MED-009 · Press & media · Press access
Justice Department antitrust probe of TV networks over the press-pool suspension
Stage 1 of 5: Reported · News reporting only · Last development 10 Oct 2026
After the White House revoked press passes for CNN, MS NOW and Politico, the major TV networks suspended White House pool coverage in solidarity. In October 2026 the Justice Department's Antitrust Division confirmed it is investigating whether ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox and NBC broke antitrust law by jointly suspending that coverage.
CBS, the source, is one of the networks under investigation. DOJ says it is only investigating whether the law was broken; no charges or findings have been made. The legal process used has not been reported.
- People
- Justice Department Antitrust Division, ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox, NBC
- Agencies
- Justice Dept (Antitrust Division)
- Reviewed by
- None yet
Timeline
The Justice Department's Antitrust Division confirms it is investigating whether ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox and NBC violated antitrust law by jointly suspending White House pool coverage. [1]
Responses
- Justice Department (Emily Covington): "Group boycotts among commercial competitors can violate the Sherman Act." The division is "simply investigating to determine whether these news organizations have violated the antitrust laws." [1]
Sources
Cite this case
Public Trust Tracker. "Justice Department antitrust probe of TV networks over the press-pool suspension" (MED-009). Last updated 10 Oct 2026. https://publictrusttracker.org/case/med-009-justice-department-antitrust-probe-of-tv-networks-over-the/
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