Topic: Press Access

The Trump administration is moving to end the White House Press Association's monopoly on press pool access, intending to open the room to a broader range of outlets. A specific point of contention arose when the Associated Press refused to adopt the administration's preferred term, "Gulf of America," for the Gulf of Mexico. Critics of the current system argue the press pool has become a scripted "scam" that excludes independent journalists and bloggers.

The hosts contrast Putin's hour-long unscripted Q&A with Joe Biden's shorter, more controlled press conference. They highlight a rare moment of criticism from CNN's Jeff Zeleny, who noted that Biden is heavily protected by aides who frequently prevent him from answering spontaneous questions.

The White House barred CNN reporter Caitlin Collins from an open press event following her aggressive questioning of President Trump. While some Fox News journalists stood in solidarity with Collins regarding press access, commentators like Lou Dobbs supported the White House's decision. The segment notes the shifting definitions of "freedom of the press" versus "press access."

Rumors suggest Donald Trump will review accredited journalists every three months, potentially kicking out hostile reporters from White House briefings. The hosts compare this potential "press purge" to the dystopian horror film *The Purge*. They also mention Michael Meese as a likely candidate for a high-level role in the Defense Department.

The Obama campaign reportedly removed three journalists from the campaign plane whose newspapers had endorsed John McCain, replacing them with representatives from Ebony and Jet magazines. Concerns are raised that a future Obama administration might further marginalize conservative media outlets. Comparisons are made to historical press relations under the Nixon and Bush administrations.