Freedom of the press in the United States

Lemon says he would defend the right of journalists to publish critical pieces about him, citing a New York Times profile he found fair overall.

“People write things about me all the time that I don't like. And, but I would fight for their ability and their right to be able to say it”

Pod Save America: When Life Gives You Don Lemon (Mar 29, 2026) · Listen from 8:14

Lemon says he is surprised not by how far Trump has gone but by how far the public has permitted him to go.

“I'm surprised at how far we have allowed him to take”

Pod Save America: When Life Gives You Don Lemon (Mar 29, 2026) · Listen from 6:49

Lemon says his arrest matters beyond himself because the corporate media has already been neutered and independent journalists are now the target.

“And my arrest, it's way bigger than me because if they're coming for me, this independent person, they're coming for you But they've already neutered the corporate media”

Pod Save America: When Life Gives You Don Lemon (Mar 29, 2026) · Listen from 3:43

Lemon argues the war and the assault on the press are linked because the administration does not want accurate reporting on the conflict.

“The war and the assault on the press because they don't want people reporting accuracy and what's really happening with the war”

Pod Save America: When Life Gives You Don Lemon (Mar 29, 2026) · Listen from 4:24

Sagal reported that the judge ruled the White House had revoked the outlets' passes without adequately explaining why, which it may not do.

“the judge's decision said that the White House pulled the passes without really explaining why, and you cannot do that”

Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!: A surprise snow day for the White House press corps (Sep 26, 2026) · Listen from 4:12

DJ argues legacy outlets fought to regain White House access because their ratings depend on covering Trump.

“They don't have anything to talk about without him. Like, they know their ratings are going to fucking take it”

REAL AF with Andy Frisella: 1062. Andy & DJ CTI: Trump At The United Nations, Chinese President Xi Welcomed To The US & CNN, MS Now & Politico Reporters Regain Entry To White House (Sep 25, 2026) · Listen from 51:57

Shapiro argues it is important for the White House press corps to include credentialed, adversarial journalists.

“It's very important to have the Jim Acostas of the world and to have other people that are credentialed that are in there”

Digital Social Hour: Why Political Grifters Are Winning... | Brian Shapiro | DSH #2076 (Jul 21, 2026) · Listen from 28:13

Lovett notes that Garland-era protections for journalists were rescinded by Pam Bondi.

“Garland put in place protections for journalists to protect against this exact kind of thing. Pam Bondi rescinded those protections”

Pod Save America: Trump Honors Dead Friend, Restarts War (Jul 14, 2026) · Listen from 47:15

Vietor argues the subpoenas of Times reporters are meant to punish and intimidate rather than find a leaker.

“This is just an obvious effort to punish and scare these journalists because a normal leak investigation would figure out who in the government had access”

Pod Save America: Trump Honors Dead Friend, Restarts War (Jul 14, 2026) · Listen from 44:46

Kelly characterizes Israel's muting of Richard Engel at a press conference as Soviet-style press manipulation.

“This is like, this is Pravda-esque type shit”

The Megyn Kelly Show: CNN Identity Crisis, and How Boys Become Men, with Jesse Kelly, and New Nancy Guthrie Timeline Questions, with James Hamilton and Maureen O'Connell | Ep. 1283 (Mar 27, 2026) · Listen from 11:11

Jarecki notes that wardens can bar journalists on safety grounds even though no journalist has been harmed in a prison in twenty years.

“in the last 20 years, no journalist has been harmed inside a prison. So who's all the secrecy keeping safe?”

The Joe Rogan Experience: #2475 - Andrew Jarecki (Mar 27, 2026) · Listen from 1:50:24