Banning some of the largest, most widely respected media outlets from

White House press briefings is not only incredibly stupid of the Trump administration, it may well actually be a violation of the Constitution. Here's why:

The First Amendment specifically protects the freedom of the press. White House press briefings are a public function designed specifically to provide information to the press. Prohibiting major press outlets from attending such briefings is a clear official restriction of the free press, and thus a violation of the First Amendment.

Now, it is a given that there is not space enough in the White House press briefing room for everyone in the press to attend those briefings. As a general practice, presidential administrations have limited attendance to major media outlets. The New York Times and CNN certainly qualify for that designation. To single out two of the largest media companies in the United States and prohibiting their attendance, while allowing minor media blogs and other groups which have a very, very poor reputation for presenting information accurately is a blatant official restriction on the freedom of the press.

It's also a really, really bad idea. Both CNN and the New York Times have staffs of investigative reporters and investigators. Shut them out of White House press briefings, and you're sure to whet their interest in looking deeper into what is going on. Thinking of things like Watergate and other events should be a clue that one might want to cooperate with such media outlets to some significant degree, rather than pissing them off by banning them from press briefings.

Finally, both CNN and the New York Times also have legal representation that has always worked to defend the freedom of the press on Constitutional grounds. It's entirely possible that their legal representatives might be asked to file a case with a federal district court that seeks an injunction against such arbitrary and nonsensical refusal to allow their attendance at such public briefings.

Think, Trump administration. Use whatever parts of your brains that are functional to consider what you are doing, in terms of the Constitution and the First Amendment. Don't continue to do stupid things. It's unwise and will eventually work against you. Think, if you are able.