MS NOW says it "intends to take any and all steps necessary" to defend its First Amendment rights
News network, in a statement posted by MS NOW Public Relations and reported in its own story
“MS NOW intends to take any and all steps necessary to defend our First Amendment rights and the essential role of independent journalism in our democracy.”
Source and context
Original post
About this source
Post from MS NOW's communications account introducing the statement, which is attached as an image with no alt text; the wording used here is taken from MS NOW's own story. Created 12:10:00 UTC (8:10 AM EDT) on September 19, 2026.
Reporting
About this source
MS NOW's own news story, with page metadata showing publication at 11:15 AM EDT and last modification at 1:06 PM EDT Saturday (edits between 11:37 AM and 1:06 PM EDT changed only sidebar items). The page was rewritten during the day: the browser title still reads 'MS NOW journalists denied entry to White House on day after Trump bans them in First Amendment test' while the current headline names all three outlets. MS NOW is a party; the story carries its spokesperson statement. The story calls the second MS NOW staff member a cameraman, where CNN and AP call the person a photographer.
Reporting
About this source
CNN Business story first published 3:40 PM EDT on September 18, 2026 and last modified 10:12 PM EDT (page metadata), read in full on cnn.com. CNN is one of the three outlets, so its account of its own staff is an outlet's account.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
MS NOW had no immediate comment on Friday. On Saturday morning, White House correspondent Akayla Gardner told MS NOW that when she scanned her press badge at the White House gate it beeped and she was asked to hand it over.
After the quotation
The statement continued, "We stand firmly behind our anchors, our reporters, and our newsroom." Gardner said MS NOW's journalists had been able to work on the White House grounds on Friday.
How this statement is classified
Case context: Should President Trump bar CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House over their coverage?
The label describes this statement’s response within the context above.
Why this label?
The case's fixed reference point is President Trump's announcement on September 18, 2026 that CNN, MS NOW and Politico are banned from the White House because of their coverage, as reaffirmed in the Oval Office that afternoon. MS NOW contests the exclusion, committing to any and all steps to defend its rights after its journalists were turned away at the gate. The closest competing label is explicitly_declines, because MS NOW had no immediate comment on Friday. That loses because on Saturday it issued this statement, which takes a position against the exclusion.
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Should President Trump bar CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House over their coverage?
Explore the case context, sources and public responses.
More from this case
Read the full caseThe White House
“The White House declined to comment further Saturday, referring NBC News to Trump’s previous comments.”Read statement
Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression
“When the White House opens its doors to the press, it must comply with the First Amendment. The president is as free as any other person to criticize media coverage. But he can’t ban outlets from the White House just because he doesn’t like their reporting or commentary.”Read statement
Freedom of the Press Foundation
“It’s difficult to imagine a more blatant violation of the First Amendment than Trump banning news outlets from the People’s House for criticizing the government. It’s also hard to imagine a dumber move.”Read statement