‘Seat’s Taken’: Mainstream Media Gatekeepers Cling to Old Norms as Culture Shifts

Julianna Frieman
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‘Seat’s Taken’: Mainstream Media Gatekeepers Cling to Old Norms as Culture Shifts

(Julianna Frieman, Headline USA) Reporters from legacy media outlets desperately clung to old norms Tuesday as White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt shook up the briefing room under President Donald Trump.

Channeling the infamous “seat’s taken” scene from Forrest Gump, the Mean Girls of mainstream media scrambled to tell independent journalists, “You can’t sit with us,” just moments before Leavitt open the doors to podcasters, social media influencers, and content creators.

One White House reporter sashayed to the front of the room and demanded that new media members leave their seats if legacy media reporters ask them to vacate what they claimed as their so-called assigned spot, according to News Busters Managing Editor Curtis Houck.

“Before we get started, final reminder, if somebody comes and it is their seat that you’re sitting in, please vacate it for them,” the entitled White House reporter said before begging for unblocked aisles and non-obstructive cellphone use.

Natalie Winters, co-host of Steve Bannon’s War Room, was in the briefing room Tuesday as the show’s White House correspondent.

She said there was an “undercurrent” of mainstream media “scoffing” at her presence, as they seemed not to want journalists like her to join them based on their unblinking stink eyes.

“If anyone form the mainstream press has an issue with me being here or with War Room being here, I will specifically say, you guys have covered up for four years a president who literally was so out to lunch that he wasn’t making any decisions,” Winters said, broadcasting live from in front of the White House.

Leavitt announced the designation of two “new media” seats as soon as she took the podium. The 27-year-old White House press secretary prioritized calling on outlets snubbed by the Biden administration, such Axios and Breitbart, and promised to restore the revoked press credentials of 440 reporters.

“It’s essential to our team that we share President Trump’s message everywhere and adapt this White House to the new media landscape of 2025.” Leavitt said.

Former Daily Wire host Brett Cooper, 23, took to Fox News to express the same sentiment Tuesday night, telling host Jesse Watters that “young people are just hungry for independent voices.”

“They don’t want to hear from traditional pundits 24/7,” she told Watters, who jokingly asked if she meant he would be out of a job.

Cooper added, “As Elon says, we are the media now.”

Julianna Frieman is a freelance writer published by Headline USA, the Daily Caller, The Federalist, and the American Spectator. Follow her on Twitter at @JuliannaFrieman.

Sec. Hegseth Cancels Mark Milley’s Taxpayer-Funded Chauffeur, Begins Process to Strip Stars

Luis Cornelio
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Sec. Hegseth Cancels Mark Milley’s Taxpayer-Funded Chauffeur, Begins Process to Strip Stars

(Luis Cornelio, Headline USA) There’s a new boss in the Pentagon.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is planning to “immediately” pull the taxpayer-funded perks of Mark Milley, the disgraced former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Fox News reported Monday. 

Hegseth, confirmed by the Senate to lead the military agency on Friday, ordered the Pentagon to revoke Milley’s security clearance, taxpayer-funded private chauffeur and armed bodyguards. 

These disciplinary actions appear to be in response to what Republicans have described as “treasonous” phone calls with China during the last days of President Donald Trump’s first term. 

The long-awaited Trump-led changes come less than two weeks after former President Joe Biden issued a blanket pardon for potentially criminal acts committed by Milley since Jan. 1, 2014. 

It is not immediately clear why Milley received the pardon if he is confident that he did not violate any laws during his last years in service. 

According to Fox, the Pentagon will order the acting inspector general to determine whether enough evidence exists to strip the retired general of a retirement-tied star. 

The Pentagon will also remove a portrait of Milley from the Arlington headquarters. This removal means the federal agency will no longer display any images honoring Milley’s controversial service to the country. 

A previous portrait was removed within hours of Trump taking office on Jan. 20. This portrait honored his tenure as the military’s top officer, while the second photo was related to his tenure as chief-of-staff of the Army. 

Central to the controversy are reports that Milley, in the last days of the Trump administration, secretly contacted his Chinese counterpart at least twice to assure him that the U.S. had no plans to attack China.  

These actions were widely seen by Republicans as part of a plot to undermine Trump, then the duly elected president and commander-in-chief. Trump, himself, described these calls as an act of “treason” and demanded Milley be held accountable. 

In contrast, Biden stood by Milley and even pardoned him for any criminal behavior, including his intent behind those two calls to China. 

