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CNN, MS NOW and Politico ask judge to extend block on Trump White House ban

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Coverage spectrum

Covered by 11 outlets across the spectrum.

14 articles in total, 1 of them opinion. The spectrum counts each outlet once and leaves opinion out. How we measure bias

CNN, MS NOW and Politico filed a court motion asking a federal judge to extend a temporary restraining order blocking the Trump administration from enforcing a ban that stripped their White House access. The outlets’ lawyers argued in a filing Monday night that the White House has “persisted in unpredictably and inconsistently implementing its ban,” pointing to CNN being excluded from White House television pool duty despite the court order. U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly, appointed by Trump, had issued a 14-day restraining order restoring the outlets’ access; that order is set to expire October 8. Trump announced the original ban on September 18, citing his view that the outlets report “fake news.” The three outlets sued September 21, alleging the ban violates the First Amendment. Television networks, including CNN, ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC, resumed pool coverage of the president this week, though CNN’s access remains uncertain.

Headline and summary written by Mantle’s AI from the coverage below, under published rules. How this works

What happened

Key points

Each point shows who reports it, from Far Left to Far Right.

  1. CNN, MS NOW and Politico asked a federal court to extend the restraining order blocking Trump’s White House access ban until their lawsuit is resolved.

    Reported byLeftCenterRight

  2. The outlets’ lawyers wrote that the White House has “persisted in unpredictably and inconsistently implementing its ban,” including barring CNN from White House television pool duty.

    Reported byLeftCenterRight

  3. U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly issued a temporary restraining order restoring the outlets’ access for 14 days, set to expire around October 8.

    Reported byLeftRight

  4. Trump announced the ban on September 18, saying the outlets are “fake news” that “shouldn’t be able to constantly write or report FICTION and LIES.”

    Reported byRight

  5. The three outlets sued on September 21, arguing the ban violates the First Amendment.

    Reported byRight

  6. Major TV networks in the White House pool, including CNN, ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC, resumed pool coverage of Trump this week after suspending it in solidarity.

    Reported byLeftCenter

What is contested

Where accounts differ

Points the coverage does not agree on, and who says what.

  • The White House has been "unpredictably and inconsistently" enforcing the restraining order.

    Lawyers for CNN, MS NOW and Politico make this claim in their court filing, citing CNN’s exclusion from pool duty; the White House’s response is not detailed in the supplied coverage.

  • The ban constitutes an unlawful violation of press freedoms.

    The outlets’ lawyers argue the ban is an “unlawful assault” on First Amendment rights; Trump has defended the ban by describing the outlets’ reporting as “fake news” and “FICTION and LIES.”

How each side tells it

Compare views

  • the left

    6 outlets

    Left-leaning outlets mostly describe the outlets’ legal request in neutral terms, though some, like the Independent, foreground the outlets’ dramatic quotes about a potential “complete ban.”

    TV Networks Resume White House Pool Coverage, But Vague attribution“Questions Remain”The writer is raising the question while pretending someone else did.More neutral: state the question and who is askingDisagree with this highlight? Over CNN’s Access
    TIMELeftAll left-leaning headlines

  • the center

    1 outlet

    Center coverage from The Hill frames the story around both the networks’ resumed pool coverage and the outlets’ request to extend the court block, in largely descriptive terms.

    Banned news outlets ask judge court to extend block on White House enforcement
    The HillCenterAll center headlines

  • the right

    4 outlets · 1 opinion

    Right-leaning outlets, including duplicate wire-style reports from the Washington Examiner, emphasize the timeline of the dispute and include Trump’s own stated reasons for the ban alongside the outlets’ legal arguments.

    CNN, MS NOW, and Politico Ask Court to Prevent Trump From Reviving White House Ban
    The Epoch TimesFar RightAll right-leaning headlines

The words they chose

Language to notice

Words that carry a judgement beyond the facts. Tap a highlighted word anywhere on the page to see why.

  • Left3

    banished from White House groundsabruptly banishedQuestions Remain

  • Center0

    No loaded words in its own voice.

  • Right1

    banished from White House grounds

In the outlets’ own words

  • Loaded verb

    banished from White House groundsMore neutral: barred from White House grounds

    Describes the outlets' exclusion with a dramatic, judgment-laden verb rather than a neutral description like "barred" or "banned".

