world.

Donald seems to want to clamp down on who gets info and how and when they get it. Is he taking a page out of buddy (or is it never met him?) Putin's workbook?

The only reason I can see why anyone would want even more restrictions on media is they're incapable of reasoning for themselves. They're incapable of weighing different perspectives and different accounts and coming up with their own explanations. But then Trump said he loved the poorly educated, didn't he.

“We have so many people that want to go in, so we’ll have to just have to pick the people to go into the room - I’m sure other people will be thrilled about that,” he said. “And they’ll be begging for a much larger room very soon, you watch,” Trump told Fox.

That's what happens when you're relevant to many/most sections of the news/media i.e. entertainment, gossip, comics, politics etc. Victim of his success, sort of.

"Yeah, it kinda reminds me of Obama's failed war against FNC"

Hang on, aren't they part of your hated "MSM"? Surely a battle against these stooges is a good thing.

So you hate Trump now?

Naw, I like him even more.

Hang on, aren't they part of your hated "MSM"?

No, because I'm not a partisan reporter, besides, I'm not part of the 98% liberal media, so.....

Surely a battle against these stooges is a good thing.

Oh, without a doubt!

The only reason I can see why anyone would want even more restrictions on media is they're incapable of reasoning for themselves.

So that explains why Obama was so adamant about FNC, now I get it!

They're incapable of weighing different perspectives and different accounts and coming up with their own explanations. But then Trump said he loved the poorly educated, didn't he.

And least he didn't IGNORE the poor in Wisconsin and Michigan.

"Hang on, aren't they part of your hated "MSM"?"

"No, because I'm not a partisan reporter, besides, I'm not part of the 98% liberal media, so....."

I don't get it. Fox News isn't part of the "MSM" ( which you despise ) because you claim to be a non-partisan reporter?

By Mainstream media, do you mean the elements of the media which are not in line with your rightist views?

The only reason I can see why anyone would want even more restrictions on media is they're incapable of reasoning for themselves.

Another reason people might want more restrictions on media, like in Russia where Putin has such control over media (read up on the 'unsolved' murder of journalist Anna Politkovskaya), which is what some say Trump prefers, is these people actually want the state to tell them what to think.

Trump's true believers will accept anything Trump says without challenging him. They don't want a free press where people criticize their leader, the dear one. They denigrate something they call the MSM because they sometimes provide perspectives that differs from theirs and their dear leader's.

They don't want to sort through different opinions and the myriad ways events can be described; they don't want to actually think for themselves. Freedom - beyond the one that allows them to own private arsenals - must make their heads hurt.

So why is Trump trying to make it where MORE media and different types of media have access but the old media (MSM) is declining to move out of the current small room? Because the old media wants to control the narrative just like they always have. Trump has offered a larger room that can provide space for all news organizations that want to come.

Seems the current media that already have guaranteed spots are trying to deny new and fresher media outlets from getting access. How is that Trumps fault?

Seems the current media that already have guaranteed spots are trying to deny new and fresher media outlets from getting access. How is that Trumps fault?

Who's criticizing him for that? Did you not read the article or the comments? The criticism comes from this:

he wants his team to choose who gets into the press room.

First paragraph.

bass: Yeah, it kinda reminds me of Obama's failed war against FNC

PM: So you hate Trump now?

bass: Naw, I like him even more.

So you like Trump even more because he does the same thing that you accuse Obama of doing. How very nonpartisan of you.

OK let me try one more time. There are 49 spots in the room. Lets say 10 new organizations want access now that Trump is there. There is no space for 10 more, the room is FULL.

So Trump says, OK lets get a bigger room somewhere close by so we can have 59 (or more) spots. All 49 groups that have spots say NO to that. So how do the 10 new ones get in? You can ask if any of the 49 if they will volunteer to give up their spot to a new group. Of course the answer is NO. What else is left? Someone will have to decide for them, right?

In this situation (they wont move or give up a spot either), Trump wants his team to choose who comes in the press room because no one will volunteer to leave. Who else would choose that?

"So why is Trump trying to make it where MORE media and different types of media have access but the old media (MSM) is declining to move out of the current small room?"

Interesting. Your definition of MSM is "old media". Could you name names just for the sake of clarity?

I get the sense Trump supporters use the pejorative phrase 'MSM' to describe media which are not in agreement with them. Nutty conspiracy theorists use it in a similar way but their use can embrace both the left and right.

Do us a favour, give us a few names.

