US Justice Department defends Trump's ban on CNN, Politico, and MS NOW in court

The US Justice Department has accused CNN, Politico, and MS NOW of "trafficking in verifiable falsehoods" and reporting that "threatened national security" in court filings defending President Donald Trump's ban of the outlets from the White House. A judge is set to rule Wednesday on a temporary lift of the ban. The outlets were barred last week after Trump labeled them "fake news," prompting a joint lawsuit calling the move unconstitutional. The Justice Department's filing cites specific stories, including White House construction and a leak investigation, and argues that "access to the White House is a privilege, not a right." The media organizations contend the ban violates First Amendment press freedoms, warning it threatens independent journalism. In protest, major TV networks have withdrawn from the White House media pool, while the administration launched its own streaming channel, "Trump TV," featuring 24/7 clips of the president.