Judge restores reporter's White House pass

For the back story, see Friday, November 16th post, numbered paragraph 3.   President Trump didn't like CNN's Jim Acosta's challenging questions.  Instead of answering, Trump called him rude and a "terrible person."    Subsequently the White House press office took away Acosta's White House press credentials, even though he is CNN's chief White House correspondent.

CNN sued based on first amendment rights and lack of due process.   A judge heard arguments for a preliminary injunction, found in favor of CNN on the narrow grounds of due process, and ordered the credentials to be restored pending a full trial of the case.

So President Trump lost this round in his fight with the press.   But the basic question remains:   does the president get to decide which journalists can have access to the White House?    Trump claims that it is his right to choose who gets to come to WH news briefings and has easy access to come in to talk with WH staff.

In other words, whether Trump's actions violate the constitutional mandate for a free press remains to be litigated.    But Acosta's and CNN's right to be there was at least temporarily restored, which bodes well for the larger question.

The Founding Fathers deemed an unfettered free press vital enough in a democracy that they called it the "Fourth Estate," meaning that it is the fourth power along with the legislative, administrative, and judicial powers.   It is the free voice of the people.

To imagine what it would be like without a free press:   go to Russia -- or just imagine that right-wing radio and Fox's Sean Hannity and Tucker Carlson were our only news media.

Ralph