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PoliticsMoving now · day 5

Judge signals skepticism as DOJ defends Trump's ban on CNN, Politico, MS NOW

A federal judge appeared inclined to side with the banned outlets after the Justice Department argued White House access is a "privilege, not a right."

newest coverage 24m agosummary written 48m ago423 pieces5.4k likes & upvotes659 comments NewswiresMastodonGoogle NewsRedditYouTubeXBlueskyHacker News

Part of a larger narrative

Trump White House Press Ban

5 stories · since Sep 15 · newest 24m ago — The Trump administration's exclusion of major news outlets from White House coverage sparks legal challenges and rare public criticism from former president…

  1. Trump bars CNN, Politico, MS NOW from White House after aide shows him critical clips
  2. Obama calls Trump's White House press ban on CNN, MS Now, Politico 'unimaginable'
  3. Judge signals skepticism as DOJ defends Trump's ban on CNN, Politico, MS NOWyou are here
  4. Trump calls Kaitlan Collins and CNN “sleazebags” after UN press clash
  5. CNN, MS NOW, Politico sue Trump as networks boycott coverage over WH ban

What to know

  • A federal judge has heard arguments over Trump's ban of CNN, Politico and MS NOW from the White House but has not yet ruled, though the judge reportedly seemed inclined to side with the outlets.
  • The Justice Department's defense rests on the claim that White House access is a "privilege, not a right" and on national-security concerns, not a denial that the ban targets specific coverage.
  • Major networks (ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox) refused to fill the vacated pool slot in solidarity, and the White House responded by launching its own "Trump TV" YouTube livestream.
  • Legal experts and critics, including a scholar of authoritarianism, frame the ban as an escalation from targeting individual journalists to barring entire organizations.

The dispute Some commenters expect the courts to reliably check the ban as they have before, while others see the pattern itself — repeated escalation regardless of legal outcomes — as the more damaging story. · positions read across 62 posts and comments

most voices

The ban is an authoritarian escalation and the launch of a state propaganda channel confirms it.

  • “Yes, the fascists are gonna fash… But I naively wasn't expecting it to be done in such an ugly, stupid, straight up criminal way.”

    JugglingWithEggs · mastodon ↗
many voices

Courts have sided with the press before and will do so again, making this just another cycle in the pattern.

  • “Under threat? We've been down this road before they're going to sue it will go to the Supreme Court and they will rule in the media's favor again and Trump will have to let them back in.”

    Wayofchinchilla · reddit ↗
some voices

This reflects broader democratic decline in the US, not just a Trump-specific problem.

  • “Fuck the States man. Wake the fuck up and straighten your shit out for real. Its not even Trump anymore, a democracy acting like this is not just embarrassing its damning.”

    LionWeight · reddit ↗
some voices

Networks that avoid confrontation are doing so because their owners fear retaliation, not out of principle.

  • “Can you blame them they're literally owned by Republican billionaires who are probably in their ear screaming that they either kiss Trump's ass or they'll be fired.”

    Wayofchinchilla · reddit ↗

Donald TrumpDonald Trump US PresidentJustice Department Defendant's counselCNN, Politico and MS NOW PlaintiffsGavin NewsomGavin Newsom California GovernorJon StewartJon Stewart Late-night hostRuth Ben-GhiatRuth Ben-Ghiat NYU scholar of authoritarianism

Judge signals skepticism as DOJ defends Trump's ban on CNN, Politico, MS NOW
theguardian.com

How it unfolded 7 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlesvideospostscomments

