Bill Shine is leaving the White House. But not without making his mark.
Shine, the former Fox News Channel co-president-turned-Trump White House communications adviser, accomplished a least one major goal of his — and Donald Trump’s — before being shuttled to the 2020 reelection campaign: He killed the daily White House press briefing.
As CNN’s White House team noted in its piece detailing Shine’s departure: “Shine was a key force behind shutting down much of the press access to the White House, including the daily press briefing, per the source.”
The results speak for themselves. There hasn’t been a press briefing by press secretary Sarah Sanders since January 28 — a space of 39 days. Prior to that January 28 briefing, Sanders hadn’t done a press briefing in 40 days, according to Jim Acosta. Do the math and you get this: The White House has held a “daily” press briefing once in the last 79 days. And, according to The New York Times, Sanders did one press briefing a month in September, November and December.
Trump has been dismissive of the need for these daily — or even weekly — briefings since almost the start of his presidency. Sean Spicer, the White House’s first press secretary, held the briefings regularly, but within the span of a few months it became like watching a car crash in slow motion — over and over again. When Trump replaced Spicer with Sanders, the briefings slowed. Then Anthony Scaramucci was named communications director and, in a remarkable first appearance behind the podium, he promised a return to more regular briefings. The Mooch was fired 11 days later.
Since then, there has been a slow but steady strangling of the briefing. Shine’s hire in July 2018 was, in retrospect, the death knell for the briefing. Shine, like Trump, believed the President was his own best messenger. So he put a system in place whereby Trump did what Trump wanted — and that was to talk to the media whenever he felt like it and not worry too much about old traditions like the daily press briefing.
There’s no question that Trump talks more — a lot more — than his immediate predecessors in the office. But that doesn’t replace a daily briefing in which any reporter can obtain a daily press pass, go into the briefing room, and ask the spokeswoman for the President — and the country — a question.
Here’s the week that was in 17 headlines:
Monday:
- Dems announce probe into allegations of obstruction of justice
- Fast food once again served White House sports event with Trump
- AG Barr won’t recuse from oversight of Russia investigation
Tuesday:
- WSJ: Cohen lawyer discussed possible pardon with Trump lawyers
- Trump signs measure aimed at preventing veteran suicides
- Spicer says he’ll cooperate with House Judiciary probe of Trump
- Trump Org insurance broker subpoenaed by NY State Finance Dept
Wednesday:
- Cohen gives docs to panel on alleged changes to 2017 testimony
- Trump revokes order on reporting civilians killed in US airstrikes
- Nielsen defends the administration’s immigration policies
Thursday:
- Michael Cohen sues the Trump Organization
- Paul Manafort sentenced to 47 months in prison
- Judge tosses Daniels’ lawsuit over hush money agreement
- Kelly dismisses need for wall along full US-Mexico border
Friday:
- Ex-Fox News executive Bill Shine out at the White House
- Trump alleges Cohen asked him ‘directly’ for a pardon
- Miami Herald: Trump watched Super Bowl with ex-owner of spa linked to Kraft arrest
And here’s the Point: Shine leaves the White House without a ton to show for it. Eliminating the daily press briefing, unfortunately, may be his lasting legacy.
