Overview

• Axios reporter Alex Thompson criticized the media for failing to adequately report on President Biden's cognitive decline, calling it a significant oversight that contributed to public distrust in journalism.
• Thompson received the Aldo Beckman Award for his reporting on Biden's decline, including the White House's efforts to conceal it during the 2024 election cycle.
• WHCA President Eugene Daniels delivered a strong defense of press independence, rejecting claims that journalists are 'the enemy of the people' and emphasizing their role in holding power accountable.
• The Trump administration's tightening control over press access, including barring the Associated Press from the presidential pool, has intensified concerns about media autonomy.
• The traditionally glitzy White House Correspondents’ Dinner was notably subdued this year, with no comedian or sitting president in attendance, focusing instead on journalistic integrity and accountability.