Judge extends temporary block on Trump’s media ban

A federal judge on Thursday briefly extended an order lifting a ban implemented by the White House last month on three new outlets President Trump said should not be allowed to cover him over what he has called “fake news” that puts national security in danger.  

U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly, a Trump appointee, is weighing whether to issue a longer-lasting injunction after he handed down a 14-day temporary restraining order last month that required the administration to immediately restore press credentials for reporters from CNN, Politico and MS NOW.  

That order was set to expire at 11:59 p.m. Thursday but Kelly said at the start of the hearing that it would be in effect for “another two business days.”

A ruling is expected by Tuesday.  

The administration has advanced a familiar argument to justify the president’s decision to restrict media access to his administration, citing national security concerns and the use of anonymous sources.  

The news outlets have insisted Trump’s initial comments that the ban was based on cumulative negative coverage is evidence of viewpoint discrimination by the government, which is prohibited under the First........

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