Poynter is reporting that the White House attempted to force journalists from The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal to reveal confidential sources regarding federal leaks. It said President Donald Trump's administration issued subpoenas to Post reporter Ellen Nakashima and three Journal reporters for their national security reporting. The Department of Justice later withdrew these subpoenas after pushback from the news outlets. CNN's Brian Stelter and Hannah Rabinowitz characterized the episode as a "troubling example of President Donald Trump’s pressure campaign against the news media." The Post called the subpoena an "unwarranted" violation of press freedom. Poynter noted that CNN previously reported President Trump personally pushed the Justice Department to issue subpoenas to reporters covering the war in Iran. The Washington Post's editorial board, Reporters Without Borders and the National Press Club condemned the administration's actions, emphasizing the critical role of confidential sources.
Poynter also highlighted the release of "Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump," a new book by New York Times reporters Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan. The book, based on 1,000 interviews, offers details from sensitive White House meetings. During an appearance on "The Daily Show" with Jon Stewart, Haberman and Swan declined to reveal sources for information from private Situation Room discussions. Early reviews from The New Yorker and journalist Tina Brown praised the book as "vivid, rigorous" and a "flabbergasting feat of political reporting."
In other media news, Poynter reported on the ongoing search for Nancy Guthrie, the missing 84-year-old mother of NBC "Today" show host Savannah Guthrie. A second note sent to the family through the media claimed Nancy Guthrie had died. Savannah Guthrie made a tearful public plea for information on the "Today" show.
Semafor's Max Tani and Rohan Goswami reported that The Daily Wire, a conservative media company, is seeking at least $100 million in investment with plans for an initial public offering. The company, founded by Ben Shapiro, is in talks for a funding round that would value it at $750 million. Semafor noted The Daily Wire has faced "strategic missteps and internecine fighting," leading to key departures and a one-third drop in paid subscriptions in 2025.
Poynter's Amaris Castillo published an article for The Poynter 50 series on documentarian Ken Burns, exploring how he shapes America's understanding of its history. Burns distinguished his work from journalism, calling it the "polished shine" rather than the "first rough draft of history."
ESPN anchor Linda Cohn is retiring after 34 years, having anchored more than 5,650 episodes of "SportsCenter." The Athletic's Andrew Marchand praised Cohn as a "reliable presence" who prioritized the news.
Finally, Poynter noted that President Donald Trump is scheduled to attend the World Cup final next month in New Jersey and present the trophy to the winning team, as announced by FIFA president Gianni Infantino.