Archive · 11 Oct 2026
Justice Department Probes Networks Over White House Pool Coverage
The White House blocked some news organizations from covering events there.
After that, five TV networks stopped sharing video through their usual coverage pool.
The Justice Department is investigating whether the networks broke competition laws by acting together.
The department has not said that the networks are guilty.
A judge ordered the blocked news organizations’ access restored on Sept.
24.
The networks started sharing pool coverage again the next day.
The dispute also made it harder for people to watch parts of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit.
Chinese state media and the White House’s own video were among the few sources available.
The Justice Department is investigating CNN, NBC, CBS, Fox and ABC over their joint television coverage pool.
The networks stopped providing pooled footage after the White House barred several news organizations from access.
The Antitrust Division said group boycotts among commercial competitors can violate the Sherman Act.
A federal judge ordered access restored on Sept. 24, and the pool resumed coverage the next day.
The dispute disrupted coverage of President Xi Jinping’s visit, with Chinese state media and White House video among the limited sources.
- Who
- The Justice Department is investigating CNN, NBC, CBS, Fox and ABC; the dispute also involved CNN, MS NOW and Politico.
- What
- An antitrust investigation into the networks’ suspension of shared White House event coverage.
- When
- The probe was announced after the pool resumed coverage; a judge ordered access restored on Sept. 24, and coverage resumed the following day.
- Where
- The White House and presidential events, including the United Nations General Assembly and Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit.
- Why
- The networks suspended pool coverage after the White House barred several news organizations; the Justice Department is examining whether the networks’ joint action violated antitrust law.
Justice Department
Court’s access ruling
Networks’ coordinated suspension
Justice Department
The Justice Department said group boycotts among commercial competitors can violate the Sherman Act and is investigating whether the networks broke antitrust laws.
Court’s access ruling
Judge Timothy Kelly found that the barred news organizations were likely to succeed on claims that the access restrictions violated the First Amendment and denied them due process.
- Investigating agency
- U.S. Department of Justice Antitrust Division
- Networks under investigation
- CNN, NBC, CBS, Fox and ABC
- Law cited by the Justice Department
- Sherman Act
- Access ruling
- U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly ordered access restored on Sept. 24.
- Coverage resumed
- The television pool resumed coverage the day after the ruling.
- Organizations barred from White House access
- CNN, MS NOW and Politico