Overview of SiriusXM’s AM Update (September 22, 2026)
This episode covers a fast-moving mix of media, politics, national security, and UFO disclosure headlines. The biggest story is a White House fight with CNN, MSNBC/MSNOW, and Politico over revoked press access, which is now headed to federal court. The update also highlights growing skepticism inside Democratic circles that Kamala Harris will run in 2028, a security-clearance controversy involving a senior U.S. Embassy official in Jerusalem, and a renewed push by UAP whistleblowers to be allowed to speak publicly about alleged recovered non-human technology.
White House Media Battle Heads to Court
Lawsuit over revoked access
- CNN, MSNBC/MSNOW, and Politico filed a federal lawsuit after the White House blocked their reporters from access and confiscated credentials.
- The outlets argue the move was retaliatory and violated:
- Due process — no notice, no hearing, no appeal
- The First Amendment — they say the ban was based on viewpoint discrimination
- The White House countered that the First Amendment protects publication, not guaranteed access to a briefing room seat or press-pool spot.
TV pool coverage disrupted
- The ban had an immediate operational impact:
- CNN was scheduled for the rotating White House TV pool duty
- Other networks declined to replace CNN
- Result: TV pool coverage of the president was suspended
- That left some Trump appearances less visible or harder to hear, including remarks at a White House helicopter pad event where Marine One’s noise drowned him out.
Next legal step
- The case is before U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly, a Trump appointee.
- A hearing on an emergency order was expected shortly after the filing.
White House media strategy
- The White House also announced its own 24/7 streaming channel, “Trump TV,” featuring the president’s remarks and White House highlights.
Kamala Harris 2028 Doubts Grow
Axios report: many insiders expect she won’t run
- Axios reported that a majority of former Kamala Harris aides and advisors do not think she will mount another presidential campaign in 2028.
- Among eight people surveyed:
- Five said she likely won’t run
- Two called it a coin flip
- One thought she would run
Reasons cited
- Observers say Harris appears to be maintaining political influence rather than building a full campaign operation.
- Reported concerns include:
- A relatively limited political organization
- Donor fatigue after the 2024 loss
- Some major backers drifting toward other Democrats, including Gavin Newsom and Wes Moore
Harris’s current posture
- Harris has been active on:
- Midterm campaigning
- Podcasts
- Promoting her memoir
- But when asked directly about 2028, she has still not committed either way.
- She emphasized her focus on helping Democrats win back Congress in the midterms.
U.S. Embassy Official in Israel Faces Scrutiny
The gift solicitation controversy
- Politico reported that David Milstein, a senior advisor to U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, asked wedding guests for cash gifts through a QR code.
- The invitation reportedly allowed contributions in:
- U.S. dollars
- Israeli shekels
Why it became a problem
- Milstein reportedly holds a top-secret security clearance.
- Questions were raised about whether soliciting gifts from foreign nationals could create counterintelligence or ethics concerns.
- After Politico asked questions, Milstein reportedly walked back the cash-gift request and said no gifts of any kind could be accepted.
Additional context
- The episode resurfaced broader scrutiny around Milstein and Huckabee, including prior reporting about a previously undisclosed meeting with convicted Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard.
- Neither Milstein nor Huckabee was accused of a crime in this segment, but the situation was framed as a serious optics and security issue.
UAP Whistleblowers Seek Permission to Go Public
The request to President Trump
- Three high-profile UAP/UFO whistleblowers:
- David Grusch
- Dylan Borland
- Matthew Brown
- are asking President Trump to let them speak publicly about what they claim is classified evidence of non-human intelligence and recovered craft.
What they say they know
- Grusch reiterated claims that he has seen:
- Photos and videos
- Evidence involving “craft” and “non-human occupants”
- Classified material shared with top government officials
- Brown said secrecy obligations still prevent him from speaking freely without authorization.
Internal disclosure path already exists
- The Pentagon recently issued a waiver under a new internal reporting pipeline called PURSUE.
- That program lets current and former defense personnel report UAP-related information through an official government channel.
- Important distinction:
- The waiver protects insiders who report internally
- It does not authorize public disclosure
Key Takeaways
- The White House’s fight with major news outlets is escalating into a major constitutional and access dispute.
- Kamala Harris still hasn’t ruled out 2028, but many inside her orbit appear skeptical she’ll run again.
- A senior U.S. Embassy advisor’s wedding gift request has raised clearance and ethics questions.
- UAP whistleblowers are pressing Trump for permission to reveal more publicly, even as the Pentagon builds a more controlled internal disclosure process.
Notable Lines
- “You cannot arbitrarily bar reporters from the White House once you’ve decided to let them in.”
- Harris, on her current focus: she says she’s spending her time on the midterms and helping Democrats win Congress.
- Grusch’s message to Trump: “Give us the authorization and we’re ready to go.”