Middleboro Review and so on

  Hi there, It’s Tuesday. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt refused to rule out slashing health care funding to keep funding Donald Trump’s illegal war with Iran. In related news, Democrats won another state senate special election in Florida, flipping a district Trump won by 11 points in 2024. And the Pentagon is already losing in the courts trying to defend their new, restrictive policies attempting to restrain members of the press. A federal judge has already raised alarm about the Pentagon’s new press policies, reportedly calling them “weird” and questioning their implications for press access and transparency. These restrictions—limiting how and where journalists can report and potentially curbing unscripted questioning—represent a significant shift in how the military engages with the press. When access is narrowed and questions are controlled, accountability suffers. Yet too much media coverage risks treating this as a procedural dispute or access issue rather tha...

  In case you missed it, The Associated Press is in court against the Donald Trump administration after being barred from key presidential events simply for applying its editorial standards — raising alarming questions about whether access to the president can be withheld based on viewpoint. When news organizations are punished for their reporting, it isn’t just one outlet that suffers — it’s our democracy. The media’s ability to ask hard questions depends on open access, not on access that’s dependent on pleasing those in power. Journalists and media leaders must speak up: reject restricted access regimes disguised as “pool policy,” call out retaliation for unfavorable coverage, and insist on transparent, non-discriminatory rules for press access. Add your name to demand that media outlets defend press freedom — ensure the White House cannot punish journalism for its point of view — and uphold the public’s right to the truth SUBSCRIBE TO CIVIC SHOUT & JOIN WITH OTHERS TO DEFEN...