Peak 48 pieces in two hours at Today, 11 AM; 423 pieces over 5 days (269 articles · 9 videos · 139 posts · 6 comments) Sep 18, 11 AM — 3 pieces · 3 articles — Newswires 3Sep 18, 1 PM — quietSep 18, 3 PM — quietSep 18, 5 PM — quietSep 18, 7 PM — quietSep 18, 9 PM — quietSep 18, 11 PM — quietSep 19, 1 AM — quietSep 19, 3 AM — quietSep 19, 5 AM — quietSep 19, 7 AM — quietSep 19, 9 AM — quietSep 19, 11 AM — quietSep 19, 1 PM — quietSep 19, 3 PM — quietSep 19, 5 PM — quietSep 19, 7 PM — quietSep 19, 9 PM — quietSep 19, 11 PM — quietSep 20, 1 AM — quietSep 20, 3 AM — quietSep 20, 5 AM — quietSep 20, 7 AM — quietSep 20, 9 AM — 1 piece · 1 article — Google News 1Sep 20, 11 AM — 4 pieces · 2 articles · 2 posts — Mastodon 2, Newswires 2Sep 20, 1 PM — quietSep 20, 3 PM — quietSep 20, 5 PM — quietSep 20, 7 PM — 1 piece · 1 post — Reddit 1Sep 20, 9 PM — quietSep 20, 11 PM — quietSep 21, 1 AM — 2 pieces · 2 comments — Reddit 2Sep 21, 3 AM — quietSep 21, 5 AM — quietSep 21, 7 AM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Sep 21, 9 AM — 2 pieces · 2 articles — Newswires 2Sep 21, 11 AM — 24 pieces · 22 articles · 1 video · 1 post — Newswires 22, YouTube 1, Mastodon 1Sep 21, 1 PM — 6 pieces · 3 articles · 3 posts — Mastodon 4, Google News 1, Newswires 1Sep 21, 3 PM — 18 pieces · 13 articles · 5 posts — Newswires 12, Mastodon 6Sep 21, 5 PM — 10 pieces · 3 articles · 7 posts — Mastodon 6, Newswires 3, X 1Sep 21, 7 PM — 5 pieces · 4 articles · 1 post — Newswires 4, Mastodon 1Sep 21, 9 PM — 8 pieces · 4 articles · 1 video · 3 posts — Mastodon 3, Google News 3, Newswires 1, +1 moreSep 21, 11 PM — 8 pieces · 8 articles — Google News 7, Newswires 1Yesterday, 1 AM — 6 pieces · 3 articles · 3 posts — Mastodon 3, Newswires 2, Google News 1Yesterday, 3 AM — 3 pieces · 3 articles — Google News 2, Newswires 1Yesterday, 5 AM — 5 pieces · 4 articles · 1 post — Newswires 4, Mastodon 1Yesterday, 7 AM — 11 pieces · 10 articles · 1 video — Google News 5, Newswires 5, YouTube 1Yesterday, 9 AM — 24 pieces · 16 articles · 2 videos · 6 posts — Newswires 10, Mastodon 5, Google News 4, +2 moreYesterday, 11 AM — 35 pieces · 32 articles · 3 posts — Newswires 30, Mastodon 4, Google News 1Yesterday, 1 PM — 6 pieces · 4 articles · 2 posts — Google News 2, Newswires 2, Mastodon 2Yesterday, 3 PM — 15 pieces · 6 articles · 8 posts · 1 comment — Mastodon 8, Newswires 5, Reddit 2Yesterday, 5 PM — 7 pieces · 2 articles · 1 video · 4 posts — Mastodon 3, Newswires 2, Bluesky 1, +1 moreYesterday, 7 PM — 1 piece · 1 post — Mastodon 1Yesterday, 9 PM — 2 pieces · 1 article · 1 post — Bluesky 1, Newswires 1Yesterday, 11 PM — 18 pieces · 6 articles · 12 posts — Mastodon 13, Newswires 5Today, 1 AM — 16 pieces · 5 articles · 11 posts — Mastodon 9, Newswires 5, Reddit 1, +1 moreToday, 3 AM — 17 pieces · 10 articles · 7 posts — Mastodon 9, Newswires 8Today, 5 AM — 21 pieces · 8 articles · 12 posts · 1 comment — Mastodon 12, Newswires 7, Bluesky 1, +1 moreToday, 7 AM — 13 pieces · 6 articles · 7 posts — Newswires 6, Mastodon 4, Reddit 3Today, 9 AM — 16 pieces · 12 articles · 4 posts — Newswires 11, Mastodon 5Today, 11 AM — 48 pieces · 42 articles · 2 videos · 4 posts — Newswires 42, Mastodon 3, YouTube 2, +1 moreToday, 1 PM — 6 pieces · 5 articles · 1 post — Newswires 5, Mastodon 1Today, 3 PM — 26 pieces · 15 articles · 11 posts — Newswires 14, Mastodon 7, Reddit 2, +3 moreToday, 5 PM — 26 pieces · 11 articles · 14 posts · 1 comment — Mastodon 11, Newswires 9, Reddit 3, +2 moreToday, 7 PM — 6 pieces · 1 article · 1 video · 4 posts — Mastodon 4, Newswires 1, YouTube 1Today, 9 PM — 2 pieces · 1 article · 1 comment — Mastodon 1, Reddit 1 1234567
Sep 19Sep 20Sep 21yesterdaynow · 10:28 PM ET
  1. 7

    Legal analysts weigh in as ruling remains pending

    With the judge yet to issue a decision, legal commentators including CBS News' Jessica Levinson discussed the constitutional stakes of the case and likely outcome.

