r/politics • u/JonAce New York • 2h ago
Possible Paywall White House to Politico: Retract stories or face "consequences"
https://www.axios.com/2026/10/21/white-house-politico-retract-stories-or-face-consequences•
u/DookieShoez 2h ago
This fascist fucking administration is always attacking the press.
Don’t they know that if they have nothing to hide they have nothing to fear?
•
•
u/bmlbml 2h ago
Donald Trump is a domestic terrorist.
•
u/Sarenghetto_cheese 1h ago
Remember CPAC Texas 2022? They famously declared that they ALL are domestic terrorists.
•
u/EldritchSlut Indiana 2h ago
Stories must all be true then.
•
u/Aristogiton1 2h ago
Vlad's been giving him advice.
Using the son-in-law as a messenger.
•
u/P1xelHunter78 Michigan 1h ago
Speaking of the Russians, there’s an old saying: “never believe anything until the Kremlin denies it”. Seems relevant here. When Trump calls it “fake news” it’s surely the truth
•
•
•
u/travio Washington 2h ago edited 2h ago
Streisand effect in action. My first thought on seeing that headline is I gotta read these stories.
From the letter, it was about the rumors of Susie Wiles potential ouster as Chief of Staff. Seems heavy handed to send a letter like this. Politico isn't the National Enquirer. They aren't going to publish a story without multiple sources. This just gives the rumors behind the stories more credibility.
Trump is going to blame someone for his midterm failures. He's literally incapable of blaming himself. Wiles as chief of staff has kept the White House in better order than Trump's first admin but that control puts a target on her back. The inmates want to run the asylum and they are leaking about her already. After the midterms, might be a blood bath in the west wing.
•
u/brain_overclocked 2h ago
In his letter to Politico, White House Counsel Will Scharf singled out three stories concerning White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles despite "on-the-record refutations" or contrary evidence supplied by senior staff and even the president.
1) Oct. 15: In a story headlined "Trump's ice maiden is under fire," Politico Playbook reported that Trump was considering a replacement for Wiles. Trump called it "fake news."
2) Oct. 16: Politico Playbook wrote that the prior day's story had caused a "freakout" and that the president "blew up" over it. A White House spokesman called it "unbelievably stupid and false."
3) Oct. 16: In a story headlined "Susie Wiles helped set up Fox interview ahead of press secretary's exit," Politico insinuated the chief of staff set up Katie Zacharia to fail in a Sean Hannity interview on Fox the night before.
- The White House and Fox News denied the reporting. And White House officials provided text messages to Politico before publication showing Zacharia — not Wiles — set up the interview, which the New York Post reported the following day.
- "Politico has not corrected or retracted its false reporting. Instead, a Politico reporter confirmed that Politico declined to remove Ms. Wiles from the story because she was the 'hook' for the story — a legally fraught and alarming admission to say the least," Scharf wrote.
Here are the three:
•
•
u/MiddleAgedSponger 2h ago
What are the articles about? Any links?
•
u/travio Washington 2h ago
They are about rumors Susie Wiles is on the outs as White House Chief of Staff. Here is the first one
•
u/Kincherk 1h ago
There was also a follow-up article that trump was enraged after the human printer showed him the article about Trump calling his buddies about firing Wiles. Being exposed as being enraged seemed to enrage him even more.
I hope Politico tells the admin to go pound sand.
•
u/ruralcricket 2h ago
The White House counsel's office warned Politico in a Monday letter that it had 48 hours to retract or correct recent stories about alleged staff drama, or it would suffer unspecified consequences.
•
u/MiddleAgedSponger 2h ago
Is this just a distraction from them helping our enemy Russia against our ally Ukraine?
•
•
•
u/MaximumEffort433 Maryland 2h ago edited 1h ago
If we'd elected the nice Black lady we'd all be bored as fuck right now, instead the president of the United States is threatening media organizations of publishing articles that he doesn't like, oh, and threatening talk show hosts for interviewing people that he doesn't like, oh, and issued an executive order that could be used to punish speech that he doesn't like.
•
u/r_301_f 1h ago
You don't understand, dude. She had a slightly annoying laugh. There was nothing we could do.
•
•
u/MaximumEffort433 Maryland 1h ago
Sometimes it takes a lot of effort not to speak my mind about the people who worked so hard to ratfuck us in 2024.
•
u/UltraJake 45m ago
If we'd elected the nice Black lady we'd all be bored as fuck right now
Especially when we're talking about American politics, if politics is boring it means nothing significant is happening. Proper investigations into Trump, Epstein, and their many allies couldn't possibly be boring. The passage of significant legislation should be cause for celebrations. Efforts to salvage our international reputation - if that's even possible at this point - will require a rather robust game plan. I certainly hope things aren't boring in that alternate reality and more importantly (frankly more realistically imo) I hope that won't be the case in the near future if Democrats truly do pick up a bunch of seats.
•
u/JonAce New York 2h ago
1) Oct. 15: In a story headlined "Trump's ice maiden is under fire," Politico Playbook reported that Trump was considering a replacement for Wiles. Trump called it "fake news."
2) Oct. 16: Politico Playbook wrote that the prior day's story had caused a "freakout" and that the president "blew up" over it. A White House spokesman called it "unbelievably stupid and false."
