White House Blocks CNN From Air Force One, Networks Suspend Pool Coverage Again

The White House blocked CNN from flying on Air Force One for a trip with President Donald Trump. Because of space limits, reporters from a small pool of networks travel with the president and share their material. CNN was the network due to cover the trip. The other four pool networks, CBS, NBC, ABC and Fox, refused to take its place. That meant far less video from the White House and the trip. Trump also wrote on social media that fake news should not be allowed in the White House.

Last week the White House banned CNN, Politico and MS NOW from the White House grounds. On Thursday a federal judge ordered their credentials restored, saying the ban broke their right to fair process. The White House then pulled CNN from the TV pool. The pool restarted on Friday when CNN returned, but CNN was blocked again on Saturday. CNN and MS NOW have also said they were denied access to the state dinner for China's president.

The press pool is how the public sees what a president does. When networks are blocked, voters get less direct news about their government.