    • The following news outlets are covering the White House following Trump's "ban on the free press" and CNN/Politico/MS NOW reporters: — The Daily Wire (owned by Ben Shapiro) — Right Side Broadcasting Network (founded with the sole purpose of streaming every Trump event) — The

      @HQNewsNowX6h ago34▲view on X ↗
    2 more of the top 3 · 13 posts in this stretch
    • hofferdal.bsky.social

      @pbsnews.org " is not publishing video or still images provided by the administration", @npr.org "said they will not take audio and video from White House events until further notice". The New York Times, The Associated Press, Reuters, Agence France-Presse temporarily withholding photos of Trump.👍

      hofferdal.bsky.socialBluesky6h ago5▲view on Bluesky ↗
    • MillMessenger@journa.host

      Trump administration to defend White House ban on news outlets in court https://www. aljazeera.com/news/2026/9/23/t rump-administration-to-defend-its-ban-of-major-news-outlets-in-court?traffic_source=rss The news organisations are scheduled to make their case to a US district judge on Wednesday afternoon. # news # politics # geopolitics # peace #…

      MillMessenger@journa.hostMastodon4h ago1▲view on Mastodon ↗
    all of them →
  2. 6

    Judge hears arguments, appears to favor the media outlets

    At a court hearing, the administration cited reporting on the White House ballroom project and the Iran war to justify the ban on national-security grounds, but the judge reportedly seemed inclined to side with CNN, Politico and MS NOW.

    1. 13 outlets Trump administration to defend its ban of major news outlets in court

      first by Al Jazeera, 7h ago · also PBS NewsHour, Yahoo, Boston Globe, Denver Post, Orlando Sentinel, Baltimore Sun +6

      3 more headlines

    2. 7 outlets first by Philadelphia Inquirer, 6h ago · also CNBC, Reuters, Channel News Asia, Bangkok Post, Japan Today, The Guardian · read ↗

    3 more claims →
    • GeoWire@mastodon.social

      🟠 UPDATE White House Bans CNN, MS Now, and Politico from Press Corps The banned outlets (CNN, MS Now, Politico) are set to face the Trump administration in court on Wednesday to argue the ban is unconstitutional. 📰 https://www. nbcnews.com/politics/trump-adm inistration/cnn-politico-ms-now-trump-court-white-house-media-ban-rcna599269 # USA #…

      GeoWire@mastodon.socialMastodon13h ago1▲view on Mastodon ↗
    2 more of the top 3 · 12 posts in this stretch

    • Holy Christ if there's going to be an "adult in the room" in such a situation I wish it wasn't Hegseth, but I also don't know who else in this administration would be much better

      malenkylizardsr/politics15h agoview on r/politics ↗
    • claesdevreese.bsky.social@bsky.brid.gy

      No! Access is a right. Not a privilege at the discretion of the mood of a President #pressfreedom #journalism www.nytimes.com/2026/09/23/b... White House Defends Trump’s Ba...

      claesdevreese.bsky.social@bsky.brid.gyMastodon9h ago1▲view on Mastodon ↗
    all of them →
  3. 5

    DOJ calls White House access a 'privilege, not a right'

    In a late Tuesday night court filing, Justice Department lawyers argued Trump can restrict access to protect national security information inside the complex, and that the outlets have no constitutional right of entry.

    “access to the White House is a privilege, not a right…”
    — Justice Department court filing

    1. 13 outlets first by Philadelphia Inquirer, 15h ago · also Anadolu Agency, Forbes Business, PennLive, MassLive, HuffPost, CBS News +6 · read ↗

    2. 6 outlets Trump’s White House media ban faces long odds in court, legal experts say

      first by Japan Times, 1d ago · also NYT, Times of India, Forbes Business, Reuters, The Hindu

      4 more headlines
    4 more claims →
    • georgetakei@universeodon.com

      Trump banned CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House. In solidarity, ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox News refused to fill in on pool duty. And it seems no one at the White House could find a microphone, because Trump's own helipad ribbon-cutting went out with no usable audio. Courts have sided with the press in fights like this before, and it’s likely…

      georgetakei@universeodon.comMastodon1d ago95▲view on Mastodon ↗
    2 more of the top 3 · 14 posts in this stretch
    • jennburrill.bsky.social