 

Before retiring, Milley had been granted taxpayer-funded protection following alleged threats from Iran. But these perks have ended, the Trump administration suggested. 

“There is a new era of accountability in the Defense Department under President Trump’s leadership—and that’s exactly what the American people expect,” a senior administration official told Fox. 

Milley served as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff—the body that advises the president on military matters—from October 2019 until his retirement in 2023.

He had previously held the position of chief of staff of the Army from August 2015 to August 2019, the highest-ranking officer in the Department of the Army.

Sean Duffy Confirmed by Senate to Lead Transportation Dept.

Editor 1
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Sean Duffy Confirmed by Senate to Lead Transportation Dept.

(Headline USA) Sean Duffy was confirmed Tuesday as Transportation secretary, giving him a key role in helping President Donald Trump cut regulations and fix the nation’s infrastructure.

The former Wisconsin congressman has promised safer Boeing planes, less regulation and help for U.S. companies developing self-driving cars—while not giving any breaks to Elon Musk, a key player in that technology.

Duffy, a 53-year-old former reality TV star, was approved with bipartisan support on a 77-22 vote in the Senate.

He takes over the Department of Transportation at a crucial time at the agency, a massive employer of more than 55,000 that spends tens of billions of dollars annually, oversees the nation’s highways, railroads and airspace and sets safety standards for trains, cars and trucks.

At his confirmation hearing earlier this month, Duffy vowed to “restore global confidence” in Boeing, hire more air traffic controllers, cut DEI programs at DOT and create federal rules for self-driving cars instead of leaving that to a patchwork of state regulations that critics said holds back U.S. development.

One of the biggest beneficiaries to a such a regulatory overhaul would be Musk. Stock his electric vehicle maker, Tesla, has soared since Trump was elected president on hopes that unified federal rules will be passed. Investors are also expecting the DOT’s investigations into Tesla to be eased now that Musk is a key adviser to the president.

But when pressed by senators in hearings, Duffy promised to hold firm.

“I will let NHTSA do its investigation,” said Duffy, referring to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the agency in his department in charge of probes and crackdowns on car makers.

China came up several times at Duffy’s confirmation hearing as a threat to U.S. development of self-driving technology overseen by DOT. A big Chinese electric vehicle maker there, BYD, is stealing market share from Tesla both in China and Europe.

“Without clear rules, or a patchwork of rules state by state, we put ourselves behind those countries that allow innovators to expand and grow,” Duffy said at his hearing before Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation “We are in direct competition with China.”

The agency has several open investigations into the safety of Tesla vehicles, some focusing on what the company calls Full Self-Driving, a misnomer because the vehicles require human intervention at any moment.

In October, NHTSA launched a probe into Tesla’s self-driving system covering 2.4 million vehicles after getting reports of crashes in low-visibility conditions, including one that killed a pedestrian.

Musk, the world’s richest man who has dubbed himself “first buddy” of Trump, gave an estimated $250 million to Trump’s presidential campaign.

Duffy’s decisions at DOT will have a direct impact on profits not only at Tesla but Musk’s rocket company, SpaceX, which has billions of dollars of contracts with federal agencies. DOT’s Federal Aviation Administration has occasionally fined the company for violations, including $633,000 last year for alleged safety violations during two Florida launches.

Adapted from reporting by the Associated Press

John Fetterman Clashes w/ ’The View’ over Trump

Maire Clayton
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John Fetterman Clashes w/ ’The View’ over Trump

(Maire Clayton, Headline USA) Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman went against the women of The View while appearing on Monday’s show.


Co-host Whoopi Goldberg attempted to start the anti-President Donald Trump rhetoric by asking the Democrat if he was surprised by anything Trump did within his first week back in the White House.

“He’s been doing essentially what he actually campaigned on,” Fetterman said and commended the president for his honesty.

He cited Trump pardoning those with Jan. 6 charges and his plan to stop illegal immigration as just two of the ways the president has already delivered on his campaign promises.

Fetterman added he does not always agree with each decision Trump makes.

“There’s things I’m going to agree with, and things I’m going to disagree with,” he said. “But I’m in the business of finding wins for Pennsylvania and for the nation and engaging the president.”

His response received a round of applause from the audience with conservative co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin telling Fetterman, “Well said.”

During his appearance on The View, Fetterman also addressed his meeting at Mar-a-Lago with Trump and praised the conversation.

“Overall, it was a positive experience. I mean, he was kind, he was cordial,” he said. “It wasn’t in any kind of theater. It wasn’t trying to get your picture taken to kind of put something out on social media.”

