Bulwark Takes: BREAKING: Trump Uses Putin-Like Tactics on White House Press Corps
Released: February 25, 2025

Introduction

In this episode of Bulwark Takes, hosts Sam Stein and Lauren Egan delve into a significant and alarming development within the White House communication apparatus. Titled "BREAKING: Trump Uses Putin-Like Tactics on White House Press Corps," the episode explores President Trump's recent maneuvers to control the White House press pool, drawing unsettling parallels to authoritarian practices observed under Vladimir Putin's regime.

Changing the Power Dynamics of the White House Press Pool

The episode kicks off with Sam Stein introducing Lauren Egan and setting the stage for their discussion on the latest White House press briefing. They highlight a pivotal announcement made by Carolyn Levitt, the White House Press Secretary, which signifies a drastic shift in how the White House press pool is managed.

Carolyn Levitt's Announcement: [02:21]

"As you all know, for decades, a group of D.C. based journalists, the White House Correspondents Association has long dictated which journalists get to ask questions of the President of the United States in these most intimate spaces. Not anymore. I am proud to announce that we are going to give the power back to the people who read your papers, who watch your television shows, and who listen to your radio stations. Moving forward, the White House press pool will be determined by the White House press team."

Sam Stein comments: [02:51]

"I love that she was like, we're going to give the power back to the people who watch your programs. Who. And then she's like, we'll be the tyranny. Who is in the pool."

Lauren Egan elaborates on the mechanics of the press pool, explaining that traditionally, the White House Correspondence Association (WHCA), an independent and longstanding organization, has curated a rotating group of 13 reporters who accompany the President, ensuring unbiased and comprehensive coverage.

Lauren Egan explains: [03:22]

"The press pool is a group of 13 reporters that travel with the President, no matter where he goes... Historically, the White House Correspondents Association, which was like over 100 years old at this point, has determined who is part of that rotation..."

Implications of the White House Taking Over the Press Pool

The hosts dissect the ramifications of the White House assuming control over the press pool selection. They express concern that this move undermines the independence of the press, drawing troubling comparisons to oppressive regimes where the state dictates media access and narrative.

Sam Stein draws parallels: [07:02]

"This reminds me of how the Kremlin took over its own press pool and made sure that only compliant journalists were given access."

Lauren Egan concurs, emphasizing the chilling effect this shift could have on journalistic freedom and the integrity of information disseminated to the public.

Lauren Egan states: [06:56]

"It's a chilling effect where these outlets are businesses... How does that, you know, affect sort of how they all think about."

Response from the White House Correspondence Association

Eugene Daniels, the president of the WHCA and a former Politico colleague of Sam and Lauren, issues a robust response to the White House's unilateral decision. His statement underscores the threat this poses to a free press and the historical significance of the WHCA in maintaining journalistic independence.

Eugene Daniels' Statement: [08:58]

"This move tears at the independence of a free press in the United States, suggests the government will choose the journals who cover the President... In a free country, leaders must not be able to choose their own press corps."

Sam and Lauren express solidarity with Daniels, lamenting the lack of immediate pushback from the press corps during the announcement.

Sam Stein observes: [09:06]

"No one brought it up... the fact that not a single person brought it up was wild."

Potential Outcomes and Future Scenarios

The discussion then shifts to hypothetical scenarios, contemplating whether media outlets might organize a collective response to reclaim control over the press pool. Sam and Lauren debate the feasibility and potential effectiveness of such collective action, acknowledging the significant challenges involved.

Sam Stein speculates: [09:28]

"If all the outlets bandied together and they decide, you know what? We, this is just a line... Could that happen?"

Lauren Egan responds: [09:53]

"It's a lot of money... Maybe the podcasters are sitting on a lot of real though there."

They also touch upon the financial burdens associated with accompanying the President, noting that smaller or less financially robust outlets might find it difficult to comply with the new requirements.

Lauren Egan remarks: [13:41]

"It's really expensive to travel with the President. Like media outlets have to pay for that."

Assessing the Severity of the Situation

Towards the conclusion, Sam and Lauren rate the seriousness of this development, with Lauren firmly placing it at the top of the scale in terms of press freedom concerns.

Lauren Egan assesses: [13:27]

"This is in terms of like press. This is, this is a 10. This is really bad. Are you kidding?"

Closing Thoughts

Sam Stein wraps up the discussion by reflecting on an earlier interview with Chuck Tata, who emphasized the necessity of collective action among media outlets—an urgency that Sam now feels may be too late given the White House's swift actions.

Sam Stein concludes: [14:00]

"Chuck's big thing was collective action has to happen, and it's probably too late. I think Chuck was proven right, actually."

The episode ends with Sam and Lauren expressing their support for Eugene Daniels and the WHCA, highlighting the solidarity within the journalistic community against these authoritarian shifts.

Conclusion

This episode of Bulwark Takes provides a thorough and insightful analysis of President Trump's recent efforts to control the White House press pool, painting a concerning picture of diminishing press freedom in the United States. Through expert commentary and critical examination, Sam Stein and Lauren Egan underscore the potential long-term implications of such moves, urging vigilance and collective resistance to preserve the integrity of the free press.

Notable Quotes:

• Carolyn Levitt: "[02:21]...we are going to give the power back to the people who read your papers, who watch your television shows, and who listen to your radio stations."

• Sam Stein: "[07:02]...This reminds me of how the Kremlin took over its own press pool..."

• Eugene Daniels: "[08:58]...In a free country, leaders must not be able to choose their own press corps."

• Lauren Egan: "[13:27] This is, this is a 10. This is really bad. Are you kidding?"

Note: This summary intentionally omits advertisements, sponsorship messages, and non-content sections to focus solely on the substantive discussions and analyses presented by Sam Stein and Lauren Egan.