WHAT YOU’RE ASKING

What’s the White House press pool?

A small group of journalists who follow the president around. The Oval Office, Air Force One, vacation, the golf course… if the president’s there, so’s the press pool, notepads in hand and cameras at the ready, kind of like your kids following you to the bathroom to ask about dinner but more professional.

Afterward, the pool of ~13 correspondents shares their audio, video, and notes with any outlet that wants them (unlike kids).

Why don’t all outlets just send their own people?
Because that’s not really practical…

It’s hard enough with three kids following you to the bathroom; imagine several hundred. The Oval Office can get cramped fast… It’s easier, cheaper, and more secure to have a handful of journalists rotate as everyone else’s eyes and ears. The idea dates back to FDR.

How does it work?
Reporters from select outlets rotate on standby, with separate pools for wire, print/online, radio, photography, and TV.

Until last year, the White House Correspondents’ Association (an independent group of accredited reporters) picked the outlets. The intent was that a third party would choose a range of organizations, not just ones who are friendly to or opposed to the president.

In 2025, President Trump moved the power to select non-TV journalists to the White House. TV outlets still run their own daily rotation, with CNN, CBS, ABC, NBC, and Fox taking turns sending crews into the pool. (And that’s the rotation making headlines. Catch up here.)

What’s the point of the pool?
Checks and balances. Independent reporters keep the public informed so the White House isn’t the only one reporting on White House goings-on.

The pool has also been there for history’s biggest moments. It was in President Kennedy’s motorcade when he was assassinated in 1963, and it was with President Bush on 9/11. Both times it gave the public quick, accurate, firsthand accounts of important breaking news.

So… the president never gets a press break?
Nah, he can.

The press pool only covers the president’s public movements. They’re not entitled to private meetings or moments like him cooking breakfast.

What happens if there’s no coverage?
You may have to do some bad lip reading.

This actually happened Monday. Trump banned CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House and kept CNN from its scheduled pool shift. In solidarity, the other TV networks refused to replace CNN in the pool coverage, resulting in a White House ribbon-cutting with no audio (watch it here).

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ABOVE ALL, LOVE
People, presidents, and the press alike can use their words to hurt or bless others. Whatever conversations you’re having today, remember to use every resource at your disposal to honor God, love others, and share the truth of the Gospel.

“Jesus answered, ‘The most important is Listen, Israel! The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is, Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other command greater than these.’”
Mark 12:29-31 (CSB) (read full passage)

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WHAT YOU’LL ENJOY

Solving this week’s Mini Crossword. It’s a toughy! Play it here.

Continuing our journey to the top Whipped Cream on Top! We’re almost there… here’s #3 of the most popular Whipped Cream on Top posts of all time!

Clean candles that point to God’s truth. Created by TPO Reader Kellye S., Brave and Courageous coconut wax candles are good for your soul without any worry for your health. Each one is hand-poured by a mother-and-daughter team, making for a clean look with even cleaner fragrances (like pumpkin blondie and fireside chai), all wrapped with powerful Scripture. Pick your scent and up your cozy game this fall!*

*This is a free promo for a TPO-reader-owned small biz. Have your own small business you want us to know about? Fill out this form!

WHAT YOU’VE BEAN CLICKING…

Top News Link: A McPeek at the Golden Arches’ new, more colorful restaurant plans.

Top Christian Perspective: A reminder of Who you can put your trust in, whether it’s in life’s big or small moments. Download and save it here.

Top Whipped Cream: A crowd fave: dancing Northern Lights.

WHAT WE’RE RECOMMENDING

How We’re Re-Anchoring Our Souls
By remembering who gives us rest with John Piper’s book, Future Grace*

How often do you pause to examine the state of your soul? Odds are, you’re often too caught up in the same things that keep you wound up (anxiety, bitterness, impatience, etc.) to even stop to check.

If you can only remember one thing from today’s newsletter, let it be this: there is rest for us in God’s promises.

John Piper’s Future Grace offers meditations to anchor a life of constant motion to His promises, making space to look ahead to the daily grace God provides for us instead of letting our daily chaos consume us.

Grab your copy of Future Grace today.

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WHAT WE’RE PRAYING

An excerpt from “When Reports Allege Journalistic Bias” from TPO’s book Praying the News

God of Light, guide us by the lamp of Your Word. Give reporters and editors boldness to ask tough questions, shrewdness to uncover the truth, wisdom to understand fact from opinion, and humility to admit when they get it wrong. Extinguish any selfish ambition, love of money, or fear of man, and illuminate truth, fairness, and justice.

Spirit of Truth, snuff out any bias in my own heart. Fan the flames of Your Word in the furnace of my soul, that I may see this truth clearly: You show no partiality, and nor should I. Help me to look around with discerning eyes, so that I may see the light of truth, and cling to You in the dark. Amen.

LEARN WITH US

Each week, we do the deep shallow dive so that you don’t have to. We bring what we learn not only to this email, but we sit down and talk about it, too. Check out this week’s episode of TPO Explains... just click on the episode below.