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Last week, President Donald Trump barred CNN, Politico and MS NOW from the White House, accusing them of spreading “fake news”. After their reporters had their press passes revoked and were denied access to the building, the three outlets launched a joint legal challenge, arguing that the move was unconstitutional.
How unprecedented is this decision? And how does it compare with the treatment of journalists in other countries around the world?
Jason Rezaian, host of the Washington Post podcast Freedom Desk and the paper’s former Tehran bureau chief, has a unique perspective on these questions. While reporting from Iran, he experienced restrictions on press freedom and was ultimately imprisoned by the regime. Since his release, he has become a prominent advocate for press freedom around the world.
He joins The Global Story’s Tristan Redman to discuss where President Trump’s decision fits into a broader pattern in the relationship between political leaders and the media over recent decades.
Producers: Xandra Ellin and Cat Farnsworth.
Executive producer: Martine Powers
Mix: Travis Evans
Digital producer: Sam Gruet
Senior news editor: China Collins.
Photo: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio points as members of the media raise their hands during a press briefing at the White House in Washington DC, May 5, 2026. Credit: Kylie Cooper/Reuters.
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