Trump Bans Media from White House, Europe on High Alert, College Sports Bill

Scott Simon (0:02)

President Trump says he's banning three news organizations from the White House.

Debbie Elliott (0:06)

It's being seen as an attack on free speech.

Scott Simon (0:09)

But it's not clear how the ban will actually be enforced.

Debbie Elliott (0:12)

I'm Debbie Elliot.

Scott Simon (0:13)

And I'm Scott Simon, and this is Up First from NPR News.

Debbie Elliott (0:19)

Europe is on high alert.

Scott Simon (0:21)

Leaders say that threats from Russia are intensifying.

Debbie Elliott (0:24)

And that European nations need to prepare for possible drone and even missile attacks. We'll have the view from Moscow.

Scott Simon (0:32)

And Congress is pitching in for college sports.

Debbie Elliott (0:35)

A new bill aims to overhaul the rules and financing around what's become a multi-billion-dollar industry.

Scott Simon (0:41)

So please stay with us. We've got the news you need to start your weekend. President Trump has banned three news organizations from the White House, CNN, Ms Now and Politico.

Debbie Elliott (1:03)

In a post online, he promised, quote, other fake news media outlets to follow.

Scott Simon (1:09)

We're joined now by NPR's Ron Elving. Ron, thanks so much for being with us.

Ron Elving (1:13)

Good to be with you, Scott.

Scott Simon (1:14)

And Ron, this summary ban, this is America. Can the president do that?

Ron Elving (1:19)

We find ourselves asking that question a lot these days. I'm not a constitutional law scholar, but I know how to consult people who are, and there's broad agreement that the president cannot do this in the manner he wishes.

Once he opens the door to the media, he cannot close it partially to exclude those whose reporting may displease him. It's been to court, been ruled a violation of the First Amendment Guarantee, and the president of the White House Correspondents' Association, Jackie Heinrich, noted yesterday that the constitutional protection does not depend on whether the president likes a news organization's coverage, agrees with its reporting, or approves the questions its journalists ask. Heinrich is herself a senior White House correspondent for Fox News, and she also said, This is about more than the rights of journalists. It is about the right of the American people to receive a full and independent account of the activities, policies and decisions of whoever occupies the nation's highest office. Now, President Trump tried to ban one CNN reporter years ago. He tried to ban the Associated Press early in his second term. The courts backed the media both times.

Although the AP ruling is still being appealed, but Trump may have his reasons to blow off steam this way, perhaps thinking it will distract from news that's been making him unhappy this week.

Scott Simon (2:38)

Including perhaps no agreement with Iran that would end the war, the US Congress, including seven Republicans, voted to end President Trump's powers to prosecute it. What do you see developing here?

Ron Elving (2:50)

Congress is in a struggle toward fulfilling its constitutional duties regarding war making. We are right up against the basic Constitution here again. In this case, the power to declare war belongs exclusively to Congress, which has, of course, devised its own ways to use the military without such a declaration. One is a formal AUMF, that's an Authorization for Use of Military Force. We all learned that acronym after 9-11, when US forces went into Afghanistan and then Iraq.

Here we have Congress trying to rein in the president using the few tools it has.

Scott Simon (3:25)

Also the Supreme Court blocked Trump administration plan to restrict mail and voting, and the Federal Reserve raised interest rates. Is there two more rebukes at the president?

Ron Elving (3:35)

Hard to miss that reading in both cases, and surely Trump himself took both of them that way. He went on to social and blasted the rate increase in personal terms and also to denounce his own appointees to the Supreme Court, all three by the way, for going against him on the mail-ins.

Scott Simon (3:53)

An AI is top of the mind for many voters and many in Congress. Most want some kind of restrictions. President Trump says all America needs is him.

Ron Elving (4:03)

Well, yes, all we need is Trump and whatever it may take to stay ahead of China. In this regard, AI development is racing ahead there too.

But lots of Republican candidates this fall are backing away, creating some distance with the president, noting the outcry against the massive data centers in their home districts and states, and also noting the impression of danger that keeps growing.

Scott Simon (4:27)

Kennedy Center has been summarily closed because the president says his name should be on it.