Free the Press, President Biden

Independent reporters are being penalized by the Biden administration’s new White House entry policies that favor wealthy corporate outlets. Plus, a translation guide to the new press secretary

- BRIAN KAREM

At the end of Press Secretary Jen Psaki’s Tuesday afternoon briefing, she was asked about her predecessor, Kayleigh McEnany, who just took a job as a Fox News contributor.

“Like many Americans, we disagree on political issues, but we talked about our families, our spouses, sports, all sorts of things in the green room, and I certainly wish her the best in her future endeavors,” Psaki said.

Some felt it was classy of Psaki to stick to neutral niceties, a move few would have expected from the Trump administration had the roles been reversed. Others thought Psaki’s full response, in which she mentioned knowing McEnany from when they both were occasional CNN contributors, was an example of how Washington, D.C. remains an insider’s ball game.

I am not that cynical.

Of far more importance is how the current administration deals with the press. McEnany and the Trump administration were historically antagonistic and abusive toward reporters. All eyes have been on Biden and Psaki to improve that corroded relationship.

It hasn’t gone as smoothly as one might expect. Last Friday Psaki announced that nonpress-pool reporters and organizations who do not have seats in the briefing room will have to clear two hurdles just get onto the White House campus: win an entry lottery (limited to 80 reporters a day) and pay R 3,400.00 for a rapid Covid test (or supply evidence of a negative Covid test to the administration’s satisfaction).