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Last Friday, September 18, Trump banned a handful of news organizations from the White House.
By Saturday morning, Secret Service officers were turning reporters away from entering and even confiscating some press passes and disabling others.
By Monday the five major TV networks that operate the White House TV, Fox News included, stopped supplying shared footage of presidential events.
And by Monday night, the White House launched their own Trump TV.
Judge Timothy Kelly (-Trump appointee) is scheduled to hear the emergency request today at 3:30 p.m. Eastern. (09/23/26)
What happened: Why Five Networks Suspended White House Coverage
Five networks ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox News, and NBC take turns recording presidential events and sharing footage with other news organizations. When the White House removed CNN from its regular scheduled assignment on September 21, the other networks banned together and refused to replace it and suspended their shared coverage of presidential events, even Fox…
Fox News joined the decision. Its Washington bureau chief, Bryan Boughton, who chairs the television pool this quarter announced the suspension.
During a White House helicopter pad ribbon cutting ceremony, the absence of pool microphones left Trump’s remarks largely inaudible. C-SPAN couldn’t carry the event without its usual feed, while Newsmax aired the government’s video without usable audio.
Trump TV Launched but Independent Reporting Continues
Trump TV Launches as the Press Access Dispute Escalates:
Hours after the September 21 lawsuit was filed the White House launched Trump TV , a 24/hour YouTube stream featuring presidential speeches and administration highlights.
Official government footage can be a valuable primary source. But Trump TV’s programming is selected by the Trump administration, unlike independent journalism, who can investigate official claims, question officials, and report info absent from official communications.
The limits of the White House ban became clear on Tuesday when Trump objected to CNN correspondent Kaitlan Collins covering his arrival at the United Nations:
“The United Nations allowed us in, sir,” Collins replied before continuing her question. The UN issues its media credentials, allowing the affected news organizations to continue reporting from its events.
Can the White House Ban Journalists Over Their Reporting?
What the Law Says About Banning Journalists
The Trump administration is saying that the White House access is a privilege, not a constitutional right, and the president can restrict access for national security reasons. CNN, MS NOW, and Politico argue that they’re excluded because of their reporting, violating First Amendment rights.
In 2018, federal Judge Timothy Kelly (a Trump appointee) ordered the White House to temporarily restore CNN correspondent Jim Acosta’s press credentials, citing due process concerns. Kelly is also overseeing the current lawsuit.
The judge is scheduled to hear the news organizations emergency request on September 23 at 3:30 p.m. Eastern. This ruling could temporarily restore access.
The 1917 Information Campaign: A Lesson From American History
When the U.S. Government Produced Its Own News in the past
In April 1917, President Woodrow Wilson created the Committee on Public Information to build public support for World War I.
Led by former journalist George Creel, the agency provided government produced stories to newspapers and published a daily newspaper, the Official Bulletin.
By Creel’s estimate, its news division placed material in 20,000 newspaper columns weekly. The government restricted journalists access to various wartime information, making official accounts an important source of coverage.
The committee demonstrated how government produced news shapes public understanding when access to independent information is limited.
Five Tools to Fact-Check Your Government
Public records, recordings, and independent reporting can help you separate official statements from verified facts.
We’ve created a free guide with five tools to help you find full recordings, read White House pool reports, examine executive orders, verify claims, and request government documents that you can find on our community network site: 50501.co
Five Tools to Fact-Check Your Government, No Press Pass Required
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Sources
ABC News, Trump says he is banning CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House
CNBC Trump snaps at CNN at United Nations
Variety Major TV Networks Suspend White House Pool Coverage of Trump
CNN Major TV networks stand with CNN, decline to replace its White House pool crew
MS NOW White House pool suspends TV coverage of Trump after CNN ban
NPR White House launches Trump TV after ban on major news outlets
WUSA9 What is Trump TV?
Everything with Trump is "for national security reasons". We need to restrict HIM for national security reasons. He and his goons are the biggest threat to our national security period. We know he works for Putin. He is arm of Putin's regime and I wish the media would point that out him on live TV.
Most important link: FactCheck.org