{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-sounds-the-alarm-on-trumps-attacks-on-a-free-and-open-press", "Durbin Sounds The Alarm On Trump\u2019s Attacks On A Free & Open Press", "2026-09-22", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "IL", "Richard J. Durbin", "D000563", "www.durbin.senate.gov", "durbin", "https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Durbin: \u201cPresident Trump has done more to undermine, belittle, and attack the free and open press than any President in modern history.\u201d\n\nWASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today called out President Trump banning CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from White House grounds because of his personal disagreements with their coverage. The three news outlets have filed a First Amendment lawsuit to restore their access.\n\n\u201cIf a person walks the halls of the United States Capitol, there is a pretty good chance that you will bump into a reporter. They are seemingly around every corner, with their phones out, ready to ask your opinion on a recent statement or the news of the day. Those of us who serve in this chamber have become used to their presence\u2014and their many, many questions,\u201d Durbin said. \u201cWhile we may bristle when they press us, we know that these journalists serve an indispensable purpose: they shine a light on the Senate, and they keep the American people informed about their government. The work these reporters perform is a great service to our nation\u2014one that deserves our thanks.\u201d\n\nDurbin continued, \u201cYet you won\u2019t hear that kind of gratitude coming out of the Trump White House. Since President Trump returned to the Oval Office, he has done more to undermine, belittle, and attack the free and open press than any President in modern history.\u201d\n\nDurbin noted that last year, after the Associated Press refused to use the President\u2019s preferred name for the Gulf of Mexico, he barred the organization from the Oval Office and Air Force One. At the same time, President Trump launched an unprecedented number of baseless defamation suits against respected news outlets for their factual reporting on his failed businesses, relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, and his role in the January 6, 2021, insurrection.\n\n\u201cThis ban is unconstitutional retaliation for factual reporting. It is something you would expect to read about in the communist Russia days\u2026 or perhaps in North Korea, but not in the United States,\u201d Durbin said. \u201cThis assault on the press is a dangerous effort by the President to distract American public opinion from his failed agenda. His endless Iranian War, his self-defeating tariffs\u2014Trump has broken countless promises made during his campaign for President.\u201d\n\nDurbin continued, \u201cChastising CNN won\u2019t lower the price of diesel fuel. Punishing Politico won\u2019t end the Iranian War. And maligning MS NOW won\u2019t save the President\u2019s free-falling approval ratings. Yet the President seems determined to double down on his assault on the First Amendment. Yesterday, the White House announced the creation of \u2018Trump TV,\u2019 a news channel designed to spread propaganda from the Trump White House.\u201d\n\nDurbin concluded, \u201cI would have thought the creation of a state-run media platform to serve as the President\u2019s megaphone would have generated some sort of response, some sort of outcry from my Republican colleagues who condemn communism and authoritarianism. But they are afraid to say a word lest this press operation of President Trump turn on them. I urge all my colleagues to speak out against this ban and the President\u2019s continued assault on free press. The future of our democracy demands standing up for the Constitution, even if the President won\u2019t.\u201d\n\nVideo of Durbin\u2019s remarks on the Senate floor is available here.\n\nAudio of Durbin\u2019s remarks on the Senate floor is available here.\n\nFootage of Durbin\u2019s remarks on the Senate floor is available here for TV Stations.\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-09-23T09:45:16Z", "2026-09-23T09:46:14Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-sounds-the-alarm-on-trumps-attacks-on-a-free-and-open-press"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 2.36428901553154, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}