Poynter is reporting that Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., accused former special counsel Jack Smith of perjury during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing Tuesday, only to be left embarrassed when the allegation collapsed.
It said Schmitt suggested Smith had traveled to Atlanta to meet a scandal-marred prosecutor who had also charged President Donald Trump, and claimed he had text messages showing Smith attended an Atlanta Hawks game in February 2024. When Smith denied it, Schmitt accused him of perjury and called him a "dirtbag," Poynter said.
Smith recalled that he did attend a basketball game that month — a University of Maryland women's game to watch then-Iowa star Caitlin Clark. The game was in Maryland, not Atlanta. Poynter said Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., concluded Schmitt had confused Iowa's nickname, the Hawkeyes, with Atlanta's NBA team, the Hawks, and told him he should apologize. Schmitt refused.
Poynter said the moment drew widespread criticism from journalists, including Chuck Todd, ABC News' Jonathan Karl, Scott MacFarlane and The Bulwark's Sam Stein. Politico summed it up by writing that Schmitt had pinned down Smith "as a Caitlin Clark fan."
Separately, Poynter is reporting that CNN, MS NOW and Politico are asking a federal judge to block the Trump administration's ban on their White House access until their case is resolved. It said a 14-day temporary restraining order allowing the outlets to regain their credentials is set to expire Oct. 8.
In a court filing, lawyers for the outlets wrote that the White House's words and actions leave little doubt it would immediately reinstate a complete ban if given the opportunity, Poynter said. Lead attorney Theodore J. Boutrous Jr. told The Associated Press the ban is a blatant violation of the First Amendment and due process, calling it retaliation and viewpoint discrimination. The administration argues that White House access is a privilege, not a right.
Poynter also reported that the Los Angeles Times' Michael Wilner wrote that Trump is escalating his assault on the media, noting the president has praised China for having the "friendliest press corps" and has repeatedly insulted female reporters in recent months.
Poynter is reporting that The Washington Post has published its inaugural "Washington Post Impact Report," a collection of journalism from the first half of 2026 that it says led to meaningful change. Executive editor Matt Murray wrote in the foreword that the Post has been through a challenging period amid industry upheaval but that its commitment to impactful journalism has not wavered. Poynter noted the Post carried out mass layoffs in February, cutting a third of its staff, including more than 300 journalists. The report features 40 stories, and the Post claims more than 200 scoops and exclusives so far this year.
Poynter also noted that CNBC reported Disney is laying off around 300 employees in its latest cuts under new CEO Josh D'Amaro, and that Harry Smith is returning to NBC News as a contributor two years after his exit.