      Trump's new White House YouTube live stream has "no schedule, no on-screen description of what is being shown, and zero context for where or when a clip was recorded... a 24-hour fever dream of self-soothing propaganda for the Maga faithful" ✏️ @theguardian.com

      jennburrill.bsky.socialBluesky1d ago9▲view on Bluesky ↗
    • Nonilex@masto.ai

      # DOJ claims # Trump can shut out # journalists from the White House at his will & for “national security” A court filing from the Trump admin late Tuesday night argues “access to the White House is a privilege, not a right,” in spite of # FirstAmendment protections around # PressFreedom . The admin attys argue that Trump can control areas of the…

      Nonilex@masto.aiMastodon22h ago18▲view on Mastodon ↗
    all of them →
  4. 4

    CNN, Politico and MS NOW sue over the ban

    The three outlets filed a First Amendment lawsuit against Trump and other top White House officials challenging the exclusion from White House grounds and the pool.

    “quite literally state-run TV…”
    — Gavin Newsom, California Governor · source

    1. 8 outlets first by Globe and Mail, 16h ago · also NBC News, Associated Press, Politico, Washington Examiner, Reuters, Straits Times +1 · read ↗

    2. 3 outlets first by Poynter, 2d ago · also The Hill, PennLive · read ↗

    1 more claim →
    • JugglingWithEggs

      Yes, the fascists are gonna fash… But I naively wasn’t expecting it to be done in such an ugly, stupid, straight up criminal way. Silly me. Assuming this is what happens when # Musk ‘s Grok is tasked with instantly creating authoritarian US state tv. # Trump https://www. theguardian.com/us-news/2026/s…

      JugglingWithEggsMastodon1d ago35▲view on Mastodon ↗
    2 more of the top 3 · 7 posts in this stretch

    • Fuck the States man. Wake the fuck up and straighten your shit out for real. Its not even Trump anymore, a democracy acting like this is not just embarrassing its damning. Fuck everyone who voted for this problem and fuck everyone else who has simply not fixed it in the last decade.

      LionWeightr/politics1d agoview on r/politics ↗
    • cdarwin@c.im

      “Have you tried presidenting better?” Jon Stewart advised Trump. “You could. But no. You could ban the press or you could be a better fucking president. “I mean, give the press something to work with! ‘Oh, here’s a positive story: I never thought my car could take $140 worth of gas in such a small tank. I had no idea!’ “And not for nothing,” he…

      cdarwin@c.imMastodon1d ago13▲view on Mastodon ↗
    all of them →
  5. 3

    Newsom and Jon Stewart denounce the ban as authoritarian

    California Gov. Gavin Newsom called the livestream "quite literally state-run TV" and "truly autocratic behaviour," while Jon Stewart mocked Trump's handling of the press on his show; a day earlier Newsmax itself admitted the ban was "backfiring."

    “Have you tried presidenting better?”
    — Jon Stewart

    • IT'S LIVE. 📺🦅 TRUMP TV IS STREAMING NOW. 24/7, updated in real time, with top past moments, announcements, and the latest and greatest from the administration all in one place. Not every big moment has made it on your tv, now it can. 📲

      @WhiteHouseX2d ago5.0k▲view on X ↗
    2 more of the top 3 · 9 posts in this stretch
    • amalia22@mastodon.social

      White House's ominous 'Trump TV' post sparks firestorm: 'State-run media is here' - Raw Story https://www. rawstory.com/trump-media-ban-2 677909319/

      amalia22@mastodon.socialMastodon1d ago1▲view on Mastodon ↗
    • Mediagazer@mstdn.social

      The White House launches Trump TV, a 24/7 YouTube livestream of the administration's "top past moments", after press pool ban; critics call it "state-run media" (Casey Loving/The Wrap) https://www. thewrap.com/media-platforms/po litics/trump-tv-press-shutout-state-run-media-reactions/ http:// mediagazer.com/260921/p22#a260 921p22

      Mediagazer@mstdn.socialMastodon1d agoview on Mastodon ↗
    all of them →
  6. 2

    Networks boycott pool duty as White House launches "Trump TV"

    ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox News refused to fill the vacated pool slot in solidarity, leaving Trump's own helipad ribbon-cutting without usable audio. The same evening the White House launched a 24/7 YouTube livestream, "Trump TV: The Essentials Station."

