White House overhauls press pool selection after decades of tradition

1) Immediate legal/press-support escalation: Contact the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press (RCFP) legal hotline and the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) to (a) report the pool changes, (b) ask how local newsrooms can join coordinated legal/advocacy actions, and (c) request trainings for newsroom staff about taking part (or opting out of) government-appointed pools. - Call RCFP Legal Hotline (Mon–Fri 9am–5pm ET; emergency after hours): 1‑800‑336‑4243; general office: 202‑795‑9300; email: hotline@rcfp.org; trainings & calendar: https://www.rcfp.org/trainings/ and https://www.rcfp.org/contact/. citeturn0search3turn0search0 - Call the WHCA (ask to speak to the WHCA president or advocacy lead): 202‑499‑4187; contact/form + statements: https://whca.press/contact/ and WHCA public statements on the pool changes. (Ask: Do you want your newsroom added to WHCA member lists or to join coordinated responses?) citeturn0search2turn6search0 - Script for callers: “I’m [name], I represent [newsroom/community group]. I’m calling to let you know I/our organization supports independent pool selection by the WHCA. Please tell me how to (a) sign WHCA petitions/letters, (b) join any legal/advocacy coalitions, and (c) get your next public briefing or training.” 2) Pressure the White House public channels now (calls + public record): Phone the White House switchboard and comment line and send public questions to Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt through official channels and social media to demand transparent, written criteria for who controls pool access. - White House switchboard: (202) 456‑1414 (ask for the Press Office or Chief of Staff’s office). Comments line: (202) 456‑1111. Use the White House briefing-room posts for public record and follow @PressSec on X (Karoline Leavitt). Cite specific request: ask for the administration to publish the pool-selection policy and list of outlets given or denied pool slots in the last 90 days. citeturn1search2turn2search2 - Named people to contact: Karoline Leavitt, White House Press Secretary — tweet/DM @PressSec, and call the White House switchboard and request to be connected to the Press Office. Also call the White House Chief of Staff Susie (Susan) Wiles via the switchboard and request a written policy release and explanation. (If you’re a constituent, explicitly tell staff your home ZIP when connecting.) citeturn2search4turn3search0 - Suggested script/email subject: “Request to publish objective pool-selection criteria & restore independent WHCA role.” Include a one-paragraph ask and a deadline (e.g., “Please publicly post policy by 5 business days: [DATE +5]”). 3) Mobilize congressional oversight: Ask your members of Congress to demand hearings or a formal oversight letter (House Oversight + Senate Judiciary). Target specific committee leaders and tell them you want Congress to examine whether the administration’s actions constitute viewpoint discrimination under the First Amendment. - Key officials to contact (phone/DC offices): • Rep. James Comer, Chair, House Oversight & Accountability — Washington DC: (202) 225‑3115. Ask for Oversight hearings or a letter to the White House press office. citeturn9search1 • Sen. Chuck Grassley, Chair, Senate Judiciary Committee — Washington DC: (202) 224‑3744. Ask for a Judiciary oversight hearing into executive restrictions on press access and whether policy complies with First Amendment jurisprudence. citeturn9search0 - Tactics: (a) Call your Representative and both Senators’ DC and local offices to demand action, (b) ask staffers for the committee counsel or communications director, (c) coordinate a 1‑page packet with WHCA & RCFP quotes to email the staffers, (d) ask for a public hearing and to subpoena relevant memos if necessary. Provide staffers the AP litigation background so they can brief colleagues (use AP and Reuters coverage). citeturn0search5turn0news15 4) Join or amplify press-freedom campaigns and petitions: Add your voice to organized petitions and national campaigns, then drive local pressure by sharing them with neighborhood groups and local reporters. - Current campaigns to sign/share: Change.org petition “Reinstate the Associated Press into the White House — Protect Free Speech” (example petition already live); Free Press Action Fund take-action resources; and Amnesty/Free Speech groups’ urgent actions on press freedom. (When you sign, share with local elected officials and local newsroom editors.) citeturn1search6turn8search1turn8search6 - Ask your local newsroom editors: If you’re a reader/viewer/listener, email your local paper’s editor and ask them to join WHCA/RCFP-led statements, to refuse participation in government‑appointed pools unless WHCA oversight is restored, or to demand permanent wire service representation in pool rotations. 