Archive · 24 Sep 2026
Media Groups Challenge White House Ban on CNN, MSNOW, POLITICO
Several news organizations are asking a court to stop a White House ban.
The groups say CNN, MSNOW, and POLITICO should be allowed to cover the White House.
They argue that the government cannot punish journalists because it dislikes their reporting.
The White House Correspondents’ Association joined nearly 50 other news organizations in making this argument.
CNN had been scheduled to provide television coverage for the White House press pool on Monday.
The White House later removed CNN from that scheduled role.
The three news organizations also filed a lawsuit against the administration.
The court is being asked to provide relief quickly.
The White House Correspondents’ Association joined nearly 50 news organizations in a court brief challenging the ban.
The brief urges immediate reversal of restrictions affecting CNN, MSNOW, and POLITICO.
WHCA President Jacqui Heinrich said the government cannot exclude journalists because it dislikes their reporting.
CNN was removed from its scheduled role as television pool representative for Monday.
CNN, MSNOW, and POLITICO separately sued the Donald Trump administration over revoked press credentials.
- Who
- The White House Correspondents’ Association, the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, nearly 50 news organizations, CNN, MSNOW, and POLITICO.
- What
- Media groups filed a court brief challenging the White House ban and seeking immediate relief; CNN, MSNOW, and POLITICO also filed a lawsuit.
- When
- The brief was filed after the White House removed CNN from Monday’s television pool schedule; the lawsuit was filed Monday local time.
- Where
- The dispute involves the White House in Washington, D.C., with CNN expected to accompany President Donald Trump to New York for the United Nations General Assembly.
- Why
- The media groups argue that excluding journalists because of disagreement with their reporting is viewpoint discrimination and violates the First Amendment.
Media Organizations
White House Administration
Access to the White House
Media Organizations
The media groups argue that the government cannot remove journalists from the White House because it dislikes their reporting.
White House Administration
The article describes the administration’s ban and removal of CNN from the television pool, but does not provide the administration’s stated justification.
Court intervention
Media Organizations
The White House Correspondents’ Association and other organizations are asking the court to reverse the restrictions immediately.
White House Administration
The article does not report the administration’s position on the court brief or the requested relief.
- Lead organization
- White House Correspondents’ Association
- Court filing
- An amicus brief seeking immediate reversal of the restrictions
- News organizations affected
- CNN, MSNOW, and POLITICO
- Additional participants
- The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and nearly 50 news organizations
- Scheduling dispute
- CNN had been scheduled as Monday’s television pool representative but was removed from the White House press schedule
- Separate legal action
- CNN, MSNOW, and POLITICO filed a lawsuit against the Donald Trump administration
- Legal argument
- The brief says exclusion based on reporting views constitutes viewpoint discrimination and violates the First Amendment