The White House launched a YouTube channel called Trump TV on Monday as a dispute with major news organizations escalated. CNN, MS NOW and Politico have filed a lawsuit challenging their ban from the White House.
What Happened
The White House launched Trump TV as a streaming channel featuring coverage of President Donald Trump and his administration. The launch came after the White House barred reporters from CNN, MS NOW and Politico from its grounds.
The three news organizations sued the Trump administration, arguing that the ban violates their First Amendment rights. Their lawsuit asks a federal court to restore access for their journalists.
Why It Matters
The dispute has also affected the White House press pool, the system in which major television networks share responsibility for recording presidential events. Major broadcasters suspended pool coverage after CNN was prevented from carrying out its assigned duties.
Other news organizations also joined the response by declining to participate in some White House coverage and photography, according to Yahoo News.
What We Know
- CNN, MS NOW and Politico have filed a lawsuit over their White House access.
- The White House launched Trump TV on YouTube after the media access dispute intensified.
- Major television broadcasters suspended White House pool coverage.
- The legal dispute over the journalists' access is now before a federal court.
The Bottom Line
The fight has moved beyond a dispute between the White House and three news organizations. It now involves a federal lawsuit, changes to shared presidential TV coverage and a new White House streaming channel.
Sources: BBC | The Times | Yahoo News