Newcomers to White House Press Corps Shake Up the Status Quo
“Many of the news organizations that are represented in this room have marched in lock step on false narratives.”
Much to the dismay of legacy media outlets like The New York Times, the Trump administration has opened its afternoon press briefings to members of the so-called “new media”—a group that includes popular YouTubers, podcasters, and social media influencers who have become go-to news sources for many Americans disillusioned with traditional outlets.
Until January, the White House briefing room held 49 seats, reserved for correspondents from major mainstream organizations. Other journalists without assigned seating typically lined the perimeter, hoping for a chance to ask questions.
In a notable shift, the Trump administration added a 50th seat, in the front of the room, specifically designated for a representative from the new media. According to The Times, whoever occupies this seat is called on first during the briefings.
Clearly, the old guard resents the presence of the new media. The tone of the excerpt below from a Times article makes that sentiment unmistakable:
In the briefing room, officials have made room for a new cohort of more partisan attendees, like right-wing podcasters, who often ask less-adversarial questions than traditional journalists. …
Longtime White House reporters say the result has been an erosion of their independence. They say the increased attention toward pro-Trump media personalities, who rarely challenge the administration’s talking points, has undercut the briefings as a space to relay accurate information to the American public and hold the president to account.
Natalie Winters, the White House correspondent for Steve Bannon’s War Room, is a member of the new media. According to Townhall’s Matt Vespa, Winters has not exactly been welcomed with open arms by members of the press corps. She’s even “been criticized for her attire … in a media narrative that resembles Mean Girls.”
In the condescending and cringeworthy exchange below, CNN’s Donie O’Sullivan approaches Winters outside the White House to ask her if she’s a real journalist.
“To the people, and I’m sure you see this online every single day,” O’Sullivan says with a smile,”who say, ‘You don’t deserve to be here cause you’re not a real journalist,’ what’s your response to them?”
Without missing a beat, Winters replied, “I’m pretty sure the group of people in there spent, what was it, four years covering for someone who was essentially dead, and that’s being charitable. … So for all those people who are apoplectic over having new media voices, you guys failed. That’s why we’re here.”
Beyond the rudeness of O’Sullivan’s question, his lack of self-awareness was truly remarkable. Not sure if O’Sullivan is a real journalist either. The only other time I encountered him online was during his hard-hitting interview with Taylor Lorenz, in which she gushed over alleged murderer Luigi Mangione, describing him as a morally good man.
CNN: “Are you a real journalist?”
Natalie: “The rest of the media covered for a president that was essentially dead. You failed. That’s why new media is here.” pic.twitter.com/ok5YtruWRt
— Natalie Winters (@nataliegwinters) April 23, 2025
You know who would disagree with the absurd assertion from Taylor Lorenz that Luigi Mangione is a "morally good man"?
Brian Thompson's wife and two kids.
pic.twitter.com/w3dEFoZ1JQ— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) April 13, 2025
Wildly popular conservative podcaster Tim Pool occupied the 50th seat during Tuesday afternoon’s press briefing which, of course, allowed him to ask the first question.
Many of the news organizations that are represented in this room have marched in lock step on false narratives, such as the ‘very fine people’ hoax, the Covington smear, and now, what’s being called the ‘Maryland man’ hoax. Where an MS-13 gang member adjudicated by two different judges I believe, is simply being referred to as a ‘Maryland man’ over and over again.
Now in an effort from the White House to expand access to new companies, you’ve created this new media seat. So, I’m wondering if you can comment on – following this expansion, you’ve had numerous outlets disparage the companies … reporters.”
I’m wondering if you can comment on that unprofessional behavior, as well as elaborate on if there’s any plans to expand access to new companies.
🚨 JUST IN: TIM POOL asks the first question at today's WH press briefing.
He called out the entire media room and I bet they were seething. 😂
"Many of the news organization represented in this room have marched in lock step on false narratives, such as the 'very fine people'… pic.twitter.com/OF9HlprRgN
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) April 22, 2025
Unable to argue with Pool’s substance, the legacy media responded first by criticizing his clothing. He showed up at the briefing wearing a beanie and a hoodie. Apparently, Pool had called out Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for not wearing a suit to his Oval Office meeting with President Trump last month.
Pool defended himself in an X post. He responded, “No Harry you don’t get it. I intentionally did not dress up for these dirty dirty smear merchants. When I met Trump, I wore a suit.”
No Harry you don't get it
I intentionally did not dress up for these dirty dirty smear merchants
When I met Trump I wore a suit https://t.co/ovrTU3imc5
— Tim Pool (@Timcast) April 22, 2025
Other responses to Pool’s appearance at the White House press briefing were hostile as well. The Daily Beast ran the sneering headline, “MAGA Podcaster Goes Full Suck-Up in First White House Press Briefing,” while the left-leaning podcast The Majority Report with Sam Seder mocked his performance with the title, “Tim Pool Struggles Asking Questions at WH Press Briefing.”
