CNN, MS Now, and Politico updated their lawsuit seeking access to White House reporting pools
CNN, MS NOW and Politico amended their lawsuit seeking full access to White House reporting pools, including the Oval Office and Air Force One. Their filing says pool-duty restrictions continued after Judge Timothy Kelly ordered White House access restored, and alleges viewpoint discrimination in violation of the First Amendment. The order did not restore access to those locations.
More context
CNN, MS NOW and Politico amended their complaint seeking Oval Office and Air Force One access. The filing comes about two weeks after Judge Timothy Kelly indefinitely reversed Donald Trump’s ban and restored the outlets’ access to the White House, but his ruling did not require restoring access to those locations. The outlets say the White House has since blocked them from performing pool duties they had long carried out. According to the complaint, CNN was repeatedly prevented from serving as the primary television pool aboard Air Force One after the ban was announced on September 18. MS NOW has not taken part in the supplemental television pool since then, and Politico was not allowed to join two scheduled print-media assignments on the aircraft. The outlets allege the restrictions discriminate based on perceived editorial viewpoint and violate the First Amendment.
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Reporting
- The New York Times — CNN, MS NOW and Politico Escalate Legal Battle for White House Access
- UA News — CNN, MS NOW and Politico seek White House press pool access — CNBC | UA.NEWS
- CNBC — Three media outlets seek full White House access in amended lawsuit
- MS NOW — MS NOW, CNN and Politico amend lawsuit, seeking to restore access to Oval Office and Air Force One
- Central Oregon Daily (with Reuters) — CNN, MS NOW, Politico expand lawsuit over White House access limits
- AOL — Media Outlets Expand Trump Lawsuit After White House Interferes With Press Pool
Verifier’s note
The New York Times, CNBC, MS NOW, AOL, UA.NEWS, and Central Oregon Daily all report that CNN, MS NOW, and Politico updated or expanded their lawsuit over White House press-pool access. The reports are dated October 28, 2026, consistent with the proposed event’s timing.