Silent Treatment

The White House press pool has packed up its floaties cameras.

One of five TV networks (ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox News, or NBC) rotates the responsibility of filming the president’s movements, sharing their audio, video, and photos with hundreds of other journalists and outlets. This “press pool” system reduces the number of cameras following POTUS.

CNN was on duty this week… but President Trump banned CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House last week. The ousted outlets sued, claiming the ban was unconstitutional, and the press pool declined to replace CNN in solidarity, saying: “No administration should restrict a news organization because it objects to its reporting.”

Trump says he’s not targeting “free press,” only “fake news.” The White House announced Trump TV,* a 24/7 YouTube livestream of presidential coverage.

We’re diving into the press pool tomorrow at a 7th-grade reading level with biblical reflection and action steps in Decaf: The Pour Over for Families. Sign up free to get it in your inbox!

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ABOVE ALL, LOVE
Whether you’re critical of your government or think it’s unfairly criticized, the command for Christians is to love neighbors and enemies alike. That requires speaking about others with dignity and respect, even if we feel like they haven’t earned it.

“With the tongue we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in God’s likeness. Blessing and cursing come out of the same mouth. My brothers and sisters, these things should not be this way… Who among you is wise and understanding? By his good conduct he should show that his works are done in the gentleness that comes from wisdom.”
James 3:9–10, 13 (CSB) (read full passage)