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

A US judge ordered the White House to restore press credentials for CNN, MSNBC, and Politico, ruling their revocation likely violated constitutional press freedom protections. The temporary restraining order lasts 14 days while the court reviews the case. Judge Timothy Kelly found the September 19 credential revocations, without prior notice or established rules, probably breached the First Amendment. He stated the outlets met the legal requirements for emergency relief, including showing likely success on the merits and potential irreparable harm. President Trump announced the ban on September 18, citing national security and accusing the outlets of spreading "fiction and lies." The outlets argued the move was retaliation for their coverage, noting they were not notified of reasons until September 22. Kelly previously restored a CNN journalist's access in a similar 2018 case.