Major Networks Halt Pool Coverage of Trump

TV cameras won't be trailing President Trump on Monday in the usual way—and this time that's by choice of the networks, not the White House. ABC News, CBS News, CNN, Fox News, and NBC News jointly halted their rotating TV "pool" coverage in protest after the administration blocked CNN from serving its turn as the shared camera crew for Trump's trip to the UN General Assembly, reports the Washington Post. The New York Times describes it as "an extraordinary escalation" of Trump's new clash with the White House press corps. The president's movements will continue to be covered by print and wire journalists, as well as by still photographers.

"This is to advise that, effective today, the TV pool will not be covering events designated as pool coverage of the President," Bryan Boughton of Fox News, current chair of the TV pool, wrote in a memo. "All other pool coverage will continue as normal, including Congress, VIPs, and selected events in Washington and around the country." The freeze comes days after CNN, MS NOW, and Politico were barred from the White House grounds and had their badges pulled. The three outlets announced Monday that they will sue. Trump, in a social media post, insisted he's targeting "FAKE NEWS," not the free press.