The James S Brady briefing room, where the daily White House press conference takes place, is far smaller than it appears in the numerous movies and TV shows that have immortalised that space in the West Wing.

It is seven rows of seven seats, which – when you consider the sheer number of US newspapers, TV and radio stations, wire services, bloggers, podcasters and journalists from around the world who come to the daily briefing – is not a lot.

During the Obama years we (the BBC) had our own seat, with a modest brass plaque making that clear. Admittedly, it was in the back row, but no other foreign broadcaster had a dedicated place. During Trump’s first term, that changed.

We were told we would have to share the seat with One America News Network (OANN), a network very much more to Donal

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