    Three news organizations banished from White House grounds asked a court late Monday to block enforcement of the action until the…

    Used byThe Washington Times (Right)NPR (Left)

  • Loaded verb

    abruptly banishedMore neutral: barred

    “Banished” is a dramatic, exile-connoting word for a formal credential revocation, going beyond neutral description.

    CNN, MS NOW and Politico, which President Trump abruptly banished from White House grounds this month, asked a federal court to block the ban…

    Used byCBS News (Left)

  • Vague attribution

    Questions RemainMore neutral: state the question and who is asking

    The writer is raising the question while pretending someone else did.

    TV Networks Resume White House Pool Coverage, But Questions Remain Over CNN’s Access

    Used byTIME (Left)

Words quoted from someone else (2)Hide the quoted words

Loaded words that outlets reported someone else saying. They show what was said, not how the outlet chose to say it.

  • Delegitimizing label

    Quoted

    fake newsMore neutral: inaccurate report or say what is false and how you know

    Dismisses reporting wholesale; a false claim should be identified specifically.

    …when Trump announced the ban due to his belief that CNN, MS Now, and Politico are “fake news” outlets

    Quoted byWashington Examiner (Right)The Epoch Times (Far Right)

    Inside a quotation: the outlets are reporting someone else’s words.

  • Vague attribution

    Quoted

    persisted in unpredictably and inconsistently implementing its banMore neutral: the administration has not consistently enforced the ban, according to the outlets

    This is the outlets' characterization presented without clear attribution markers in the sentence structure, framing a contested claim.

    …case is resolved, saying the Trump administration has "persisted in unpredictably and inconsistently implementing its ban" despite a judge's restraining order -- including by…

    Quoted byThe Washington Times (Right)

    Inside a quotation: the outlets are reporting someone else’s words.

See the full language guide

See for yourself

Side by side

What each side leads with and what it leaves out. Open a side to read its headlines.

From the left

6 outlets

Leads with

  • details of the court filing
  • lawyers’ First Amendment arguments
  • uncertainty over CNN’s ongoing access

Leaves out

  • Trump’s stated rationale for the original ban
  • the September 21 lawsuit’s specific legal claims

Reported by other sides, not found in this side’s coverage.

See the 6 headlines from the leftHide the headlines
  • TIMELeft

    TV Networks Resume White House Pool Coverage, But Vague attribution“Questions Remain”The writer is raising the question while pretending someone else did.More neutral: state the question and who is askingDisagree with this highlight? Over CNN’s Access

    Amid ongoing uncertainty over CNN’s access, two people familiar with the situation tell TIME that coverage will be decided on a day-by-day basis moving forward.

    Read at TIME (opens in a new tab)
  • The IndependentLeft

    Media outlets say White House will impose a ‘complete ban’ if Trump wins legal battle

    Trump’s attempts to justify press ban are being used as ‘weapons’ against due process, lawyers say

    Read at The Independent (opens in a new tab)
  • BloombergLeft

    CNN, MS NOW, Politico Ask for Longer Block on White House Ban

    CNN, MS NOW and Politico asked a federal judge for a longer court order that would prevent President Donald Trump from banning their journalists from the White House.

    Read at Bloomberg (opens in a new tab)
  • CBS NewsLeft

    3 news outlets seek extension of ban on their being blocked from White House

    CNN, MS NOW and Politico, which President Trump Loaded verb“abruptly banished”“Banished” is a dramatic, exile-connoting word for a formal credential revocation, going beyond neutral description.More neutral: barredDisagree with this highlight? from White House grounds this month, asked a federal court to block the ban until the case against it is resolved.

    Read at CBS News (opens in a new tab)
  • NPRLeftAssociated Press report

    News organizations ask court to bar White House enforcement of access ban

    Three news outlets that President Trump Loaded verb“banished from White House grounds”“Banished” implies a dramatic, almost punitive expulsion rather than a neutral description of being barred or denied access.More neutral: barred from White House groundsDisagree with this highlight? asked a federal court to block the ban until the case is resolved.

    Read at NPR (opens in a new tab)
  • The New York TimesLeft

    CNN, MS NOW and Politico Seek a Longer Reprieve From White House Ban

    A federal court temporarily lifted the ban last week. The outlets want a longer pause while they sue to restore their access.