Over the past decade, legacy media has plummeted from its once-lofty perch, as years of dishonesty have finally caught up with it. Liberal cable networks like CNN and MSNBC have experienced sharp declines in viewership, while readership for newspapers such as The New York Times and The Washington Post has dropped dramatically.
They can continue to dismiss the new media all they like, but until they come to terms with the need to report the truth, their audiences will keep shrinking — and they’ll have no one to blame but themselves.
Elizabeth writes commentary for Legal Insurrection and The Washington Examiner. She is an academy fellow at The Heritage Foundation. Please follow Elizabeth on LinkedIn or X.
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Comments
I doubt the old guard has the self awareness to understand.
Being a leftist means having zero self awareness.
Adolescents have very little self-awareness; its something that comes with maturity, so its obvious why leftists lack it.
The fact that Pool has a larger audience than anyone else in that room just doesn’t seem to pop that smug bubble they live in. The self satisfied “smear merchants” are reduced to criticizing how Pool dressed but have no problem with Fetterman wearing shorts and a Carhartt.
The “New Media” would hardly even be noticed if the “old guard” had been doing their jobs for the last 50 years or so.
Media has always been partisan, dishonest and corrupt. The big difference has been consolidation of the media outlets so that diversity of the partisanship and dishonesty no longer exists. They all sing from the same hymnal.
And the left has the audacity to claim conservatives are part of a cult.
Have they ever looked at the repetitive commentary, cliff-noted talking points, and the buzz word of the day mantra they keep putting out?
It’s a wonder the lsm could tear themselves away from shopping for the right outfit for the WHCA dinner.
The old media are more like the “mean girls”
Without the fashion sense.
As a result of the shake up of the White House press corps:
1. Some reporters are experiencing wrinkles and smudges, even a few tiny boo boos
2. Not to worry though
3. They will come out in the wash
“In the briefing room, officials have made room for a new cohort of more partisan attendees, like right-wing podcasters, who often ask less-adversarial questions than traditional journalists”
Ask that f*g hypocrite what Joe’s favorite flavor is ice cream is. He knows, they all do. But I bet $100 he doesn’t know Donald’s.
“the Trump administration added a 50th seat, in the front of the room”
Tim Pool should have asked when the pressroom is scheduled to be “redistricted.” Because one is nowhere near enough. One is tokenism, and tokenism is inappropriate for the MAJORITY of American voters.
Meanwhile, the alt press should mke sure to have that seat filled as often as possible with blacks, hispanics, gays, and other representatives that the Democrat wokester MSM meat puppets wont dare be mean to.
What they ought to do is each week run a lottery for each of the 50 seats in the room. All credentialed names go into a container. A pick a name for the first seat. Pick a name for the second or so on. Your name gets picked you get the appropriate seat. You don’t get picked, better luck next week….
Completely fair and unbiased (presumably). Don’t like it then don’t participate and whine all you want.
Like Kill Tony and the comedian hat pull
You get one minute to be funny
“MAGA Podcaster Goes Full Suck-Up in First White House Press Briefing,”
Oh, please. I old enough to remember all the questions Obama got which basically amounted to, “Mr. President, it’s truly an honor to speak with you, Sir. Can you tell us, is it difficult being so awesome?”
“Boxers or briefs, Mr. Clinton?”
That was on MTV. Not exactly the same but the point is still relevant. Democrats get softball mostly. Republicans are asked when they stopped beating their wife.
Started hating them when john lennon was assassinated and they lied and smeared gun owners.
Made me look even more at their use of language to sway opinions.
Nature abhors a vacuum. There has been an absence of real journalism. People are becoming more and more aware of the Mockingbird (should be Myna bird or parrot) media all peddling the same narrative lies.
Sarah Sanders was very civil to them and they stab her in the back every chance. Remember pie gate. The are a bunch of whiny babies.
Pool’s beanie is a part of his brand, like ignorance and incompetence are part of CNN’s.
So why not just disinvite CNN, MSNBC, NYT, AP, Reuters and all the others who have been so spectacularly wrong and/or partisan? The few who still listen to them are lost causes anyway.
I can’t help but notice that more people watch Tim Pool’s ‘Chicken City’ broadcast of his chicken coop than watch or pay attention to any of these idiots.
Natalie Winters is the real deal. She will do fine.
I didn’t know they allowed bombs in the press room. Heard that one go off all the way down here in NE GA.