Democrat co-host Ana Navarro told the senator she did not like the optics of the meeting between the two.

“I think it’s pretty reasonable to have a conversation,” Fetterman responded regarding the roughly hour conversation.

The senator expressed the need for bipartisanship as he addressed the audience.

“I hope, maybe you [who] are watching, you’re tired of just the venom and the hate, and it’s like, I’d want more bipartisan kinds of things,” he said.

After Trump’s meeting with Fetterman, the then president-elect had positive words regarding the meeting, according to Washington Examiner.

“He’s a commonsense person,” Trump said. “He’s not liberal or conservative. He’s just a commonsense person, which is beautiful.”

Dem Pittsburgh Mayor Vows to Not Work w/ ICE on Illegal Immigration

Maire Clayton
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Dem Pittsburgh Mayor Vows to Not Work w/ ICE on Illegal Immigration

(Maire Clayton, Headline USA) As President Donald Trump’s administration begins to crack down on illegal immigration, the Pittsburgh mayor announced Monday he would not work with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Democrat Mayor Ed Gainey made the comment while speaking with the PA Press Club.


“I am not going to be working with ICE,” the mayor bluntly stated. “My administration will not work with ICE.”

Gainey tried to claim ICE would do more harm for the city than good.

“ICE is not going to end the situation of a failed immigration policy. It’s not going to do it,” he added. “What it is going to do is create more situations where people feel scared. Where people don’t feel safe. Where people do things they normally wouldn’t do.”

He stated he believes there needs to be a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants.

After the statement, Fox News Digital received a statement from Gainey’s office stating they have not heard from ICE.

“Currently, the City of Pittsburgh has no evidence of ICE activity occurring within city limits and has not been asked to assist the agency in any way,” the statement read. “ICE is a federal law enforcement agency that works outside of City control.”

Numerous Democrats have already stated they do not plan to comply with the Trump administration’s immigration policy.

Austin City Council member and Mayor Pro Tem Vanessa Fuentes said local law enforcement would not aid ICE and would not enforce federal immigration laws. 

Denver Mayor Mike Johnston claimed on Jan. 21 that there should be places to provide sanctuary for illegal immigrants. He previously stated he was “not afraid” of going to jail for not following the federal law regarding immigration.

While some Democrats fight the new administration, New York City Mayor Eric Adams embraced it and met with Trump’s “border czar” Tom Homan in December 2024 to discuss how the two could wok together.

Trump’s White House Press Sec Opens Doors for Podcasters, Influencers

Julianna Frieman
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Trump’s White House Press Sec Opens Doors for Podcasters, Influencers

(Julianna Frieman, Headline USA) White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt laid down the law Tuesday during her first briefing: “The Trump White House will speak to ALL media outlets and personalities, not just the legacy media.”

Leavitt, 27, transformed two front-row seats typically occupied by the press secretary’s staff into the “new media” seats. Calling on Axios’s Mike Allen and Breitbart’s Matthew Boyle first, she took questions without consorting a massive binder of notes.

Leavitt told a packed room of reporters that data shows the American people’s trust in mass media has reached a “record low.”

She emphasized that swathes of the nation, especially its young people, have turned off the television and shunned newspapers in favor of “podcasts, blogs, social media, and other independent outlets.”

“It’s essential to our team that we share President Trump’s message everywhere and adapt this White House to the new media landscape in 2025,” Leavitt declared, eye-to-eye with the likes of CNN, MSNBC, and other so-called journalists whose outlets spent years going after Trump.

Touting Trump’s belief in the First Amendment, Leavitt announced that 440 journalists who had their press passes “wrongly revoked” by the Biden administration would have their credentials restored.

“We’re also opening up this briefing room to new media voices who produce news-related content and whose outlet is not already represented by one of the seats in this room,” she said, welcoming “independent journalists, podcasters, social media influencers, and content creators” to apply for credentials to cover the White House from the briefing room.

Leavitt led her briefing with a direct message from Trump, who revealed that the mysterious New Jersey drone sightings were authorized by the Federal Aviation Administration for “research purposes.”

There were also drones in the state operated recreationally and privately by hobbyists.

Dropping bombshells like the Trump administration stopping a Biden-era move that would have wasted $50 taxpayer dollars funding “condoms in Gaza,” Leavitt did not hold back as she took on the press corps.

“We know for a fact there have been lies that have been pushed by many legacy media outlets in this country about this president and his family, and we will not accept that. We will call you out when we feel that your reporting is wrong or there is misinformation about this White House,” she said.

