mississippi Speaker Bars News Outlet After Super Bowl Report, Raising Frist Amendment Concerns
Mississippi Speaker of the House Jason White’s office took the unprecedented step of denying a reporter from the state’s largest newsroom, Mississippi Today, access to a press conference Monday, a move widely condemned as a retaliatory act following the outlet’s reporting on a controversial Super Bowl trip funded by a sports gambling company. The incident underscores escalating tensions over press access and clarity in state government.
The decision to bar Mississippi Today came after the outlet published an exclusive report in april detailing how White,members of his staff,and thier spouses were treated to a trip to Super Bowl LIX in February 2025 by DraftKings,a major player in the sports gambling industry. Following the publication of that report, Mississippi Today was removed from the speaker’s press distribution list and subsequently faced a complete cessation of responses to requests for comment.
monday’s denial of access marked the first time Mississippi Today, a credentialed member of the Capitol Press Corps, was explicitly excluded from a press event held in the speaker’s office, despite the presence of numerous other media organizations. according to accounts from the scene, White’s assistant, Tammy Cowart, initially questioned whether the Mississippi Today reporter had been invited, stating, “They sent out an exclusive invitation to attend this. If you’re not on my list, I’ll just have to check, becuase you’re not on there.” Cowart further characterized the event not as a press conference, but as a “specific Q&A.”
Despite the contrasting approach of Mississippi Lt. Gov. delbert Hosemann, who had taken questions from Mississippi Today and other media outlets at a luncheon earlier that same day.
The situation in Mississippi mirrors a broader national trend of increasing friction between government officials and the press. The article references past instances of the Trump administration restricting access for Associated Press journalists and recent alterations to press access rules by the Pentagon, raising concerns about limitations on self-reliant coverage.
In a statement provided to the Clarion Ledger, White maintained that the event was “an invitation-only media chance, not an open, public press conference.” Though, legal experts suggest that the speaker’s actions may raise First Amendment concerns. Charlie Mitchell, an attorney and former newspaper editor who teaches media law at the University of Mississippi, explained that while officials have discretion over individual interviews, press events are subject to different standards. He pointed to a federal court decision in favor of the Associated Press, which “made clear the First Amendment does not allow officials to exclude credentialed journalists from otherwise open press events.”
Mississippi Today obtained an audio recording of the press conference from other attending organizations and intends to report on White’s remarks, alongside those made by Hosemann, regarding the upcoming 2026 legislative session. attempts to reach White’s spokesperson, Taylor Spillman, for comment on the decision to bar Mississippi Today and remove the outlet from the press distribution list were unsuccessful.
Notably, both Spillman and Cowart were photographed accompanying White on the super Bowl trip. DraftKings confirmed to Mississippi today that the company covered the cost of the game-day tickets. Following inquiries from Mississippi Today regarding the trip, a social media post by Trey Spillman, Taylor Spillman’s husband, was edited to remove any mention of DraftKings’ “hospitality,” initially reading “Unforgettable experience at Super Bowl LIX. Thank you @draftkings for the hospitality! #sports” and later changing to “Unforgettable experience at Super Bowl LIX. #sports.”
The sports gambling lobby has invested critically important resources in lobbying Mississippi politicians to legalize mobile sports betting, spending hundreds of thousands of dollars in the process. This issue is expected to be a key priority for the House during the upcoming legislative session.
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The denial of access to Mississippi Today, coupled with the circumstances surrounding the Super Bowl trip and subsequent editing of social media posts, raises serious questions about transparency and the potential for undue influence in state government. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the vital role a free and independent press plays in holding those in power accountable.