5) Public events you can organize (town halls, vigils, teach-ins): Plan a 3‑part local campaign — (A) a public town hall with elected representatives and journalists, (B) a press‑freedom vigil at a symbolic site (local paper, federal courthouse, or National Press Club), and (C) legal/advocacy teach-ins. - Suggested timeline & partners: Organize within 2–4 weeks. Invite local reporters, journalism professors, WHCA rep (call 202‑499‑4187), and a local civil‑liberties attorney from RCFP (hotline/email) to speak. Use the RCFP training team (training@rcfp.org) to request a lawyer for a 45‑minute “Know Your Rights / Pool Participation” session. citeturn0search3turn0search2 - Example local event plan (weekend): 11:00 AM civic teach‑in (RCFP lawyer via Zoom); 12:30 PM public panel (local reporters + WHCA rep); 6:30 PM peaceful vigil with readings of recent pool‑exclusion incidents and public letter‑signing. Publicize via local Facebook groups and Nextdoor; arrange permits with city (county) parks dept. Be sure to comply with local assembly rules. 6) Media & digital strategy to increase pressure: Launch a coordinated social‑media and earned‑media push that (a) documents specific denials to outlets, (b) amplifies wire‑service harms (delay of photos/coverage), and (c) calls for restoration of WHCA independence. - Practical steps: (1) File FOIA requests asking for written White House policies or emails about the pool reassignments (use RCFP resources to draft FOIA requests); (2) collect & timestamp evidence from local reporters of delayed coverage; (3) pitch local TV/radio/op‑eds using the WHCA quote and RCFP legal framing. RCFP’s FOIA & training pages will help you craft legal requests. citeturn0search0turn7search4 7) Long‑lead organizing: Mark World Press Freedom Day (May 3) and RCFP’s Freedom of the Press Awards (Oct 15, 2025) for national actions and donor/coalition meetings. Build coalitions (student papers, press clubs, civil‑liberties groups) and schedule testimony days with congressional staff in the summer/fall. - World Press Freedom Day (annual, May 3) — plan a local commemoration/teach‑in to pressure lawmakers in the runup to annual hearings; resources & global events via UNESCO. citeturn11search0 - RCFP 2025 Freedom of the Press Awards: Oct 15, 2025 in NYC (use as outreach and fundraising moment). Register or ask for tickets/sponsorship to meet legal/advocacy allies. citeturn7search0 8) Rapid‑response checklist for newsroom collaborators & public supporters (one‑page ready actions): - If you are a journalist: Call RCFP Legal Hotline (1‑800‑336‑4243) immediately for advice; consider documenting every denied request for pool rotation, camera access or photographer slots. citeturn0search3 - If you are a citizen/supporter: (a) Phone the White House comment line (202‑456‑1111) and ask for publication of pool-selection criteria; (b) Call your Representative and both Senators (use Capitol switchboard to find direct lines) and demand a hearing; (c) Sign & share the AP/WHCA petitions and join Free Press or Freedom of the Press Foundation mailing lists to get action alerts. Suggested starter calls: Rep. James Comer (202‑225‑3115) and Sen. Chuck Grassley (202‑224‑3744). citeturn1search2turn9search1turn9search0 If you want, I can: (A) draft a one‑page FOIA template and a 2‑paragraph email script tailored to your Representative and Senators; (B) prepare a short press release/talking points for a local vigil or town hall; or (C) pull together a local partner list (student paper, chapter of the ACLU or Free Press, local press club) with phone numbers and suggested outreach language. Which would you like first?