Press Pool Shake-Up, The Political Price for Trump’s Tariffs, Tapper’s Biden Book Hypocrisy

Former Chief Assistant U.S. Attorney and National Review Contributing Editor Andy McCarthy joins Greg on today’s 3 Martini Lunch in place of Jim. They discuss the White House taking control over press pool selections, Trump’s tariffs jeopardizing a major political and economic opportunity with Canada, and CNN’s Jake Tapper writing a book about the cover-up of Joe Biden’s decline—after helping cover it up himself.

First, Andy and Greg analyze the White House’s new policy on press pool access for the Oval Office and Air Force One. While Andy thinks the White House wording on the policy shift is over the top, he says the Trump press team has largely made a point of adding new voices rather than silencing others.

Next, they critique Trump’s plan to impose 25 percent tariffs on Canada and Mexico starting in March. Beyond the likelihood of higher prices for Americans, they highlight how these tensions have weakened Canada's conservative party, which once seemed poised for a massive victory but is now struggling. While Trump shouldn’t prioritize Canadian politics, a conservative government there would align far better with his policies than Justin Trudeau’s far-left successor.

Finally, they call out the stunning hypocrisy of CNN’s Jake Tapper. After downplaying and denying Biden’s cognitive decline for years, Tapper is now co-authoring a book exposing Biden’s decline and the efforts to conceal it. Andy and Greg document how Biden's decline was blatantly obvious for anyone honestly paying attention.