US judge orders White House to restore press access for CNN, MS NOW and Politico

A US federal judge has ordered President Donald Trump to restore White House access for CNN, MS NOW and Politico, after the outlets were barred from the premises by the administration.

The ruling represents a significant legal setback for the White House's efforts to limit access for news organizations it has previously criticized. The order directs the administration to reinstate the credentials and access that had allowed reporters from the three outlets to cover events at the White House.

The ban had drawn criticism from press freedom advocates, who argued that excluding specific news organizations based on their coverage raised serious concerns about government interference with an independent press. Media organizations and journalism groups have historically pushed back against efforts to restrict access for outlets seen as critical of an administration.

CNN, MS NOW and Politico are among the most prominent news organizations covering US politics and the federal government, and their reporters have long been part of the White House press corps that covers the presidency on a daily basis.

It remains to be seen how quickly the White House will comply with the court's order, and whether the administration will pursue an appeal of the ruling. The case is likely to be closely watched as a test of press access rights during the current administration.