What is the White House press pool and how does it work?

The White House press pool is a rotating group of journalists, photographers, and technical staff tasked with documenting the president's daily activities and remarks, both domestically and abroad. Serving as the "eyes and ears" for the broader press corps, the pool operates in spaces like the Oval Office or Air Force One, where capacity is limited. Their dispatches are disseminated to other journalists to ensure public access to information. Following the Trump administration's decision to revoke the credentials of CNN, MS NOW, and Politico, the three outlets filed a lawsuit, arguing the ban violates the First Amendment and their due process rights. In solidarity, other major networks suspended their participation in the pool. Historically, the White House Correspondents' Association selected pool members, but as of February 2025, the White House press office assumed this role. This shift followed a dispute with the Associated Press over the wire service's refusal to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the "Gulf of America" in its stylebook. Since the administration took control of the selection process, several smaller, right-leaning outlets have been included in the daily rotation.