A new report from The Guardian delves into the "new media" personalities given prime seats in the White House press room that many say are perpetuating propaganda through "fawning, softball, or otherwise baffling questions.”
One example is Podcast host Tim Pool, who joined the press room last week.
A known far-right conspiracy theorist, Pool was paid almost $10 million by Russian state media operatives to publish videos promoting Moscow’s interests and agenda, according to the Guardian.
In his question to Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, Pool attacked media outlets by asking, “I’m wondering if you can comment on their unprofessional behavior as well as elaborate if there’s any plans to expand access to new companies?”
“We want to welcome all viewpoints into this room,” Leavitt replied.
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Another pro-Trump ‘influencer’ allowed into the press room is Dominick McGee. Known as Dom Lucre, the Guardian described him as a “self-styled Black Maga influencer.”
He is known to disseminate conspiracy theories on social media, including amplifying Trump’s false claims that the 2020 election he lost was fraudulent, and promoting the QAnon fiction that the so-called deep state was conspiring to usurp the president.
He asked Leavitt, “Is there any possibility for names such as Barack Hussein Obama, Hillary Rodham Clinton, to ever possibly get investigated for … any of the wrongdoings they might have done?”
The press secretary called the question “refreshing.”
One softball question Leavitt received came from TikTok creator Link Lauren.
Known as “Maga Malfoy” because of his resemblance to the Harry Potter character Draco Malfoy, he asked, “You’re a very high-profile young mother who seems to juggle and balance it all beautifully. What advice do you have to young parents out there who are starting their careers, having kids, building families, and trying to find that balance so desperately?”
Leavitt had no advice to offer.