Trump hates people asking him questions, he loves telling the world what he thinks, what he wants,his presidency is a one way road. I am sure some countries and their leaders must applaud this kind of communications: Russia,China,North Korea

To me, MSM is the 49 groups that are in there now. There needs to be more groups with more varied perspectives allowed to participate and ask questions. And YES, Fox News Channel is also MSM just with a different agenda that most of the rest of them.

"To me, MSM is the 49 groups that are in there now. There needs to be more groups with more varied perspectives allowed to participate and ask questions."

Fair enough. Sorry to bother you again but could you tell me who you think should be there?

In this situation (they wont move or give up a spot either), Trump wants his team to choose who comes in the press room because no one will volunteer to leave. Who else would choose that?

But that's not what Trump said, is it. He said he wants to choose who is in the room, not which people get the additional seats.

I get the sense Trump supporters use the pejorative phrase 'MSM' to describe media which are not in agreement with them.

Pretty much. They pretty much never mention Fox or Breitbart. Though to be fair, blacklabel just did. That's an exception to the rule though.

So you like Trump even more because he does the same thing that you accuse Obama of doing. How very nonpartisan of you.

I think all of us are pretty clear that Bass is by far the most non-partisan poster on this site. His comments on Liberals and Conservatives are very balanced, and he never comes off as being one-sided, nor does he ever criticize purely based on party allegiance, but always presents his arguments as well structured, supported by evidence and above all, non-partisanship.

Bill OReilly (of Fox News) pretty much admitted that they are Mainstream Media back in 2011.

But I prefer my news from Fox, this is an example of why. Several high profile African Americans have gone to visit Trump, right?

Fox: reported the meetings and reported that those people said the meeting went well and they looked forward to working with Trump. They said Trump seems receptive, is a good man, whatever their comments actually were.

CNN: reported that these same people met with Trump. Did not focus on what the people who met actually said when it was done. Commented that these people were not the right people to be bringing the issues of the black community to Trump.

Allowed a commentator to portray them as sell outs for even attending and called them mediocre Negros (his words not mine). He said this while talking about MLK III, on MLK holiday weekend- where is the outrage? Despite the people involved saying the meetings went well and expressing hope and complimenting Trump, CNN wont report that. Just said Trump just using them for publicity.

There was no reporting of the facts of the meetings with quotes from attendees like Fox, just commentary to malign the character of the people involved from CNN.

@Blacklabel

I think it's also fair to say that Fox can be less than complimentary or even honest about Obama. As for wtf moments, I'm sure you are aware of the legendary Fox terrorism expert who told the world the city of Birmingham in the UK was 100% Muslim and a no-go area for non-Muslims, including the police force. We were also informed Jesus and santa are white.

We can do this all day but it's clear Fox is very agenda-driven and as unwatchable as msnbc for the same reason. The likes of Hannity and Maddow speak to an audience as if they are addressing pre-schoolers.

Anyway, who would you like to see outside the MSM? Just give us a few names.

And YES, Fox News Channel is also MSM just with a different agenda that most of the rest of them.

Bill OReilly (of Fox News) pretty much admitted that they are Mainstream Media back in 2011. But I prefer my news from Fox, this is an example of why.

Fox News is part of the MSM. The MSM is bad, It needs to be gotten rid of, in favor of newer organizations, but you prefer to get your news from Fox.

IF that's the case, it seems to me that you do not object to the MSM, but rather opinions differing from yours in the MSM.

I didnt say that MSM needs to be gotten rid of. I said there needs to be MORE groups included, as a supplement to MSM. I dont know of any by name, because MSM pretty much overwhelms the rest because they have all the print and TV platforms. Too hard to know what is real or not as far as online only places.

Of the media that I am aware of at this time, Fox News seems to present the news in the way that I prefer. Not that they agree with my opinions or that I agree with theirs. Some of the stuff they say is nuts. But they generally report what actually happened before they start trying to convince me of something that suits their agenda. (today, Obama said this....now this is why he sucks. I have the facts of what he said, now I can decide if he in fact sucks or not based on what he actually said. This is sometimes yes and sometimes no, based on facts)

All the other ones I see just start pushing their agenda with no acknowledgment of what actually took place. I dont mind commentary AFTER the facts have been presented. Attack the idea or policy, not the person.

Anyway, who would you like to see outside the MSM? Just give us a few names.

Since Blacklabel doesn't want to say, let me make some guesses:

Drudge Report? The Blaze? Breitbart? Infowars?

I don't get it. Fox News isn't part of the "MSM" ( which you despise ) because you claim to be a non-partisan reporter?

Fox is, by Fox is NOT an all liberal echo chamber slobberfest club that love and kiss the heels of the sainted Obama.

