CNN, MS NOW and Politico have expanded their White House access lawsuit after discovering that “you may come back” apparently requires a floor plan.
According to Reuters, their amended complaint asks a federal judge to stop the administration excluding them from the press pool that covers the Oval Office and Air Force One. Judge Timothy Kelly has issued orders since September 24 requiring their White House access to be restored. The outlets say the remaining restrictions retaliate against their coverage and violate the First Amendment. Those are their allegations; the amended complaint is not a new ruling in their favor.
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The distinction is practical. A pool sends a small group into places too cramped for the whole press corps and shares its reporting with the others. A journalist admitted somewhere on the premises but excluded from that group has not necessarily regained the access needed to do the same job. Welcome back to the restaurant. Your table is in the parking lot.
The White House’s response was that “The Fake News has no place demanding a spot in the President’s Oval Office.” It is an admirably uncamouflaged statement for a dispute about retaliation over news coverage. Usually someone at least fetches the folder marked logistical considerations.


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