Federal judge orders White House to restore press access for CNN, MSNBC, and 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 a showdown over press coverage the president has criticized as "fake news." U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly, a Trump nominee, said the outlets met the legal bar for a temporary restraining order, citing likely success on First Amendment claims and irreparable harm. The 14-day order preserves the status quo pending further review. The outlets argued the ban constituted viewpoint discrimination, while the Justice Department defended the action. Kelly noted prior rulings, including a Supreme Court case, require due process before revoking press credentials.