Federal judge orders White House to restore press access for CNN, MS NOW, Politico
A federal judge early Thursday temporarily blocked President Donald Trump's ban on CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from White House grounds, ordering their access restored. The ruling escalates the ongoing conflict between Trump and media outlets he criticizes. Trump announced the ban on September 18, calling the outlets "fake news" and later saying negative coverage endangered the country. The news organizations argued the ban constituted viewpoint discrimination and a "blatant violation" of the First Amendment. U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly, a Trump nominee who ruled similarly in a 2018 CNN case, issued the temporary restraining order lasting 14 days. Such orders typically preserve the status quo pending further court review.