Julianna Frieman is a freelance writer published by Headline USA, the Daily Caller, The Federalist, and the American Spectator. Follow her on Twitter at @JuliannaFrieman.

‘Captain America’ Actor Faces Backlash after Claiming the Character Doesn’t ‘Represent’ America

Maire Clayton
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‘Captain America’ Actor Faces Backlash after Claiming the Character Doesn’t ‘Represent’ America

(Maire Clayton, Headline USA) Marvel actor Anthony Mackie faced backlash after making the claim that the character Captain America doesn’t “represent” America.

Mackie, which took over the titular role from Chris Evans, made the comments Monday during a press event in Rome while promoting Captain America: Brave New World.

“For me, Captain America represents a lot of different things and I don’t think the term, you know, ‘America’, should be one of those representations,” Mackie said.

The actor attempted to elaborate on what the character meant to him.

“It’s about a man who keeps his word, who has honor, dignity and integrity,” he continued. “Someone who is trustworthy and dependable.”

The origin story of Captain America was a would-be Army enlistee that was rejected due to his size. He later received a serum that transformed him into a “super solider” and then joined the Army.

People quickly took to social media after the clip went viral.

“Disney needs to pull him off the promotional circuit for this movie,” one user wrote. “His political opinions have clearly overshadowed his understanding about the character, because like it or not a character with the name ‘America’ in it, with a costume based on the American flag, sure represents America.”

Captain America is often depicted in a suit which sports red, white and blue.

Political commentator Dan Bongino blasted the comments.

“Another s**t movie I won’t be seeing,” he wrote.

Disney previously faced backlash after comments circulated in 2023 where Rachel Zegler, the lead in the new Snow White film, decided to criticize the beloved classic.

“The original cartoon came out in 1937, and very evidently so,” she said at the time. “There’s a big focus on her love story with a guy who literally stalks her. Weird. So we didn’t do that this time.”

Judge Upholds Convictions for Wolverine Watchmen in Whitmer Kidnap Plot Case

Ken Silva
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Judge Upholds Convictions for Wolverine Watchmen in Whitmer Kidnap Plot Case

(Ken Silva, Headline USA) Michigan Judge Thomas Wilson has upheld the convictions for three men convicted on state charges of assisting the 2020 Gov. Gretchen Whitmer kidnap plot—a conspiracy fomented by the FBI’s undercover agents and informants.

Defendants Paul Bellar, Joe Morrison and Pete Musico were convicted of supporting terrorism in October 2022, and were given seven-year, 10-year and 12-year prison sentences, respectively. Three other defendants were acquitted in a separate state trial, while two defendants were acquitted and two were convicted after a second trial in federal court.

Bellar, Morrison and Musico motioned for a retrial on the grounds that evidence of the FBI’s entrapment scheme wasn’t presented at their trial.

For instance, the FBI gave prepaid credit cards to the kidnap plot “ringleaders,” Adam Fox and Barry Croft (the two never used them). The FBI also created phony “III%er” militia groups around the country, and appointed Fox as the leader of the Michigan chapter. The Three Percenters are a national network of militias, the name being a reference to the fact that only about 3% of colonists took up arms against King George in the American Revolution.

Judge Wilson did acknowledge that the III%er militias involved in the Whitmer kidnap plot were created by the FBI.

“The three percent groups were established across the country and were created by the FBI,” Judge Wilson said. “The FBI used assets from other 3% groups in forming the Michigan 3% group.”

But even though the defendants weren’t allowed to present that evidence at their trial, they were able to do so during a pretrial entrapment hearing in 2022, the judge said. Their arguments were unsuccessful at the time, and Judge Wilson declined to change his mind in his recent decision, which was made on Jan. 24.

Judge Wilson also upheld the defendants’ convictions for being in a gang, ruling that their Wolverine Watchmen group qualified as one.

The judge did say that the defendants’ gang membership prison sentences should run concurrently and not consecutively, and he said he’ll issue a new judgment with that correction. It’s not clear if that will reduce the amount of time the defendants have to serve.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel issued a press release on Tuesday celebrating the decision.

“Public officials must be able to carry out their duties without fearing for their lives,” Nessel said.

However, Judge Wilson’s decision was only in relation to the Bellar, Musico and Morrison’s post-conviction motions. They still have a chance to fight their convictions in the appeals court. The federal inmates, Croft and Fox, also still have appeals pending.

Ken Silva is a staff writer at Headline USA. Follow him at x.com/jd_cashless.

