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The Media and Democracy Project's MAD Hero Of The Month is The Associated Press
The Media and Democracy Project Blog - Our MAD "Hero of the Month": The Associated Press. + Actions you can take to support the AP.
The AP stands up for reality, press freedom, and democracy in resisting the White House assault on the First Amendment.
Media and Democracy Project
Apr 12, 2025
Members of the Media and Democracy Project voted The Associated Press and its leadership team CEO Daisy Veerasingham and Executive Editor Julie Pace our MAD Heroes of the month for February 2025.
In early February, Donald Trump obscenely violated the First Amendment by banning The Associated Press (The AP) from the White House press pool and other official presidential events. Access to the pool allows reporters into important, privileged spaces, such as the White House Oval Office and Air Force One. The ban punished the AP for its bold decision to continue calling the large international body of water bordering Mexico, Cuba, and the United States the Gulf of Mexico. Given that the Gulf of Mexico’s name dates back to around 1550, the AP’s choice is sensible and should be non-controversial.
So what’s the fuss?
On January 20, 2025 (aka “Day One”) Trump issued Executive Order 14172 , titled “Restoring Names that Honor American Greatness,” in an autocratic effort to change the Gulf of Mexico’s name to the “Gulf of America.” (The EO also reverts the name of the American mountain from Denali to Mount McKinley). Unlike Denali, the US does not own the Gulf of Mexico—the EO asserts an imperialistic authority and claims the Gulf of Mexico was an “integral asset to our once burgeoning nation.” In a shocking display of cowardice and “obeying in advance”, Google obeyed this nativist decree and promptly renamed these international waters “The Gulf of America” in its popular app Google Maps for US users.
Thankfully, the AP has flatly refused to bend the knee to Trump. The AP operates 235 news bureaus in 94 countries, and publishes in English, Spanish, and Arabic.
/snip
The AP stands up for reality, press freedom, and democracy in resisting the White House assault on the First Amendment.
Media and Democracy Project
Apr 12, 2025
Members of the Media and Democracy Project voted The Associated Press and its leadership team CEO Daisy Veerasingham and Executive Editor Julie Pace our MAD Heroes of the month for February 2025.
In early February, Donald Trump obscenely violated the First Amendment by banning The Associated Press (The AP) from the White House press pool and other official presidential events. Access to the pool allows reporters into important, privileged spaces, such as the White House Oval Office and Air Force One. The ban punished the AP for its bold decision to continue calling the large international body of water bordering Mexico, Cuba, and the United States the Gulf of Mexico. Given that the Gulf of Mexico’s name dates back to around 1550, the AP’s choice is sensible and should be non-controversial.
So what’s the fuss?
On January 20, 2025 (aka “Day One”) Trump issued Executive Order 14172 , titled “Restoring Names that Honor American Greatness,” in an autocratic effort to change the Gulf of Mexico’s name to the “Gulf of America.” (The EO also reverts the name of the American mountain from Denali to Mount McKinley). Unlike Denali, the US does not own the Gulf of Mexico—the EO asserts an imperialistic authority and claims the Gulf of Mexico was an “integral asset to our once burgeoning nation.” In a shocking display of cowardice and “obeying in advance”, Google obeyed this nativist decree and promptly renamed these international waters “The Gulf of America” in its popular app Google Maps for US users.
Thankfully, the AP has flatly refused to bend the knee to Trump. The AP operates 235 news bureaus in 94 countries, and publishes in English, Spanish, and Arabic.
/snip