Judge Restores Newsrooms' White House Access
A federal judge temporarily restored White House access for CNN, MS NOW and Politico.
September 24, 2026 · Updated Sep 24, 3:20pm ET
CNNJudge orders Trump administration to reinstate White House access to CNN, MS NOW and Politico
CBS NewsJudge blocks Trump's ban on CNN, MS NOW and Politico, restoring White House access for now
FOX NewsFederal judge orders Trump administration to restore White House access to CNN, MS NOW and Politico
MEDIAiteREAD: Judge Shreds Justice Department’s Explanation for White House Press Ban in Late-Night Filing: ‘Skeptical’
Straight Arrow NewsJudge restores White House access for CNN, MS NOW and Politico
The Gateway PunditNEW: Trump Administration Continues to Block White House Access to CNN, Politico, and MSNOW Despite Judge’s Order- Seizes Their Press Passes
Joe.My.God.Federal Judge Blocks Trump’s Ban On Media Outlets
Business InsiderTrump’s bid to keep CNN, Politico, and MS NOW out of the White House has hit a snag
TownhallCNN's White House Access Has Been Restored, and Their Meltdown Was for Nothing
Raw StoryTrump suffers major court loss in late-night ruling from judge he appointed
ReasonTRO Issued Ordering Reinstatement of CNN, MS NOW, and Politico White House Access
Deseret NewsPerspective: How a Mitt Romney op-ed became part of the White House defense of a media ban
MS NOWJudge orders White House to restore press access to MS NOW, CNN and Politico
DeadlineTrump Ban Temporarily Blocked By Judge; Media Credentials Must Be Restored
Washington TimesJudge reinstates media outlets banned by Trump, orders 14-day temporary restraining order
Daily BeastKaitlan Collins Exposes Wild Reality of Trump’s White House Farce
USA TODAYJudge temporarily blocks Trump ban on CNN, MS NOW, Politico
World News GroupJudge pauses Trump’s White House media ban
AlterNetMidnight blow: Judge blocks Trump press ban, orders immediate reinstatement
Chicago Sun-TimesTrump, once again, retaliates against journalists who offend him
Washington ExaminerJudge orders White House to temporarily restore media access for blocked outlets
Al JazeeraUS judge blocks Trump’s White House ban on CNN, MS NOW, and Politico
UPICNN, MS NOW, Politico allowed in White House after court order, morning denial
Just the NewsWhite House readmits CNN after court blocks media ban
TPMWhite House Defies Court Order Lifting Its Media Ban
ABC NewsJudge orders White House to restore press passes for CNN, Politico and MS NOW
New York PostJudge blocks Trump’s White House ban on CNN, MS NOW and Politico, orders access restored
New RepublicWhite House Ignores Court Ruling, Continues Banning Reporters
BBC NewsWhite House 'repeatedly violated' court order to restore press access, say CNN, Politico and MS Now
Daily CallerJudge Orders Trump Admin To Reverse ‘Fake News’ Media Ban
PBS NewsHourJudge orders White House to restore access to CNN, MS NOW and Politico. Reporters say they're still blocked
NewsNationCNN, MS Now, Politico journalists unable to access White House despite judge’s order
The Post MillennialFederal judge orders White House to restore press passes for CNN, MS NOW, Politico after Trump revoked them
Los Angeles TimesCNN, MS NOW and Politico still shut out of White House after judge lifts Trump's press ban
CNBCJudge lifts Trump ban on CNN, MS NOW, Politico from White House
Epoch TimesJudge Orders Trump to Temporarily Restore CNN, MS NOW, and Politico Access to White House
50%
Left · 45
29%
Center · 26
21%
Right · 19
Pano rates the coverage Leans Left.
What happened
U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly
Timothy J. KellyUnited States District Judge for the District of Columbia temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s ban on CNN, MS NOW and Politico. He ordered the White House to restore their press credentials for 14 days. The outlets sued after Trump said he was banning them over “fake news,” “fiction and lies,” and negative coverage. The administration said the ban served national security and that White House access is a privilege. The outlets said it punished critical reporting and violated free-speech and due-process rights. Kelly said the record lacked factual support for the national-security claim. Despite the order, security initially kept some reporters out, then later readmitted them. Kelly demanded an explanation by 12:30 p.m. ET.
How the left told it
Left-leaning accounts framed the order as a press-freedom rebuke centered on constitutional process, not access etiquette. CNN lingered on Kelly’s finding that the badge removals lacked “constitutionally adequate due process”. CNN also emphasized the morning lockout, presenting it as apparent defiance or chaotic enforcement after the court acted.
How the right told it
Right-leaning accounts treated the ruling mainly as a procedural setback while keeping focus on the outlets’ adversarial posture. Fox News highlighted Kelly’s due-process reasoning and his skepticism toward the security justification. Townhall mocked the outlets’ reaction as overblown, while The Gateway Pundit framed the later access dispute as confusion rather than defiance.
White House Press Access Fight
Part of the storyline · Storyline →- Sep 25White House Restores TV PoolMostly Left
- Sep 24Trump Press Ban PersistsMostly Left
- Sep 24Judge Restores Newsrooms' White House Access (this story)Leans Left
- Sep 23Judge Questions Trump Media BanMostly Left
- Sep 22Trump Taunts CNN At U.N.Balanced