Jim Acosta Out at CNN as Anchor Rejects Graveyard Shift

Julianna Frieman
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Jim Acosta Out at CNN as Anchor Rejects Graveyard Shift

(Julianna Frieman, Headline USA) CNN anchor Jim Acosta reportedly quit the network after CEO Mark Thompson moved to shove him out of sight from his current high-rated 10 a.m. slot.

Acosta reportedly rejected CNN’s pitch to reshuffle his show from midnight to 2 a.m., according to the Status newsletter ex-CNN senior media reporter Oliver Darcy released Monday.

The newsletter, titled “Acosta La Vista,” revealed that Acosta “signaled to associates in private conversations over the weekend” that he plans to leave CNN.

Although CNN reportedly attempted to appeal to Acosta by positioning the offer as a chance to be a primetime host of its programming on the West Coast, the anchor did not respond favorably, even after he was offered to move to Los Angeles as part of the deal, according to Darcy.

Acosta, infamous for the Trump Derangement Syndrome that plagued his stint as CNN’s White House correspondent during the Republican president’s first term, could be cutting his contract short, one CNN insider told Fox News Digital.

It was not easy for Acosta to reach his reported decision, and he “struggled with the choice.”

“It takes courage,” the CNN source told the outlet.

As Acosta is reportedly on his way out, another CNN insider spoke with Fox News Digital to express devastation at the CNN anchor’s expected departure.

“Many viewers like Jim… if there’s anyone who could make the overnight go it’s him,” the CNN insider said. “It’s sad to see him go.”

Trump previously told Acosta, “CNN should be ashamed to employ you.” While CNN’s CEO did not fire Acosta, sending him to what Darcy called cable news “Siberia” was viewed as an attempt to force the anchor to “Go home, Jim.”

Acosta announced on air Tuesday that he plans to leave CNN, and Trump reacted in a post on Truth Social made at 10:33 a.m. during the anchor’s show.

“Wow, really good news! Jim Acosta, one of the worst and most dishonest reporters in journalistic history, a major sleazebag, has been relegated by CNN Fake News to the Midnight hour, ‘Death Valley,’ because of extraordinarily BAD RATINGS (and no talent!),” Trump wrote. “Word is that he wants to QUIT, and that would be even better. Jim is a major loser who will fail no matter where he ends up. Good luck Jim!”

Acosta’s one-hour 10 a.m. show will be replaced by The Situation Room hosted by Wolf Blitzer and Pamela Anderson, according to the Status newsletter.

Julianna Frieman is a freelance writer published by Headline USA, the Daily Caller, The Federalist, and the American Spectator. Follow her on Twitter at @JuliannaFrieman.

Son of Tucker Carlson Gets Role in Trump Admin

Julianna Frieman
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Son of Tucker Carlson Gets Role in Trump Admin

(Julianna Frieman, Headline USA) Political commentator Tucker Carlson might not have taken a role in President Donald Trump’s second administration, but his son, Buckley Carlson, did.

Buckley Carlson, 28, is set to serve as Vice President JD Vance’s deputy press secretary, ABC News reported Monday.

The former Fox News host’s son previously served as an aide on Capitol Hill since 2019. He most recently took on the role of deputy chief of staff to Rep. Jim Banks, R-Ind., according to the outlet.

He first joined Banks’s office in 2019, and he became the GOP congressman’s communications director in 2021.

Tucker Carlson previously revealed in 2021 that one of his children was in the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

“Well, I hated what happened on Jan. 6, you know one of my kids was actually in the building when it happened—I was on the phone in real time,” Carlson revealed to host Steve Krakauer on The Fourth Watch Podcast.

Although Carlson did not explicitly say Buckley Carlson was the child who was in the Capitol on Jan. 6, it was widely assumed to be the case due to Buckley’s position on Banks’s team.

Conservatives on social media celebrated the addition of Carlson’s son to Vance’s staff, with one user calling it a “MASSIVE WIN FOR AMERICA.”

While aggrieved leftists on X attributed Buckley’s addition to the Trump administration to be a result of nepotism, others like writer Ryan James Girdusky spoke highly of Carlson’s “extremely talented” son.

Townhall.com columnist Kirk Schlichter, who worked with Buckley Carlson in the past, called Vance’s new deputy press secretary “a solid professional.”

Buckley’s father, Tucker Carlson, “never once came up” in their interactions, Schlichter said of the political commentator’s son who “earned his career.”

Julianna Frieman is a freelance writer published by Headline USA, the Daily Caller, The Federalist, and the American Spectator. Follow her on Twitter at @JuliannaFrieman.

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