Dana Taylor

I'm Dana Taylor.

I'll be back tomorrow morning with another episode of USA Today's The Excerpt.

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It started with the banning of the Associated Press from certain White House events over the refusal to use the term Gulf of America instead of Gulf of Mexico.

Then there was a recent FBI search of a Washington Post reporter's home.

And then in January, two journalists, including former CNN host Don Lemon, were arrested following an immigration protest at City's Church in St.

Paul, Minnesota.

What's happening to freedom of the press?

Hello and welcome to USA Today's The Excerpt.

I'm Dana Taylor.

Today is Monday, February 9th, 2026.

President Donald Trump wasn't particularly friendly to the press in his first term.

In his second term, he's been downright openly hostile towards specific reporters and outlets in his Oval Office briefings.

Should the media fight back?

And if so, how?