Trump's ban on MS Now, CNN and Politico from the White House is backfiring, and it is bad news for the president as the rest of the press pushes back while his poll numbers fall.

• Trump banned the three outlets after an aide showed him clips of MS Now anchors criticizing his administration, and he has complained that not enough allies defend him on TV.
• Most major news organizations responded by pulling out of the White House press pool, so a Trump press conference this week went out with no audio because no pool microphones were there.
• At least one senior official inside the administration objected, warning the ban would do nothing to improve coverage, and the courts are expected to challenge it as unconstitutional.
• Trump is also angry that no one has thanked him for overhauling the Kennedy Center, and threatened to block renovations there unless his name goes on the building.
• His standing is weak beyond the media fight: the Iran war is unpopular, diesel hit a record high and gas is near $4.50 a gallon because of destroyed refineries and Strait of Hormuz disruptions, and only 29% of Republicans now say the economy is better than a year ago, down from 73% in January.

Outlook: Expect the ban to be challenged in court and the press standoff to keep making the White House look weaker, while high energy prices continue to eat into Trump's support.