# Trump Ban on CNN, MS NOW, Politico Reversed—Then Defied for Hours

- URL: https://twotakes.us/stories/trump-ban-on-cnn-ms-now-politico-reversedthen-defied-for-hours
- Published: 2026-09-25T13:09:14.738469+00:00
- Topics: press-freedom, trump-administration, white-house-press-corps, judicial-ruling, media

## What the left says
- A federal judge, appointed by Trump himself, found the administration likely violated reporters' Fifth Amendment due process rights by stripping credentials without explanation or recourse, underscoring that even a Trump-appointed judiciary saw the ban as legally indefensible.
- The hours-long delay in restoring access despite a clear court order, followed by journalists again being blocked from covering the Xi Jinping state dinner, suggests a pattern of deliberate defiance rather than a mere bureaucratic hiccup.
- Other major networks suspending their own video and photo pool distribution in solidarity demonstrates that press freedom concerns extended well beyond the three banned outlets, reflecting industry-wide alarm about retaliatory access restrictions.
- The episode highlights the fragility of press access to the presidency when credentialing is treated as a discretionary favor rather than a protected right tied to due process.

## What the right says
- The White House restored the credentials within hours of the court's order and before the judge's own compliance deadline, indicating an effort to comply with the ruling rather than intentional defiance.
- White House officials documented a specific timeline showing they began restoring badges at 7:25 a.m., shortly after being notified of the order at 7:10 a.m., pointing to logistical delay rather than obstruction.
- The judge declined to hold an emergency hearing and did not rule on the outlets' First Amendment claims, leaving open the question of whether the administration has broader authority to manage credentialing decisions.
- The dispute remains in early legal stages, with a preliminary injunction deadline still ahead and the possibility of appeal once permitted, meaning the underlying legal questions about press access are far from settled.

## Common ground
- CNN, MS NOW, and Politico had their hard-pass credentials revoked the prior weekend and were fully restored by early Thursday afternoon.
- U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly, a Trump appointee, issued a 14-day temporary restraining order requiring the White House to reinstate the outlets' access.
- Reporters were initially turned away Thursday morning despite the court order, prompting an emergency request for a hearing before access was restored around noon.
- The case is ongoing, with a preliminary injunction deadline set for September 28 and First Amendment claims still to be litigated.

## Sources
- [ABC News](https://abcnews.com/US/judge-orders-white-house-restore-press-passes-cnn/story?id=136709442) (Lean Left)
- [Axios](https://www.axios.com/2026/09/24/white-house-press-ban-court-order) (Lean Left)
- [HuffPost](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/cnn-ms-now-politico-access-white-house_n_6ab54df7e4b075a3d2846a0e) (Left)
- [The Hill](https://thehill.com/homenews/media/6109272-cnn-msnow-reporters-regain-white-house-access-trump-media-ban/) (Center)
- [The Guardian US](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/video/2026/sep/24/cnn-reporter-betsy-klein-white-house-trump-media-ban-ruling) (Left)
- [Washington Times](https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/sep/24/unbanned-trump-team-lets-ejected-journos-back-white-house/) (Right)

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