You hear that? That's the sound of the flood gates opening for creators.
After President Trump recently opened press seats for "new media", over 11,000 podcasters and YouTubers applied to join traditional outlets like The New York Times.
Bigger Picture:
The White House press briefing room is one of the most prestigious — and exclusive — places in politics.
For decades, it was reserved for big-name publications.
But on Jan 31st, Trump invited his first "new media" representative, John Ashbrook, a co-host of the Ruthless podcast.
And just this week, they revealed the staggering number of creators who applied to join.
Just The Start:
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt says this is just the beginning.
Among the 11,000 applicants are Jimmy O'Keefe and Seth Dillion, signaling a major shift in media. Especially as traditional outlets face more trust issues.
Why This Matters:
This move could reshape political coverage:
- More Voices: Expect news from a wider range of perspectives.
- Power Shift: Traditional journalists no longer have monopoly on White House access.
- TikTok-ification of News: Expect even more political moments to be clipped, streamed, and reacted to in real time.
Our Take
A recent Gallup poll showed only 31% of Americans trust the media, a record low. Among younger viewers, that number is worse.
It’s clear where those audiences went instead — the 2024 election was dominated by podcasts, with Trump's 14 appearances earning 124M views by election day.
The question is: will this bring more transparency to political coverage? Or just turn the briefing room into another content battleground?
Either way, expect your feed to be filled with more political moments than before.