Sean Spicer and CNN anchor Abby Phillip clashed over Trump’s ban on CNN, MS NOW and Politico reporters. Spicer compared it with Biden’s pass changes; she cited an AP fact-check on the renewal policy. A judge ordered access restored, but restrictions remain.
The three outlets sued after the Sept. 18 ban, alleging First Amendment and due-process violations. Trump defended it, citing national-security concerns and describing the outlets as fake-news peddlers. After a Wednesday hearing, District Judge Timothy Kelly ruled against the ban and ordered access restored immediately. The White House kept restrictions in place; on Saturday, CNN was removed from Air Force One and replaced by LindellTV for Trump’s trip to the Texas-Tennessee game.
Under Biden’s 2023 policy, holders of long-term White House press passes had to reapply under new criteria; the change led to 442 reporters’ passes expiring. The AP fact-check described this as a renewal-policy change, not a revocation of more than 400 passes. Spicer said the distinction made no difference and alleged the criteria were changed to keep independent journalists from qualifying.
