Federal Judge Orders White House to Restore Media Access for CNN, MSNBC, and Politico

A federal judge ordered President Donald Trump on Thursday to restore White House access for CNN, MS NOW, and Politico, ruling his ban on the outlets was likely unconstitutional. The order is a major setback in Trump's conflict with the media. US District Judge Tim Kelly issued the order in a lawsuit filed by the news organizations contesting the ban announced on September 18. He blocked officials from enforcing the ban for 14 days and rejected the government's national security justification, noting Trump cited the outlets' "alleged lack of truthfulness and negativity." The outlets sued on Monday, claiming the ban violated First Amendment protections and due process rights. The legal battle unfolds weeks before the November 3 midterm elections, with press freedom groups and dozens of news organizations supporting the outlets in a legal brief.