U.S.WHITE HOUSE WATCH

Katie Zacharia Is Trump's New Press Secretary. But Is She a Lawyer?

Katie Zacharia told The New York Times the confusion over her legal credentials was a misunderstanding; the question was whether she had practiced law at all.

On air: Vera Bullock on The Midday Show
Published 12:42 PM ET, Thursday, October 15, 2026

At a glance

First reported by The New York Times: “Katie Zacharia Is Trump’s New Press Secretary. But Is She a Lawyer?”
Covered on BBN on Thursday, October 15, 2026, at 12:42 PM ET on The Midday Show, by Vera Bullock.
Topics: Katie Zacharia, Trump.
BBN covered this story before: Zacharia says she misheard question on where she took bar exam (October 15).

The real story

The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.

The New York TimesKatie Zacharia Is Trump’s New Press Secretary. But Is She a Lawyer?

What BBN said about it

Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorKatie Zacharia is the new White House press secretary, and The New York Times asked whether she is a lawyer.
Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorShe says the confusion was one big misunderstanding.
Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorWith us is Prudence Salazar-Whitlock, professor of résumé studies and author of Technically Yours. Professor, you predicted this, and also the opposite?
Prudence Salazar-WhitlockStrictly speaking, Vera, I predicted both on the same afternoon. Chapter four says nobody lied, and chapter nine says everybody did. Buy both chapters.
Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorSo is she a lawyer, yes or no?
Prudence Salazar-WhitlockStrictly speaking, a lawyer is anyone who has ever been near a law.
Prudence Salazar-WhitlockI once stood next to a parking sign, and I would never claim more.
Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorNear a sign.
Prudence Salazar-WhitlockAnd I keep my own diploma right here. See? Strictly speaking, it's facing the right way for the people watching from the ceiling.
Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorProfessor, that diploma is upside down, and that's the one thing on this show I can verify. Where did you get it?
Prudence Salazar-WhitlockStrictly speaking, it came from a very reputable lake.
Prudence Salazar-WhitlockThe Lakeshore Institute is the lake and also the institute, and I'm not at liberty to say which accredited me.
Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorAnd the title of your book, Technically Yours, is that a technicality too?
Prudence Salazar-WhitlockStrictly speaking, it's a memoir, a thriller and a legal brief. I wrote the brief part myself, so it's very binding.
Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorProfessor, I asked a simple question and got a parking sign. Thank you for joining us, and please turn the diploma around.
Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorTime to check the lost and found box. Today it holds the word credentials, last seen near a parking sign, and a very reputable lake.