Politics
After CNN was removed from the White House television pool, the TV networks participating in the White House press pool have announced that they will stop covering events involving U.S. President Donald Trump.
After CNN was removed from the White House television pool, the TV networks participating in the White House press pool have announced that they will stop covering events involving U.S. President Donald Trump. CNN reported that the other four members of the television pool — NBC, ABC, CBS and Fox have now decided to stop providing pool coverage of Trump’s events as well. Under normal circumstances, these five major TV networks — CNN, NBC, ABC, CBS and Fox — take turns providing pool coverage of presidential events. In other words, one network represents the entire group on one day, followed by another network on subsequent days. This system is known as a “rotating basis.”
According to NBC, CNN was barred on Monday from serving as the designated television pool network for President Trump’s visit to New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly. Normally, the five television networks take turns providing coverage of presidential events on behalf of the entire White House press corps. The move comes after the White House decided to restrict access for CNN, MS NOW and Politico. MS NOW is part of the cable news pool, while Politico participates in the print and online pool. Politico is widely regarded in the United States as a prominent source for inside coverage of politics, the White House, Congress and elections.
CNN, MS NOW and Politico say they are filing a lawsuit against Trump in an effort to have the restrictions lifted. The dispute is another sign of growing tensions between the Trump administration and several major U.S. news organizations over access to the president and the White House. Under the television pool system, a limited number of journalists and camera crews are allowed to attend events when space or security restrictions make it impossible for the entire press corps to be present. According to the schedule, CNN was supposed to serve as the television pool network during Trump’s visit to New York on Monday.
