Federal judge orders White House to restore press access for CNN, MS NOW, and Politico

A federal judge has temporarily blocked the White House from banning CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from its press facilities, ordering their access restored for 14 days. The ruling follows President Trump's September 18 decision to bar the outlets over alleged "fake news" coverage. Judge Timothy Kelly issued the temporary restraining order while the court reviews the case. The three news organizations argued their exclusion was based on content and viewpoint, violating First Amendment protections. Kelly expressed skepticism about the administration's procedural safeguards, questioning whether the outlets received due process before their credentials were revoked. This is not Kelly's first involvement in such disputes. Appointed by Trump in 2017, he previously ruled in 2018 to restore CNN journalist Jim Acosta's White House pass after it was revoked following a confrontation with the president. The Justice Department argued prior rulings were misinterpreted, but Kelly indicated he would rely on existing legal precedents.