By Mainstream media, do you mean the elements of the media which are not in line with your rightist views?

Or Traditionalists, yes. Now that's not saying liberals or liberalism is necessarily a bad thing, but you have to be fair in your coverage, if the liberal media want to hold Trump's feet to the fire, they should, but they should be fair about it and if they were, he'd tweet a lot less.

So you like Trump even more because he does the same thing that you accuse Obama of doing. How very nonpartisan of you.

No, quite the opposite. Besides, Trump has a pair of brass on him, unlike Obama.

I think all of us are pretty clear that Bass is by far the most non-partisan poster on this site.

Not at all, I just call out liberal hypocrisy and yes, I call on the right as well, but the left is just festered with it to the hilt.

His comments on Liberals and Conservatives are very balanced, and he never comes off as being one-sided, nor does he ever criticize purely based on party allegiance, but always presents his arguments as well structured, supported by evidence and above all, non-partisanship.

Strange, ahh, that is the nicest thing you ever said to me, you just brought a tear to my eye. Thanks homie! Appreciate it! Peace!

@plasticmonkey No I dont think any of those have enough credibility to supplement MSM. Plus, Drudge Report doesnt even count. It has no journalists or unique content, only links to other sites both MSM and not MSM.

Oh, you conveniently forgot BUZZFEED which was somehow suddenly credible when it published bad stuff about Trump.

Oh, you conveniently forgot BUZZFEED which was somehow suddenly credible when it published bad stuff about Trump.

If you're talking about the Golden Shower stuff, they shouldn't have published that. Bedroom antics of the president should be off-limit, as they have no bearing on their ability (or lack thereof) to preside.

No I dont think any of those have enough credibility to supplement MSM.

So, what then didst thou in thy mind have? Befuddled am I.

One American News is 24 hr cable which has to be considered MSM but it is still very good. Actually the most opinion-free (& commercial free!), even-handed news reporting to which I've ever had access. The talk shows are right leaning but the newscasters don't give their two cents on the stories and merely observe and state the facts. Truly a breath of fresh air. One of the best interviews Trump did during the campaign was with an OAN anchor. Hopefully that will be enough to get them in.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marty-kaplan/my-new-favorite-news-netw_b_6419182.html

My New Favorite News Network Is Not Liberal (and Not Fox)

If it's overcapacity, then do it by random lottery. But no, the government shouldn't choose who gets into the room. That's the whole point why the White House Correspondents' Association was created in the first place:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_House_Correspondents%27_Association

The White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) is an organization of journalists who cover the White House and the President of the United States. The WHCA was founded on February 25, 1914, by journalists in response to an unfounded rumor that a Congressional committee would select which journalists could attend press conferences of President Woodrow Wilson. The WHCA operates independently of the White House.

The President nor the Congress nor the Supreme Court shouldn't decide who covers them - that's what totalitarian regimes do

"he wants his team to choose who gets into the press room."

Just don't let CrapNewsNetwork in.

"Trump, who has more than 20 million Twitter followers"

This is mind boggling to Alistair Carnell, ha ha!

PTownsend: "According to many, Putin is now entering the US political arena to save Americans from themselves."

Many what? Fake news organizations?

wtfjapan ( WTF does wtf mean, anyway lol ) : " This moron is beginning to sound more like Putin everyday, surrounds himself by YES people"

You must not be keeping up with the news, wtf, Trump is most definitely NOT surrounding himself with "YES people" ( yes men, lol ).

Oh my...

Gutfeld: Press play presidential favorites:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hq5NKFT4B7A&t=99s

Maria: "What a douche"

Stay classy, Maria.

Well, here goes the freedom and democracy. Next thing he'll do is to change the Congress.

Well, here goes the freedom and democracy.

In 24 hours, we'll get it back.

When Trump makes a statement through Twitter that can be confirmed to be a lie, what should we call it? A lie? Fake news? Anti-MSM MSM?

When Trump makes a statement through Twitter that can be confirmed to be a lie, what should we call it? A lie? Fake news? Anti-MSM MSM?

What kind of question is that? Come on! If it is found to be a lie, then call it out for what it is, but at least Trump gets his side out before the media has a chance to do a hit piece on him. There's 2 sides to every story.

There's 2 sides to every story.

No, there isn't. There is the truth. The truth does not change based on your personal ideology. You really need to learn this.

Trump does an interview. He gives an opinion or position or data. Two weeks later, he tweets the opposite. A newspaper who calls him out gets kicked out of a press conference.

What can be done?