Trump tried to ban three news outlets. A judge said no. What happens now? Let’s go Off Script

Every day brings a new set of headlines.

Here on Off Script, we’re more interested in the questions they leave behind.

In This Episode

• Who gets to cover the president, and does the president have a say? President Donald Trump’s media ban lasted less than a week before a judge intervened. But when the media becomes the story, does it distract from everything else? We’re breaking down the ban, the ruling and the bigger questions.
• Plus, you know Christian Bryant as our new morning anchor for Unbiased Updates. But who’s the guy behind the desk? We’re about to find out.
• And what if you could see Trump’s Truth Social posts before everyone else? Turns out, you can… if you’re willing to pay up to $100,000 a month. Why that tiny head start is raising some very big questions.

What Matters

First, What Matters: a story that caught our attention this week — and why we think it deserves yours.

CNN, MS NOW, Politico file for emergency hearing after White House denies access despite judge’s order

All focus is on the First Amendment, the free press and whether media outlets have the right to cover the White House from the inside.

While you were sleeping, those alerts went out. A federal judge temporarily blocked Trump’s ban on CNN, Politico and MS NOW from the White House, which took effect nearly a week ago. A judge ruled early this morning that the White House must return those badges immediately for the next two weeks while the case plays out.

In imposing the ban, Trump said the outlets were biased and spread false information. But in court, the administration argued it was for national security reasons.

However, the federal judge from Wednesday’s hearing wasn’t convinced.

Overnight, the judge granted a temporary restraining order lifting the ban. But the White House maintains that access to the White House is a privilege, not a right.

Straight Arrow Senior Politics Reporter, Azi Paybarah, helps us understand the rapid developments in this case, including the latest development in which the three media outlets have filed for an emergency hearing after being denied access today despite the judge’s order.

Conversation highlights:

SIMONE DEL ROSARIO: Well, the media really jumped on this story for obvious reasons. I think we really care about what goes on in the media, and we very much care about the First Amendment, access and being able to hold government and people in power accountable.

We’re talking about it today as our top story here on Off Script. I wanted to know, though: are we all part of some scheme that’s actually distracting us from something else?

AZI PAYBARAH: You know, it’s fascinating. Why did Trump even do this? Why now?

You have Chinese President Xi Jinping set to arrive. Midterms are coming up, and he’s already said, “Pretend I’m on the ballot.” So he’s obviously very vested in it.

Why now? And the cited stories were, in some cases, months old.

One thing that helps understand Trump’s behavior and actions is the idea that he can flood the zone and just create so much content that it overwhelms institutions and organizations. There are so many scandals that, in a prior administration, would have derailed them for weeks or months. Trump has stacked them so repetitively, one after another, after another, that it’s almost hard to keep your mind around.

Remember, it’s only been a few days since the president’s oldest son acknowledged that a Russian oligarch close to Vladimir Putin paid for part of his wedding reception. Just think about that one. Questions remain about Trump trying to sell early access to his social media posts for $100,000 a month to people on Wall Street. That is sort of shocking.

Each time he fights with the media, the media has an obligation to cover it, but it also distracts from the other stories we could be covering. And there’s also one other thing that happens: Whether or not Trump loses in court seems almost immaterial.

The fight reinforces the idea of “them” and “us.” He tells his supporters, “Those are the people fighting against me.” And for the people that support him, they believe in that. They buy into it.

Part of what it means to be conservative today is a distrust of mainstream institutions, including the media, and it reinforces whose side you’re on when you have a fight.

And this is one that Trump chose to have right now.

Now to You

There’s no shortage of opinions online, but what’s hard to find is answers.

This is Now To You, where we take your questions, comments and hot takes — and dig for the facts.

This week, we received a good question from one of our viewers after our coverage of Trump banning CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House.

STRAIGHT ARROW: We’re glad you asked, Joe. Let’s take a closer look.

In 2023, the Biden White House changed the rules for what’s called a “hard pass.” It’s a bit of an all-access pass that lets reporters go to the White House press areas without arranging access ahead of time.

All of those annual passes expired at the same time, and reporters had to reapply under new requirements. For instance, they needed to be employed by a news organization, have a physical presence in the DC area, and have covered the White House at least once in the past six months. Reporters who didn’t qualify for a hard pass could still apply for day passes, which just means they’d need an escort that day.

In the end, the number of hard-pass holders dropped by 442. The vast majority just didn’t reapply.

Now, the rules faced a legal challenge. One journalist who lost his hard pass argued that the rules were designed to keep him out. A federal court rejected that claim.

But what Trump did last week was different.

He specifically named CNN, MS NOW, and Politico, saying he was banning them over what he called “fake news,” and their journalists were then turned away from the White House. A federal judge has now said it was likely without due process.

The White House argues that access to the president is a privilege, not a First Amendment right. But for now, it is being ordered to reinstate those badges.

Inside the Story

Ok, let’s go Inside the Story.

You can read the stories on Straight Arrow, but this is where we go a step further, getting at the details that didn’t fit, the questions that came up and the reporting that shaped the story.

Meet Christian Bryant, the new face of Unbiased Updates and Off Script

This week, we’re doing something a bit different. A week ago, we introduced our new host for Unbiased Updates, Christian Bryant, who will also take over Off Script next week.

Over the past week, you’ve seen him on your screens each morning, sharing the news. Now, let’s take a closer look and learn more about our new host.

