Sam Stein
Role at the time: Managing editor at The Bulwark, speaking on Bulwark Takes
Statement summary
Stein said excluding CNN, MS NOW and Politico is a serious attack on constitutional press freedom that could chill future coverage. He later urged other White House outlets to boycott briefings until access is restored.
“We are firmly on the slope of authoritarianism. This is it.”
Original Bulwark Takes video containing Stein’s and Saletan’s responses to the White House exclusion of CNN, MS NOW and Politico. The video also plays part of Barrasso’s NBC interview; NBC’s original recording and transcript remain the primary sources for his remarks.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Why we used this label
The case concerns whether Trump should exclude the three outlets because of their coverage. Stein describes the exclusion as authoritarian, says it attacks constitutional press freedom and urges collective resistance, directly condemning the action.