Judge Restores White House Access for CNN, MSNBC, and Politico

A federal judge ordered President Donald Trump on Thursday to restore White House access for journalists from CNN, MSNBC and Politico, ruling his ban was likely unconstitutional. The decision is a major setback for Trump in his ongoing conflict with the media. US District Judge Tim Kelly issued the order in a lawsuit filed by the three news organizations contesting the ban, which Trump announced on September 18. Trump had said on social media the outlets "shouldn't be able to constantly write or report FICTION and LIES," while Justice Department lawyers sought to justify the ban on national security grounds. The ruling comes amid Trump's broader battles with press access, with the judge determining the administration's justification did not hold up legally. The news organizations had argued the ban violated their First Amendment rights.