Sep 22, 2026 · 9 min
Xi courts Washington as media access fight escalates
Why Xi Is Coming to Washington, and White House TV Feeds Go Dark
The episode connects high-stakes U.S.-China diplomacy with a widening fight over presidential press access and control of televised news.
- 1Xi Jinping’s Washington visit aims to preserve the U.S.-China trade truce while projecting China’s global influence.
- 2News organizations are challenging White House access restrictions as television networks boycott the press pool and Trump TV expands.
- 3Paramount’s deal, Germany’s security concerns, and David George Gordon’s legacy broaden the episode beyond Washington’s immediate battles.
Don't miss
David George Gordon’s insect recipes, including grasshopper kebabs and tarantula tempura, provide the episode’s most unexpected closing image.
The brief
Xi Jinping is preparing for a Washington meeting with Donald Trump and a state dinner, while seeking to preserve the U.S.-China trade truce and strengthen China’s global image.
At the United Nations General Assembly, leaders from Iran, Venezuela, Israel, and the Palestinian territories gather as Mahmoud Abbas appears virtually after the U.S. denies visas to the Palestinian delegation.
CNN, MSNOW, and Politico sue over White House access restrictions, while other networks boycott the press pool and the administration promotes its own branded video feed, Trump TV.
Paramount clears the last major obstacle to a deal, raising questions about how the agreement could reshape what Americans see on television.
The episode closes by remembering David George Gordon, whose television demonstrations and recipes made grasshopper kebabs and tarantula tempura arguments for eating insects.
Featuring
Xi Jinping
United Nations General Assembly
60 MinutesBooks & mentions
Listen to the full episode and explore every guest, topic, and moment on PodLume.