• by Wayne Friedman , Staff Writer, July 30, 2018

Some in the Trump Administration entourage aren’t dealing with key TV viewing rules -- starting each day watching Fox News Channel, especially during long trips on Air Force One.

If the story from The New York Times is correct, one wonders how this will be monitored. And what the penalties are for wrongful viewing. Seems CNN and MSNBC are not on the “must-watch” list.

Apparently, Melania Trump did not get the memo. According to the Times story, she watches CNN.

The President, according to his story "raged at his staff for violating a rule that the White House entourage should begin each trip tuned to Fox.”  

This is how it should be; the ease of cocooning yourself with just one TV news network. As is well-known, Trump considers virtually all other networks, including CNN, “fake news.”

The First Lady's spokesperson said in a statement for The Hollywood Reporter "it seems kind of silly to worry about what channel she watches on TV."  She says Ms. Trump can watch whatever she wants.

Yes, but rules are rules. What about those targeted TV advertisers looking for that special first lady demographic?  

If Trump staffers rally around one single distributor of news, they’ll all be on the same page. Mind control works best when you narrow the information flow.

Still, some Trump staffers have a responsibility to learn what else is going on in the world. The President may not always tell the truth, but those around him might like to see a bigger picture.

As many reports suggest, there is much in the way of shaking of heads when it comes to Trump’s off-the-cuff remarks. Staff turnover since Trump became President is the highest in history through his first 18 months in office.

As for the White House TV rules: I hear Trump's next staff demand -- as well as for Ms. Trump -- is to watch Fox’s “Empire” at the start of each business day. However, everyone will be banned from watching CBS’ “Big Bang Theory” and “Madam Secretary.”