New York Times reporter Jonathan Swan just got a stunning reality check from both Bill Maher and author James Kirchick. Swan was spiraling over President Trump barring CNN and MS NOW from the White House, until Kirchick reminded him of some of the Obama-era media scandals. KIRCHICK: “During the Obama administration they tapped the AP bureau’s phones and the phones of AP bureau reporters. They tapped their phones!” Maher backed up some of the claims and seconded Kirchick’s point about the Obama administration. MAHER: “I looked this up about freezing out one…they did it with Fox News. Josh Earnest, he was in the Obama administration. He admitted it.” “The White House has demonstrated our willingness to exclude Fox News from news making interviews…” “This is exactly what…you know, this is what I say about this country. Everybody’s like this is the worst thing in the world except when we do it.” “And then it’s always perfectly okay.” Maher nailed the hypocrisy in one sentence. Well done.

Sep 26, 2026 · 3:41 AM UTC

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Sort replies: Relevant Recent Liked
Replying to @overton_news
Uhm AP phones were not tapped. Stop lying.
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Replying to @overton_news
It’s like @nytimes reporters do ZERO research before they spout of their left wing talking points. And by the way, Trump should not be denying CNN and others access. Horrible slippery slope.
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Replying to @overton_news
To be fair, @jonathanvswan said he was also aware of Obama's behavior with the press, and wouldn't defend it,
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And Hillary wanted to kill Assange with a drone and CNN seems to forget all this,
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Replying to @overton_news
Only because @billmaher and @jkirchick have no f*cking idea what they're talking about
Important to be precise when discussing these things. AP's phones were not tapped. Records of incoming and outgoing calls were seized as part of a leak investigation. AP complained about the breadth of the search. politico.com/story/2013/05/j…
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Replying to @overton_news
Fox was barred from one interview with a treasury official, other news outlets complained, admin backed down and let Fox in. Trump has barred three major news networks from covering the White House seemingly indefinitely. And there’s not even confirmation Obama approved the SINGLE interview in question. Trump is openly telling reporters “you shouldn’t be here” when not even at the White House. The false equivalency is off the charts.
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Replying to @overton_news
What if Trump is playing chess again? He hates the fake news but loves going on their shows & pointing out their lies If he wanted to make sure no future Dem Pres could ban anyone He bans them knowing courts will block it Takes it all the way to SCOTUS who rules no Pres can do it
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Replying to @overton_news
You’re out of your depth, dude. You told not even 1/2 the story and got part of it wrong
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Replying to @overton_news
There is no = sign here. Obama used every agency to spy on the network press, independent reporters, house and senate members. But it was ok, he was fundamentally changing the US into Fascist state. Every time he speaks without a script he sounds like a moron.
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Replying to @overton_news
Perhaps @jonathanvswan thought he was on @Morning_Joe, where convenient omissions are encouraged and embraced rather than on @billmaher.
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That hypocrisy cuts both ways though. I personally believe CNN is just propaganda and should have no special access. But I can see why others disagree
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Replying to @overton_news
Haha 1 or 2 no drama Obama inconsistencies in 8 straight yrs of service vs Trump the mad dictator burning everything down like Hitler. STFU NO COMPARISON. Jesus. MAGA IS DEAD ⚰️🤣 Trump will be Nixoned next year. No end to his stupid expensive illegal war. Oops.
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Replying to @overton_news
If you disagree with what Obama did, why would you support Trump doing the same thing? Are you OK wth Trump not only selectively banning news organizations he doesn't like but also defying a court order to restore their access?
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Replying to @overton_news
So, a NYT “reporter” didn’t know about what Obama did to Fox News? Sounds like he is more an advocate for the democrat party than a reporter.
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Replying to @overton_news
We can imagine it because YOU did it, and much worse. You fool no one @BarackObama
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Replying to @overton_news
So, two wrongs make a right? Trump's defence is that because Obama once did something, that it's okay for Trump?
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Replying to @overton_news
Calling out the other guy is not closing the loop. They passionately hate things Obama did, but instead of vowing never to do those things themselves, they do them all with impunity just because the other guy did. Sick.
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Replying to @overton_news
And of course they were lying. No one's phones were tapped. The incoming and outgoing data was accessed for an investigation. The "freeze out" was about one person and they backed down. But cultists gonna cult.
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Replying to @overton_news
Jonathan Swan’s just bitter that he used to be Trump’s go to leak reporter before he went to the NYT.
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Replying to @overton_news
Bravo! James Kirchick and Bill Maher.
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Replying to @overton_news
I don't see the equivalence between sicking the intelligence agencies on nosy journalists and not allowing CNN on AF1, to go to a football game...
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Obama sent his DOJ to arrest a reporter. The whinny left fails yet again.
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Replying to @overton_news
Phones were never tapped. Even trying to compare the 2 is ridiculous. You people are completely insane
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Replying to @overton_news
@jkirchick is ofc wrong here, Obama didn't tap the APs phones, they got phone records. Get a grip. Someone tell that portly pepperpot to do a smidge of research
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Replying to @overton_news
The actual hypocrisy is your lying about what President Obama did so you could justify the actual unconstitutional trump behavior
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The New York Times is ratcheting up their intense anti-Trump campaign as the midterms loom. It’s amazing anyone believes they are credibly reporting the news.
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Replying to @overton_news
A court order for records of incoming and out going calls is not a tap. Saying no to fox to partake in a interview is not banning the press. Learn the difference.
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Replying to @overton_news
So, because Obama did it, makes it appropriate for DJT to do it too. Is that how you people think?
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Replying to @overton_news
Do you now are FOR everything Obama did? The right says he deported more people than Trump so basically you're saying Trump lied that Obama let all these people in. He's allowed to say no interviews too anybody but he didn't kick Fox out of The press room you ignorant fuck
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Replying to @overton_news
Swan Dive
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Replying to @overton_news
“Newsmaker interviews” are not total bans. False equivalence. And phones were not tapped. That’s a lie. They obtained phone records because of leaked classified information.
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