Via Skype, the White House opens press briefings to Trump-friendly non-reporters

Using Skype, the video-call app, the White House has extended the daily question-and-answer sessions for the first time to people in far-flung locales. The innovation, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer, “has been very successful bringing in additional reporters beyond the Beltway.” Except that many of the people who have occupied the “Skype seat” aren’t reporters at all.

Many have been conservative talk-show hosts who are receptive to, or openly cheering for, Trump’s agenda. Since Spicer initiated the calls, he has taken questions from the likes of nationally syndicated radio personalities and regional hosts. The newbies have made little attempt to conceal their points of view, their enthusiasm for President Donald Trump or simply their contempt for the news media.