From the AP: “The White House organized a conference call with two senior administration officials to preview an announcement by President Barack Obama about an important China trade issue but told reporters that no one could be quoted by name. The officials were U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk and the deputy national security adviser for international economic affairs, Michael Froman.” This business of senior White House officials holding on-the-record but anonymous meetings with media outlets is very weird. It’s been going on since at least the Clinton administration. You’ve got to be impressed with reporter Richard Lardner for bucking tradition and naming names. →