First, a note to you from Christian:

Hello, everyone! I’m excited to join the Straight Arrow team and contribute to the company’s unbiased, fact-based journalism.

But I’m not just here to “do” the news. I’m also interested in some good, ol’ fashioned fellowship with our audience!

A bit about me: I’m a serious journalist… but a pretty unserious human being. Outside of work, I’m usually delving into old jazz and funk records, reading books halfway before diverting attention to other books, or asking for new mobility routines in the group chats with my college buddies. #Washed

I’m a proud North Carolinian — even when being mistreated by my sports teams — and a lover of good barbeque.

I look forward to getting to getting to know you all in the days and weeks ahead!

Christian Bryant, anchor for Unbiased Updates and Off Script

Off Script focuses on revealing the story behind the story and uncovering hidden details. So, let’s gain some insight into who Christian is behind the camera.

Conversation highlights:

SIMONE DEL ROSARIO: Why Straight Arrow for you?

CHRISTIAN BRYANT: Straight Arrow was just such an attractive product. We know what the news landscape looks like, and the two of us have likely talked to our friends, our community members about what they would like to see out of their news consumption, what they would like to add to their news diet, so to speak. Straight Arrow was an easy sell for me because of the work, and the work speaks for itself. It’s unbiased. It’s right down the middle, but it’s not without a little bit of flavor, right?

DEL ROSARIO: I’m curious. You’re walking into a show, Unbiased Updates, that already has a really loyal audience. How do you want to build a relationship with them?

BRYANT: One of the first things that I wanted to do was try to build on the successes of the show. It’s to the point. It is a great product, but building a relationship with the audience. One way I’ve been doing that is by trying to do a good job every morning, making sure I deliver on our promise of unbiased news that fears no fact, and by connecting with our audience members.

We have a very communicative group of people on YouTube and Spotify, and I want them to know I am accessible. I may not see every comment, but I like that we’re in conversation with each other, so they feel like they’re part of this. We’re collaborators, so to speak.

DEL ROSARIO: As people get to know you here, what do you hope they learn from you?

BRYANT: I hope that people learn that I am a serious journalist, but an unserious human being. I love an opportunity to inject a little levity into the stories we’re covering.

But I hope I can build a relationship with the audience. I hope I can help people feel a little more informed and, when the opportunity arises, help them feel a sense of optimism about the world around them and understand more about the things they don’t know.

DEL ROSARIO: Did you have a coming to news moment? That moment where you realized, “I am going to be a journalist someday?”

BRYANT: You know, I love this question because unlike a lot of people that I work with, I never thought I was going to be a journalist. There’s so many other professions that I wanted to explore when I was a kid. I wanted to be an animator for Disney. I thought that would have been the most fantastic job. I still think one day I’ll be a musician. I grew up playing the drums and the keys. I played the drums in church. You know that was my thing for a while.

After I graduated, I dug a bit deeper, and I realized I love connecting with people. I love talking to folks. I love taking pieces of stories and kind of putting them together. And I had my very first journalism opportunity in 2011. I interned at an alt-weekly newspaper in my hometown, and that was it. That was the moment.

Start your morning with Christian Bryant on Unbiased Updates, weekdays at 6:30 a.m. CT.

Also Worth Your Time

Want more to read?

Here’s what didn’t make the cut on Unbiased Updates this week —  but we think it’s Also Worth Your Time.

Trump plans to expand refugee program for 17,500 white South Africans: Report

The Trump administration is preparing to accept up to 17,500 more white South Africans as refugees over the next year, according to an exclusive CBS News report.

CBS obtained a notice sent to Congress on Tuesday confirming the number of spots for the new fiscal year.

Trump has said Afrikaners are being persecuted because they’re white, and his administration has made an exception for them while effectively shutting down refugee admissions for most other groups.

The South African government denies that Afrikaners are being persecuted. 

Lawsuits challenge Trump Media’s paid early access to Truth Social posts

Selling early access to Trump’s Truth Social posts is now at the center of two lawsuits.

A service charges between $60,000 and $100,000 per month to provide Truth Social posts from Trump and other top accounts before anyone else.

One lawsuit, filed by The Intercept and the Freedom of the Press Foundation, argues that selling early access to the president’s posts violates the First and Fifth Amendments. This week, 53 former federal prosecutors and agents filed a brief supporting that lawsuit, arguing the service could also violate federal criminal laws.

San Francisco has also sued Trump Media, calling the service a “pay-to-play” scheme that gives wealthy subscribers early access to potentially market-moving information.

The city attorney put it this way: “No ordinary person can pay that fee.” He also pointed out that Trump owns roughly 41% of Trump Media and argued the president is “personally benefiting from this business scheme.”

Trump Media has disputed the allegations, arguing the lawsuits fail to distinguish between public and nonpublic information.

Here’s the Kicker

Feeling overwhelmed by this week’s headlines? We’ve got a good way for you to head into the end of the week.

Fat Bear Week is back, and Chunk is looking to defend his crown

It’s that time of year again. The bears of Alaska’s Katmai National Park have spent the summer packing on the pounds. And now we get to judge them for it.

Voting is open for the 12th annual Fat Bear Week, with 16 very well-fed bears competing for the crown.

The bear to beat? Reigning champ Chunk, who’s estimated to weigh about 1,200 pounds.

And yes, his name is Chunk. He was made for this.

That’s it for us this week, we’ll see you back here next week, with Christian at the mic.