    “IT'S LIVE. 📺🦅 TRUMP TV IS STREAMING NOW.”
    — @WhiteHouse
    1. 8 outlets White House Launches 'Trump TV' After President's Press Ban

      first by Forbes Business, 2d ago · also Channel 4, The Times, Telegraph India, The Guardian, Seeking Alpha, The Hindu +1

      8 more headlines
    2. 4 outlets White House launches Trump TV after press ban

      first by Mashable, 15h ago · also Zeteo, CBS News, Al Jazeera

      4 more headlines
    4 more claims →
    • DemocracyMattersALot@mstdn.social

      It's almost like Trump doesn't exist...except for the criming. Newsmax admits Trump’s media ban ‘backfiring’ as network airs near-silent live remarks https://www. rawstory.com/trump-media-black out/

      DemocracyMattersALot@mstdn.socialMastodon2d ago1▲view on Mastodon ↗
    2 more of the top 3 · 7 posts in this stretch

    • Under threat? We've been down this road before they're going to sue it will go to the Supreme Court and they will rule in the media's favor again and Trump will have to let them back in. The roller coaster of this Administration never ends even though the media seems to act like every single time we go around it's a new time.

      Wayofchinchillar/politics2d agoview on r/politics ↗

    • Trump held a White House event Monday without the usual television pool, leaving his remarks inaudible after major networks suspended pooled coverage in response to his ban on CNN, MS NOW and Politico.

      meidastouch@threads.netMastodon2d agoview on Mastodon ↗
    all of them →
  7. background

    White House enforces the ban, confiscates press badges — Security stopped MS NOW reporters and a cameraman at a West Wing entrance and confiscated their badges; CNN's Betsy Klein and Politico's Cheyenne Haslett were also denied entry. By Sunday night CNN had also been pulled from Monday's television pool rotation for the UN General Assembly trip.

  8. 2 days quiet
  9. 1

    Trump bans CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House

    In a Friday afternoon Truth Social post, Trump declared he was banning the three outlets "effective immediately" over what he called their reporting of "FICTION and LIES," warning other outlets could follow.

    “I am banning [CNN, MS NOW and Politico] from the White House as a result of their constant 'reporting' FAKE NEWS!”
    — Donald Trump
    1. 17 outlets White House press ban

      first by bbc.com, 1d ago · also BBC, WSJ US Business, Washington Times, Indian Express, The Guardian, Guardian Culture +10

      18 more headlines
    2. 7 outlets What is the White House press pool, and why is it now under threat?

      first by CNN, 2d ago · also CNBC, Mercury News, Philadelphia Inquirer, Associated Press, WTOP News, KEYT-TV

      2 more headlines
    4 more claims →

Also covered reported alongside — the timeline has no entry for these yet

  1. 5 outlets DOJ defends Trump media ban, citing national security and "professionalism"

    first by CBS News, 13h ago · also UPI, Washington Times, Politico, Politico Europe

    3 more headlines
  2. 4 outlets Marco Rubio Defends Trump's Press Ban in Fiery Debate

    first by Yahoo, 1d ago · also The Wrap, Al Jazeera, Mediaite

    3 more headlines
  3. 3 outlets Judge kicks off hearing on Trump’s media ban by saying White House failed to follow due process

    first by Independent UK, 6h ago · also The Wrap, The Independent

    1 more headline
  4. 3 outlets Did Biden revoke more than 400 press passes? How changes compare to Trump's media ban

    first by Snopes, 2d ago · also The Free Press, Newsweek

    2 more headlines
  5. 2 outlets Live updates: White House media ban faces legal test; Trump to greet Xi ahead of summit

    first by The Hill, 13h ago · also NBC News

    1 more headline
  6. 2 outlets Major news outlets banned by Trump will have their day in court

    first by NPR, 10h ago · also NPR News

  7. 2 outlets No network TV coverage on Trump amid his unprecedented media ban

    first by CBS News, 1d ago · also Washington Examiner

    1 more headline
  8. 2 outlets Rubio spotted with journalists from outlets Trump banned just days earlier

    first by The Independent, 1d ago · also Independent UK

  9. 2 outlets ‘Trump TV’ is just reruns of the president on YouTube

    first by Mastodon, 1d ago · also The Verge

  10. 2 outlets Trump's Reckless ‘Free Press’ Ban Is Blowing Up in His Face

    first by Rolling Stone, 2d ago · also HuffPost

    1 more headline

and 26 smaller pieces

What people are saying 8 voices from 2 sites · best of 62 · verbatim

Still unanswered
  • Will the judge actually rule before the administration escalates further or moves on to other outlets?
  • Will the pool arrangement return to normal once litigation concludes, or has it changed permanently?