3) Oct. 16: In a story headlined "Susie Wiles helped set up Fox interview ahead of press secretary's exit," Politico insinuated the chief of staff set up Katie Zacharia to fail in a Sean Hannity interview on Fox the night before.
•
u/dr_z0idberg_md California 1h ago
Trump literally telegraphs his moves beforehand. How anyone cannot guess what will happen is beyond me.
•
•
•
u/Feisty-Mermaid 2h ago
Trump is backed into a corner more than ever before. He 100% sees the early voting results and polling and knows he’s about to lose both chambers of Congress… expect more of this, in the end though it doesn’t matter.
•
•
•
u/LaMarr-Bruister 2h ago
Let him sue you and enjoy the discovery process. Truth is like kryptonite to this douchebag.
•
u/Hans_Delbruck 1h ago
For those who think a Twitter banning you is a first amendment violation... THIS is what a first amendment violation looks like.
•
•
u/ViolettaQueso California 2h ago
Free press, muthafukka!
Maybe in Russia you can have the press retract stories.
Maybe skip the BBC though..
•
•
u/brain_overclocked 2h ago edited 2h ago
The White House counsel's office warned Politico in a Monday letter that it had 48 hours to retract or correct recent stories about alleged staff drama, or it would suffer unspecified consequences.
Censoring American voices is peak anti-American dictator shit. These fucks hate the US Constitution.
It's time for Democrats to take back the "USA!" chant. These fucks never believed in it.
•
u/Just-Smart-Enough 2h ago
"Unspecified consequences" is interesting, coming from the king of lawsuits. Guessing that they know they'd get destroyed in discovery.
•
u/FormerUsenetUser 1h ago
"Consequences" has four syllables, which does not sound like Trump. Didn't he say "bad things" instead?
•
•
•
u/LucidOndine 1h ago
Politico to WH: Stop being deplorable douche lords so we have less bad shit to report on.
•
u/Puzzled49 American Expat 1h ago
The lede of the article says that the WH gave them 48 hours to retract or face consequences. Anyone know when the 48 hours expires so we can all tune in to the clown show.
•
•
u/duzies 2h ago
sub wall, but AI says:
The White House has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Politico, demanding the outlet retract or correct three recent stories regarding White House staff dynamics or face unspecified consequences.
The deadline for compliance expires on Thursday, October 22, 2026.
White House Counsel Will Scharf specifically targeted reports about Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, including allegations that President Donald Trump was considering replacing her and that Wiles manipulated a Fox News interview for former Press Secretary Katie Zacharia.
Scharf argued these stories contained "false reporting" despite on-the-record refutations and contrary evidence provided by senior staff.
The administration warned that failure to comply would trigger an immediate review of Politico’s access to the White House and potential legal remedies. This demand escalates existing tensions, as Politico, along with CNN and MS NOW, is currently barred from Oval Office and Air Force One coverage due to previous access disputes, though a judge recently restored their White House grounds access.
•
u/tilclocks 1h ago
Doesn't matter if it's true or not, unless it's about Trump then it's only true if he thinks it is. And if he thinks it's true good on you for exercising your free speech. If it's not, you better take it back or we'll take your free speech away.
Couldn't get more anti-America.
•
•
•
u/log-in_here 2h ago
If you don’t care what people think or say about you, why would act like it does?
•
•
•
•
•
u/dominiond66 48m ago
When will Trump and the Republicans "retract" the thousands and thousands of lies, they utter during this epic disaster called the Trump administration?
•
•
•
•
u/RCP90sKid- Oregon 1h ago
This is ok? This is why they are trying to make Nixon seem like a good guy M
•
•
•
•
u/Both_Temperature2163 1h ago
Suggestion: don’t post articles where I read a couple of paragraphs and then you ask me for money to read the rest!
Just how much disposable income do you guys think we all have? There are scores of other authors and publications all asking the same thing, seems like all the money in the world couldn’t buy all articles.
•
•
•
•
u/ButterscotchTall4836 45m ago
Well if all these news channels sue Trump at once Trump will drop it.
•
u/EyeraGlass 24m ago
No one gives a flying fuck if Susie Wiles’s feelings are hurt. Will Scharf could focus a little more attention on the illegal war currently spiking the cost of living, but he chooses this stupid nonsense.
•
u/irishyardball 21m ago
I wish the news outlets would fucking reverse this and demand Trump's resignation.
Journalist used to have power. But Fox News and right wing media have destroyed the voice of the people.
•
•
•
•
u/ilikestatic 2m ago
Is it the story about Trump raping women? Or is it the story about Trump raping kids?
•
u/GreyBeardEng 30m ago
Any other administration would have been impeached just for this. The United States is in decline.
•
u/AutoModerator 2h ago
As a reminder, this subreddit is for civil discussion.
In general, please be courteous to others. Argue the merits of ideas, don't attack other posters or commenters. Hate speech, any suggestion or support of physical harm, or other rule violations can result in a temporary or a permanent ban. If you see comments in violation of our rules, please report them.
Sub-thread Information
If the post flair on this post indicates the wrong paywall status, please report this Automoderator comment with a custom report of “incorrect flair”.
Announcement
r/Politics is actively looking for new moderators. If you have an interest in helping to make this subreddit a place for quality discussion, please fill out this form.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.