Trump Bans Crooked Media

September 22, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

In a press conference that became an unintentional rebuttal of his own vice president, Donald Trump confirmed he had indeed banned CNN, MSNBC, and Politico from the White House — directly contradicting JD Vance’s claim that he wasn’t banning media outlets, just denying them “special access.” The move, which came after Trump’s aide Natalie Harp allegedly showed him a supercut of Lawrence O’Donnell criticizing him, has triggered the first major press freedom showdown of Trump’s second term. The three outlets have sued, and the major television networks — including Fox — have refused to supply replacement crews for the White House pool, effectively denying the president full coverage until the dispute is resolved. The case has been assigned to Trump-appointed Judge Timothy Kelly, who oversaw the Jim Acosta credential revocation case during Trump’s first term, in which the court ruled the administration had failed to provide due process. The legal precedent is clear: once the White House voluntarily opens press facilities, it cannot exclude journalists arbitrarily or based on content. The administration provided no notice, no opportunity to respond, and no written explanation — and Trump has admitted the bans are based on his dislike of the outlets’ coverage.

The Iran War Expands as Energy Prices Spike

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What you'll learn

1 (02:26) **Show Opening & Housekeeping** - John and Tommy host without Lovett; they mock Trump’s “fart left” gaffe and preview the day’s topics.
2 (04:32) **Trump Bans CNN, MSNBC, and Politico from the White House** - Trump revokes press credentials for three outlets, sparking a lawsuit and a rare media boycott.
3 (07:32) **Analyzing the Ban’s Motives and Fallout** - The hosts argue the ban is a weak, personal vendetta that could backfire on Trump.
4 (14:18) **Legal Precedent and Court Outlook** - The lawsuit is assigned to a Trump-appointed judge who previously ruled against Trump in the Jim Acosta case.
5 (17:24) **Ad Break: Policygenius and Zbiotics** - Two sponsor segments promoting life insurance and a pre-alcohol probiotic drink.
6 (19:40) **CNN Ownership and the Paramount-Skydance Merger** - A settlement clears a major obstacle for the $110 billion acquisition, but the hosts are skeptical of its protections.
7 (23:40) **The Expanding Iran War and Energy Crisis** - The Houthi conflict with Saudi Arabia escalates, driving U.S. diesel prices above $6 a gallon.

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Show Notes

Major television networks halt White House pool coverage after Trump announces that he's banning journalists from CNN, MS NOW, and Politico.

Jon and Tommy react to Trump and JD Vance's justifications for the decision, before breaking down the details of the Ellisons' deal with the California attorney general that will allow the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger to proceed.

They then discuss the Iran war expanding to other countries, the president's call for an "AI Force" as Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent negotiates with China, the Republican Party's growing cash advantage in the midterms, and Trump's announcement that his triumphal arch will now also serve as a military installation.

Then, Cait Conley, the Democratic nominee in New York's 17th District, stops by the studio to talk to Dan about her race to unseat Republican Rep. Mike Lawler.

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