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CNN, MS NOW, Politico ask court for preliminary injunction to keep White House access ban frozen
CNN, MS NOW and Politico asked a federal court late Monday for a preliminary injunction to keep the White House access ban frozen until the case is resolved; the current restraining order expires Oct. 8.
Why it matters
CNN, MS NOW and Politico asked a federal court late Monday to block enforcement of the White House's access ban against them until the case is resolved. A two-week temporary restraining order from U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly restored the outlets' access, but it expires Oct. 8 — and the outlets say the White House would "immediately reinstitute a complete ban" if allowed.
The new filing
In the 42-page motion for a preliminary injunction, lawyers wrote that the administration has "persisted in unpredictably and inconsistently implementing its ban" despite the restraining order — including barring CNN from pool duties on Sept. 26 and from Air Force One on Saturday, when Trump flew to a college football game in Tennessee. The filing calls the ban "an unlawful assault on the most fundamental First Amendment freedoms." Lead attorney Theodore J. Boutrous Jr. called it "a blatant violation of the First Amendment and due process," saying its only purpose is "to punish reporting he doesn't like."
The White House position
The administration is not backing down. Attorney General Todd Blanche said Sunday on ABC that White House access is "a privilege, and not a right," that Trump has "every right to decide who gets to fly on his plane," and that the president is "sick and tired of certain media outlets just refusing to report accurate news" — adding that such coverage amounts to a national security issue. Judge Kelly, however, wrote last week that the court is "skeptical … that defendants' interest in safeguarding national security is the actual motivation."
Pool solidarity
After CNN was removed from the five-network broadcast pool, the other networks suspended the pool in solidarity; they are now handling the standoff case by case. CNN is not in the rotation until Thursday, when the networks will decide together whether to provide a replacement or refrain from coverage.
Sources
The Associated Press, published Sept. 29, 2026, 4:13 AM EDT; Reuters, Sept. 29, 2026.
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