Trump has cut off White House access for reporters from MS Now, CNN and Politico, a bad sign for press freedom that lands just as new data shows Americans are unhappy with an economy that hurts their wallets despite looking solid on paper.

• Reporters from MS Now, CNN and Politico arrived at the White House to find their badges deactivated at the security gate, with no explanation from Secret Service.
• There is currently no White House press secretary, so no one is publicly enforcing or explaining the ban, and the outlets, along with the AP, have put out statements defending the First Amendment.
• Goldman Sachs and CNBC report consumer sentiment is deeply negative even though the economy looks healthy in official numbers, blaming "lower happiness" as people say prices are too high and jobs don't pay enough.
• The war in the Middle East is adding to the squeeze: higher oil prices and interest rates are estimated to cost each household $1,700, and inflation is again outpacing wage growth.
• Flames were reported near the Saudi capital's airport as Pakistan presses Iran over energy supplies, a sign the conflict is not cooling down.

Outlook: More news outlets could push back or boycott White House coverage, and with prices still outrunning paychecks and the war pushing energy costs up, public unhappiness with the economy is likely to deepen.