News commentary

How Air Force One became a press freedom story

Poynter · Tom Jones · last updated

Reporters revealed security concerns about Trump’s Qatari jet. The administration responded by subpoenaing New York Times journalists.

There was major political news on Sunday with the stunning, sudden death of South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham. We’ll get to that story in a few moments, but first, let’s talk about what might be the most consequential battle between President Donald Trump and the press.

Last Friday, in an alarming step, the Trump administration issued subpoenas to several New York Times reporters after they reported on security concerns involving the plane gifted to Trump by Qatar.

Related Knowledge Center: The White House vs. the press

State of Play

Whether it’s the Des Moines Register’s publication of an unfavorable election poll, a routine edit of a 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris, or the Associated Press’s decision in its authoritative stylebook to continue to use “Gulf of Mexico,” Donald Trump and the White House have used executive authority and legal reprisals in an effort to punish and suppress press coverage that runs contrary to the administration’s preferred narratives.

Democracy and politics | Signalgate | The CBS submission | Voiceless America


More informationabout The White House vs. the press

Related Knowledge Center: Free speech and public protest

State of Play

The First Amendment is facing challenging times: Crackdowns on campus protests prompted both-sides claims of intolerance. Attempts to head off dangerous health misinformation have been characterized as violations of free speech. Donald Trump is publicly punishing news outlets that deviate from his administration’s version of events while privately suing some outlets into submission.

The White House vs. the press  |  Voiceless America 


More informationabout Free speech and public protest

Related Knowledge Center: Media and the law

State of Play

Toxic politics and vast shifts in the technology landscape have created a plethora of thorny issues — both legal and ethical — for newsrooms, courts, and regulators.

The Meta-FTC trial | Section 230


More informationabout Media and the law