New York (CNN Business) – Vice President Mike Pence’s office has declined to allow the nation’s top health officials to appear on CNN in recent days and discuss the coronavirus pandemic killing thousands of Americans, in an attempt to pressure the network into carrying the White House’s lengthy daily briefings in full.
Pence’s office, which is responsible for booking the officials on networks during the pandemic, said it will only allow experts such as Dr. Deborah Birx or Dr. Anthony Fauci to appear on CNN if the network televises the portion of the White House briefings that includes the vice president and other coronavirus task force members.
CNN often only broadcasts President Donald Trump’s question and answer session, which sometimes includes the health care officials, live on-air.
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CNN did, however, air the vice president’s portion of the briefing Wednesday night.
Regardless, Pence’s office has declined to make the nation’s top health care officials available to CNN for the last seven days.
“When you guys cover the briefings with the health officials then you can expect them back on your air,” a Pence spokesperson told CNN.
Fauci, Birx, FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn and Surgeon General Jerome Adams have all appeared on NBC, CBS, ABC and Fox during the last week, despite the fact that the broadcast networks have generally not covered the briefings that have included the vice president and health officials.
But the Vice President’s office has blocked all CNN appearances since last Thursday night.
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- Discussion
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Vice President Mike Pence's office has declined to allow the nation's top health officials to appear on CNN in recent days and discuss the coronavirus pandemic killing thousands of Americans. https://t.co/Q3cnk72tSg
— CNN (@CNN) April 9, 2020
Here’s a thought. Just don’t broadcast the alleged “briefings” at all. If necessary, the networks can send a pool reporter who can tell them if anything important was said (I’ll bet in 90% of these so-called “briefings” there really isn’t anything new to report.)
*This* is the part where the networks can fight this kind of blackmail.
When the President speaks, it is policy. It has to be covered. When Pence and the doctors speak, it's a report. You need not air it live. No one should give in to this. https://t.co/7GMjKvSg7r— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) April 9, 2020
What this president says in these “briefings” is not policy, Tom. It’s bovine excrement.
*sigh*
When the President walks into the WH press room, you want the press to cover that. You do *not* want to establish a norm where the media decide whether to report the words, in real time, of the President and Commander in Chief. Try to think just a little ahead here. https://t.co/KhIqKkaQPi— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) April 9, 2020
VP Mike Pence's office reversed course on Thursday afternoon, after declining for days to allow the nation's top health officials to appear on CNN and discuss the coronavirus pandemic. Two health officials will be appearing on CNN later this week. https://t.co/6bax7IJNUE
— CNN (@CNN) April 9, 2020
So was this yet again one of Trump’s reality tv manufactured controversies? God, I am so sick of this presidency.
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