September 20, 2026 - White House Faces Mounting Legal Backlash

This can’t legally stand. That was my first reaction Friday when President Trump announced he was banning CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House. By the time my CNN program ended on Saturday morning it was no longer a threat. Hard passes stopped working at the gate.

Doing it doesn’t make it legal. It’s unconstitutional, and not in a close-call way.

There is no unfettered right of media access to the government. The president doesn't have to let the media into the Oval Office, and whether he can wall off small spaces like Air Force One is still being litigated. But once access is opened to some, it can't be denied to others because of the slant of their coverage. That's true of your school board, your borough council, the Congress and the White House. It's been the law since the Nixon administration tried to deny a press pass to a reporter it didn't like and a federal appeals court said no. When this president pulled Jim Acosta's credential in 2018, a judge he appointed ordered it restored.

Surely he knows that. So why do it? I can think of only two explanations. Either he'd rather we not talk about something else - the unresolved conflict with Iran, gas prices, AI outrunning the people who built it - or he figures a fight with the media is good for the base in the midst of the midterms. A settled constitutional question becomes barroom fodder over whether the president gets a fair shake from the press, and his supporters will answer that one resoundingly: no.

Either way, he dominated the news cycle with a story of his choosing. The media had no choice but to follow.

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The White House is facing mounting legal and First Amendment criticism after President Trump barred CNN, MS NOW and Politico journalists from White House grounds and revoked their press credentials, prompting the outlets and press groups to challenge the restrictions.

NBC News

No. 8 Ole Miss defeated No. 7 LSU 32-24 in Lane Kiffin’s return to Oxford, as Trinidad Chambliss threw for 363 yards and two touchdowns and scored the decisive fourth-quarter rushing touchdown after LSU erased a 17-point halftime deficit.

ESPN

President Trump announced plans to create an “AI Force” modeled on Space Force and appoint a new AI czar, reinforcing his push for rapid AI development with limited regulation despite growing safety concerns from industry leaders and the public.

Axios

A new federal lawsuit accuses Anthropic, OpenAI, SpaceXAI and Google of violating antitrust laws by allegedly coordinating efforts to slow AI development, arguing that an industrywide safety agreement could restrict competition and reduce value for paying AI subscribers.

Associated Press

President Trump’s takeover and attempted renaming of the Kennedy Center has triggered lawsuits, performer cancellations, declining attendance and financial strain, while his administration argues the deteriorating building requires a two-year closure and extensive renovations.

CNN

Carnegie Deli has reopened in Midtown Manhattan after a 10-year absence, bringing its famously enormous pastrami sandwiches and old-school atmosphere to the former Stage Deli location, with improved service and updated versions of its classic food.

New York Post

A 15-year Smithsonian investigation using DNA sequenced from Thomas Jefferson’s hair found new genetic evidence supporting that Jefferson fathered children with his slave Sally Hemings, adding to earlier historical and DNA evidence surrounding their relationship.

Telegraph

Researchers say a growing number of voters are using AI chatbots to understand candidates, issues and election procedures ahead of the 2026 midterms, but studies warn the tools can provide inconsistent information and struggle to recognize AI-generated misinformation.

USA Today

President Trump has privately become more receptive to advisers’ warnings about Republicans’ difficult midterm environment and acknowledged some responsibility, according to The Washington Post, prompting increased campaign spending and plans to personally campaign in competitive races.

The Washington Post

A survey of recent high school graduates found 58% had self-censored during political or civic discussions, with classmates cited far more often than teachers as a concern, suggesting peer pressure can significantly limit open discussion in civics classrooms.

The Hill