Max Tami:

On the first day of the Republican National Convention in July — a smoothly operated event in Milwaukee that offered journalists an unexpected welcome — the DNC sent an email to the committee laying out what access was going to look like, including the number of credentialed media. The committee was horrified that the number of press stands were significantly lower than those provided for previous conventions, including the RNC earlier this year. The daily press gallery organizations were only given 35 seats, as well as 90 unassigned stadium seats with table tops. There were other more practical concerns: The New York Times seats had electrical machinery underneath, which the press gallery staff asked to change.

In a tense call with DNC Director of Media Logistics Pete Velz, the members of the Standing Committee pleaded with the DNC to expand access. Velz informed the committee that there would be no substantive changes.