WHCA – TALKERS magazine

CLARIFICATION: WHCA Not Part of Press Pool Boycott Action

By TALKERS | September 23, 2026 by TALKERS

As part of Monday’s coverage of the major TV networks’ dropping pool coverage of The White House in response to the revocation of “hard passes” for CNN, MS Now and Politico, we included a statement from Salem Radio Network vice president of news & talk programming Tom Tradup. He tells TALKERS that some readers might have come away from that thinking that the White House Correspondents Association is part of the action to cease press pool coverage of the White House. To be clear, WHCA president Jacqui Heinrich of FOX News says the organization is not part of that action.

Industry News

Salem Radio Network Refuses to Back Networks “Stunt”

By TALKERS | September 21, 2026 by TALKERS

In response to the stoppage of White House pool coverage, Salem Radio Network vice president of news & talk programming Tom Tradup issued the following statement: “This morning, the major TV networks announced they will cease pool coverage of President Donald J. Trump in solidarity with CNN, which had its hard pass revoked over the weekend by the White House.

As longtime members of the White House Correspondents Association pool, SRN has notified the WHCA that our network will refuse to join this incredibly juvenile stunt which is actually more like a RICO violation by mobsters than actions of legitimate American media.

Access to the Oval Office and to the President of the United State’s pool events is a privilege, not a free pass to slant coverage against – or for – any occupant of the Presidency. With this action, the major networks have shown their bias and petulance outweighs how they envision their responsibility to cover news under the First Amendment for which they so quickly cry crocodile tears.”