Still, Loomer saw a new opening earlier this year when press secretary Karoline Leavitt invited “new media” to apply for access to the White House. The arrangement included a rotating seat in the press room and last week, Leavitt began holding additional briefings exclusively for online creators and commentators.

As the senior pastor of Lakepointe Church in suburban Dallas, Josh Howerton lost hundreds of his 20,000-member congregation last year after telling a now-infamous "old preacher joke" about what women should do for husbands on their wedding nights.