In her concurring opinion in McCreary County v. ACLU of Kentucky (2005), Justice Sandra Day O’Connor stated, “Free people are entitled to free and diverse thoughts, which government ought neither to constrain nor to direct.”
The state of American mass media lately has been a whirlwind, but staying informed is always essential.
Media Ban Round-Up
On September 19, 2026, the Associated Press shared that reporters from CNN, Politico, and MS Now were denied access to the White House and had their badges revoked. Trump’s reasoning for the sudden ban can be summarized in two words: “fake news!”
Following the ban, other major networks, including ABC, CBS, Fox News, and NBC, “had paused their broadcasts of the president in solidarity with the banned outlets.” (BBC) The White House pool— the reporters accounting for time spent with the president on Air Force One, in the Oval Office, on a golf course… looked a bit different last week.
The affected news outlets have since filed a First Amendment lawsuit, suggesting that being singled out by the government on account of content being published is a violation of free press liberties. The Trump administration argued that access to the White House or Air Force One is a privilege, not a right. While true, suddenly taking that privilege away also makes it a matter of due process.
By the time you read this article, the outlets’ access and news pools covering the Trump administration will resume following orders from a federal judge. However, during this election cycle, this incident should bring the daily importance of independent and truthful journalism to light.
A tale as old as time…
Historically, presidents are no stranger to contentious relationships with journalism and dissent. John Adams famously signed the Sedition Act in 1798, which essentially made it illegal to criticize the government as a war with France was approaching. He also famously lost the 1800 presidential election.
From FDR’s fireside chats to Wilson’s adverse relationship with the press, and whatever Trump TV is, Trump is leaving a new legacy in his second term. Penn State professor Amy Kristin Sanders spoke with AP, stating “it has become pretty clear that this administration is not interested in playing by traditional First Amendment rules and norms.” When I asked my own mass communications professor here at Texas State about the issue, she simply described it as “scary.”
Between elections, massive budget cuts, and Trump’s recent summit alongside Xi Jinping as well as AI and tech leaders, this ironically comes at a bit of a bad time for voters who seek insight, and overshadows other important national and global events.
Paramount + Warner Bros.
The broadcast news that we’re used to might change alongside ownership, too. The largest Hollywood merger ever is set to close on October 6th, 2026, as Paramount Skydance chief and close Trump ally David Ellison takes over Warner Brothers Discovery for around $111 billion.
This follows a settlement with 12 Democratic attorneys general who alleged that the merger violated antitrust laws and was creating a monopoly within the film industry.
Streaming services, licenses, movie studios, and beloved channels such as MTV, TBS, Nickelodeon and Food Network will be under the same roof. Most notably, though, are CNN and CBS. The merger raises questions about changes in the press outlets’ output, while the answers remain uncertain. According to Variety, one term in the settlement includes oversight by a “news editorial independence board,” which will establish “guiding editorial and journalism principles for” for CNN and CBS News.
As we gear up to vote this election, it’s important to consider what influences collective American thought.
A culture of retaliating against the press is an unhealthy democracy.