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Donald Trump is currently meeting with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani at Gracie Mansion ahead of the president’s big speech at the United Nations General Assembly tomorrow. The White House did not disclose any substantive details of the meeting ahead of time.
VIEW FROM THE HILL
President Trump’s decision to ban three news organizations from the White House is no longer merely a dispute over who gets through the gates at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
It is beginning to determine what the public can see and hear from the president.
Trump left Washington for the United Nations General Assembly this afternoon without an independent television pool traveling with him after the White House prevented CNN—the network scheduled for pool duty—from fulfilling its assignment. ABC, CBS, Fox News and NBC declined to send a replacement crew, effectively suspending the rotating system through which the networks share video and audio from presidential events where space is limited.
The consequences were apparent before Trump even left town.
During a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new South Lawn helipad before departing for New York City, Trump’s remarks were difficult to hear because the professional audio normally provided by the television pool was absent. C-SPAN, which relies on the network pool for some presidential coverage, said it could not carry another White House event because no feed was available. The disruption will follow Trump to NYC: no network pool camera will accompany him during his UN trip.
Print reporters are still traveling with Trump and other components of the White House pool remain in operation. Official government video may also be available for some events. But without the television pool, there will not be the customary independently operated network camera documenting everything reporters in that position are permitted to witness.
And that gets at the practical stakes of a fight that is now headed to federal court…
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IN THE KNOW
TODAY IN POLITICS
President Trump said the U.S. is working on a “massive” deal to buy Belarusian potash for substantially less than it pays Canada, potentially shifting U.S. fertilizer purchases from a longtime ally to a close Russian partner that remains under U.S. sanctions.
POLICY DESK
Senate Intelligence Ranking Member Mark Warner (D-Va.), Senate Armed Services Ranking Member Jack Reed (D-R.I.) and Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense Ranking Member Chris Coons (D-Del.) pressed the Pentagon and DNI for IG investigations into reported AI failures in US military operations—including outdated geospatial data used in an Iran strike and AI-generated false intelligence that contributed to an aborted interdiction operation. The Democrats warned that accelerating military AI deployment without sufficient testing and human oversight risks “grave operational miscalculations” and asked investigators to examine any additional incidents that have not become public.
THE TRAIL
Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) endorsed Republican Rep. Mike Lawler for reelection in New York’s 17th District, saying the two have worked together on lobster protections, federal workers’ collective-bargaining rights and ACA tax credits. Golden, who is leaving Congress after this term, is backing Lawler over Democratic nominee Cait Conley in a competitive Hudson Valley seat targeted by both parties.
LOOKING AHEAD
President Trump is scheduled to meet with President Emmanuel Macron this evening before attending an RNC reception and a MAGA Inc. dinner.
READ ALL ABOUT IT
— “The new world order is here” by Jonah Shepp: “Our allies are tired of the U.S. pushing them around.”
— “The northern passage” by Nick Miroff: “ICE is targeting Haitians with new intensity. Now some are fleeing the United States for Canada.”
— “When political reality collided with Ed Sheeran” by Roxane Gay: “Celebrities use the facade of neutrality as shelter, as a place to take refuge.”