Thread by @AndrewFeinberg

(thread) This story on @POTUS' lack of press conferences & interviews is solid, but misses something that may not have crossed @AamerISmad's mind because he works for the @AP.

Because of Covid restrictions the @WhiteHouse and @whca have... 1/

apnews.com/article/corona…

...colluded on, @JoeBiden has for the most part only taken questions from reporters pre-screened &approved by the White House press office.

For example, at his sole formal news conference on 25 March, only these outlets attended & @PressSec had a list of approved reporters 2/

To the best of my knowledge, he has not yet held a single "open press" event in the White House.

Most events are restricted to the in-house "pool" or "pre-credentialed media" chosen by the White House press office 3/

And it wasn't until the end of June that the press office started allowing his helicopter arrivals and departures from the South Lawn to be "open press". 4/

Moreover, @PressSec's briefings have only been open to the entirety of the press corps for six months during the time @JoeBiden has been in office.

5/

And while the White House has pointed to @POTUS' affinity for taking questions in informal settings, those have largely been limited to "pool only" events or at best "pre-credentialed media" events where @PressSec's staff can control who is permitted to attend. 6/