POLITICS
Big News? New Owens over an old name.
Wed Feb 12 2025
Remember the places you learned as a kid? Imagine if you were told to call your backyard by a different name. You would think it was odd. Well, that is what happened at the highest office of the land. The President changed the name of Gulf of Mexico. Not long after, an announcement shook the news room of the Associated Press.
Their major reporter was stopped from covering the big event in the Oval Office. A reshuffling on names took place and a decision was made.
The Associated Press thought they would use different names for a long time. “President Donald Trump and many people all know the country of the Americas. There was confusion on the use of the two names. Gulf of Mexico for over 400 years with new name Gulf of America. The other name will be kept. ”
The President's team thought differently. They said that they would not allow the newsroom staff to come into the Oval Office.
The Gulf of Mexico and Mount McKinley are two very different places that have seen changes. President decided the two names would not be the same as the old territories. People that didtravel the lands of either place could see this.
This move put many people into action-and not just in the pressrooms. A long history of news organizations fighting back against travel bans and restricted access comes to play and many are unhappy about the move.
The White House Correspondents’ Association was quite upset and the report from the group was swift. Was the move by the administration overstepping a move that would put the public's access to free, independent information?
Moving to the west, the story still seems even more slapstick. A mountain in Alaska underwent a similar name change with Mount McKinley and Denali. The AP stayed with the name Denali and it was an example of many history lessons.
The stories have unfolded and the mountain, a landmark in Alaska is unprecedented. The Oval Office should have a sole authority, and this land, was not in the same place as others in America. This may seem confusing, but the old conflict could bring a new era. Were there other conflicts past and present?
So many places came into the picture this week. It is a complicated issue. News agencies made a stand and it is clear the President's camp needs to get back to 101. More important, the public has the right to be in the know about how the news is gathered. Where else could this happen?
More disputes to come in a land of free speech? Contact is shut down, and the President is wary of the press.
News and politics should not make it impossible to cover events.
The White House has upended the playing field and actions without proper checks can be questioned. The end of the week should have confirmed if the AP will not be given access to future events. Maybe the White House felt that the public should not worry about the disputes?
The Gulf of Mexico has shown its importance. Overall, the history books are always changing.
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questions
What precedent does this decision set for future interactions between the White House and press organizations?
How might this decision impact the relationship between the White House and other press organizations in the future?
Why would the White House go so far as to bar a reporter over a geographical name, and what isn't the public to know?
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