Coverage from the Front Lines

“CNN should be ashamed of itself having you working for them. You are a rude, terrible person. You shouldn’t be working for CNN. You’re a very rude person. The way you treat Sarah Huckabee is horrible. And the way you treat other people are horrible. You shouldn’t treat people that way.” —Donald J. Trump to CNN White House correspondent Jim Acosta during press conference.

“I do think . . . that this is a test for all of us. I think they’re trying to shut us down. I think they’re trying to send a message to my colleagues. . . . I never thought that in this country I wouldn’t be able to cover the president of the United States just for asking a question.” —Jim Acosta, CNN White House correspondent, after White House revoked his credentials over press conference exchange with Donald Trump.

“In an explanation, Press Secretary Sarah Sanders lied. She provided fraudulent accusations and cited an incident that never happened. This unprecedented decision is a threat to our democracy and the country deserves better. Jim Acosta has our full support.”  —CNN statement.

—Amy B Wang and Paul Farhi, reporters, “White House suspends press pass of CNN’s Jim Acosta after testy exchange with Trump,” The Washington Post, Nov. 7, 2018.

• Editorial Comment: What makes America great? The free & open exchange of ideas.

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“I don’t think writers are sacred, but words are. They deserve respect. If you get the right ones, in the right order, you can nudge the world a little.” —Tom Stoppard