    Read at The New York Times (opens in a new tab)

From the center

1 outlet

Leads with

  • logistics of pool coverage
  • procedural status of the court case

Leaves out

  • Trump’s “fake news” justification for the ban

Reported by other sides, not found in this side’s coverage.

See the headline from the centerHide the headlines

From the right

4 outlets · 1 opinion

Leads with

  • timeline of the ban and lawsuit
  • Trump’s quoted justification for banning the outlets
  • judge’s appointment by Trump
See the 5 headlines from the rightHide the headlines
  • The Epoch TimesFar Right

    CNN, MS NOW, and Politico Ask Court to Prevent Trump From Reviving White House Ban

    The outlets said the White House’s words and actions indicate that it would immediately reinstate the press ban ‘if allowed the opportunity.’

    Read at The Epoch Times (opens in a new tab)
  • Washington ExaminerRight

    CNN, MS Now, and Politico ask judge to extend order pausing Trump’s ban

    Three media groups President Donald Trump sought to ban from the White House press pool asked a federal judge to extend a restraining order blocking the president from instituting the restrictions. The saga began Sept. …

    Read at Washington Examiner (opens in a new tab)
    1 more from Washington Examiner
  • Breitbart NewsFar Right

    CNN, MS NOW and Politico Seek Court Intervention to Block Trump from Stripping White House Credentials

    Three news outlets President Donald Trump stripped of White House credentials were back before a federal court Monday night seeking to temporarily restore their access until the case is resolved.

    Read at Breitbart News (opens in a new tab)
  • The Washington TimesRight

    News organizations ask court to bar White House enforcement of access ban until case is resolved

    Three news organizations Loaded verb“banished from White House grounds”Describes the outlets' exclusion with a dramatic, judgment-laden verb rather than a neutral description like "barred" or "banned".More neutral: barred from White House groundsDisagree with this highlight? asked a court late Monday to block enforcement of the action until the case is resolved, saying the Trump administration has "Vague attribution“persisted in unpredictably and inconsistently implementing its ban”This is the outlets' characterization presented without clear attribution markers in the sentence structure, framing a contested claim.More neutral: the administration has not consistently enforced the ban, according to the outletsThis appears inside a quotation. The outlet is reporting someone else’s words.Disagree with this highlight?" despite a judge's …

    Read at The Washington Times (opens in a new tab)
  • The Western JournalFar RightOpinion

    Watch: Desperate Jake Tapper Begs Ambassador to Plead His Case to Trump and Let CNN Back Into Press Pool, Gets Rejected Live on Air

    Rejection hurts, especially when it comes on live TV. Just ask Jake Tapper. Jake’s network, CNN, is one of three liberal outlets currently involved in a legal struggle with President

    Read at The Western Journal (opens in a new tab)

Articles you open from here build My Mix, a private picture of how your reading spreads across the spectrum, kept on this device. What is My Mix?

The left is Far Left and Left together. The right is Right and Far Right together. Every outlet keeps its own five-point rating.

Who reported it when

How the coverage built up

  • Left

    12 hr 57 min later

    Its first report, Sep 28, 11:59 PM EDT

  • Center

    First to report

    The Hill, Sep 28, 11:02 AM EDT

  • Right

    12 hr 58 min later

    Its first report, Sep 29, 12:00 AM EDT

See the order the outlets reported inHide the order
  1. The HillCenterSep 28, 11:02 AM EDT
  2. The New York TimesLeftSep 28, 11:59 PM EDT
  3. The Washington TimesRightSep 29, 12:00 AM EDT
  4. NPRLeftSep 29, 4:13 AM EDT
  5. Breitbart NewsFar RightSep 29, 6:14 AM EDT
  6. CBS NewsLeftSep 29, 6:37 AM EDT
  7. Washington ExaminerRightSep 29, 7:43 AM EDT
  8. The Epoch TimesFar RightSep 29, 7:55 AM EDT
  9. BloombergLeftSep 29, 8:28 AM EDT
  10. The IndependentLeftSep 29, 11:11 AM EDT
  11. TIMELeftSep 29, 4:11 PM EDT

Times are the ones the outlets published in their own feeds, in Eastern time. Opinion is left out.

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