Judge denies restraining order for conservative media figures who sought press passes

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: AP

Updated 6:50 PM EDT, March 10, 2026


SEATTLE (AP) — Washington state lawmakers were within their rights when they declined to issue press passes to three conservative media figures, a federal judge ruled Tuesday in a case that echoes a national discussion over who qualifies as a journalist.

The Democratic-controlled Washington House of Representatives early this year declined to issue press credentials that would have granted the three access to parts of the Capitol in Olympia that are off-limits to the general public. The body said they were not bona fide journalists because they are participants in the political arena — advocating for certain agendas and hosting or speaking at rallies.

The three filed a federal lawsuit and asked the court for an emergency temporary restraining order that would force the House to give them passes in the closing days of the session. The group includes Ari Hoffman, host of “Seattle’s Conservative Talk” show on AM 570 KVI; Brandi Kruse, host of the podcast “unDivided;” and Jonathan Choe, a senior fellow at the Discovery Institute, a conservative think tank.

Their lawyer, Jackson Maynard, told U.S. District Judge David Estudillo on Monday that the process used to deny them press credentials was vague and arbitrarily applied, violating their due-process rights, and withholding access because of they disagree with the lawmakers’ political views violates their constitutional rights of free speech and free press.

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/press-pass-podcasters-conservative-media-a8f5b5ceac3627dc1931b07a87952551

[eppur_se_muova]

1. "Freedom of the Press" does not mean EVERYONE gets a press pass, regardless.

If nothing else, it's a security issue. No disruptors in the chamber during the closing days so they can finish what they're doing.

[maxrandb]

2. Why the fuck is there a conservative radio station in Seattle?

WTF!?

There ought to be protests outside that radio station until the cows come home.

This radio station demeans and dehumanize the very citizens they are supposed to serve.

Let them take their studio to some Dumbfuckistan Murika red shithole, but why there are still these stations in blue cities is beyond me.

It's a fucking travesty. It's like broadcasting Nazi propaganda to US troops in WWII from an American base.

FUCKING END THIS SHIT!