ON DEADLINE: A federal judge in Washington ruled that the White House ejection of news outlets CNN, MSNOW, and Politico was likely unconstitutional and ordered the restoration of their press credentials.

  Judge Timothy Kelly in a 14-day restraining order told the White House to “immediately return, reinstate, and restore” the press credentials held by employees of the three outlets. Kelly rejected administration claims that banning the three news organizations was a matter of national security.

  Lawyers for the news organizations had argued in a hearing yesterday that they were selectively punished for the content of their reporting, a violation of their First Amendment rights.

  Administration lawyer Michael Velchik argued that that the outlets were embracing an “absurd interpretation of the First Amendment,” mistakenly believing they could “knowingly publish classified information” while still enjoying “privileged access to the White House complex.”

  Trump in his announcement banning the news organizations didn’t say anything about national security or classified documents. He complained about the “Fake News” and that “Media Outlets shouldn’t be able to constantly write or report FICTION and LIES.” He did not specify what fiction and lies have been reported.

WAR OF WORDS: As Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian spoke to the UN General Assembly accusing America of committing war crimes in his country, representatives of both countries were dealing through intermediaries to discuss a resumption of peace talks.

  From the podium, though, Pezeshkian said his country would defend itself until “its last breath” and would not give up its civilian nuclear program. He is believed to be the first leader of a country at war with the US to be in this country and address the General Assembly.

  While also leaving the door open for diplomacy, Pezeshkian said, “Iran must be powerful to avoid being threatened, to avoid its future being threatened.” He said, “Our defensive systems have been built so that no one can think that bombing Iranian cities will go unanswered.”

— Also speaking to the General Assembly, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Russia’s “ridiculous and never-ending war” on his country could soon spread to other parts of Europe if pressure is not brought on Moscow to force a peace agreement before the fighting enters another bitter winter. Zelensky said the war has caused grain shortages, higher fuel prices and an international arms race to create ever more deadly warfare drones. 

  Joining the chorus about the dangers of artificial intelligence, Zelensky said,  “As early as next year, there is a real possibility that AI, not only people, will decide what happens on the battlefield. We need peace before we reach that point.”

INFINITE SCROLL: 

— Chinese President Xi Jinping is in Washington for his first state visit since 2018.  Beneath the pomp and circumstance is  tension over China’s desire to take Taiwan and China’s control of major deposits of rare earth metals required for modern technology, including sophisticated weapons.

  Also on the agenda could be China’s detention of two American citizens the US says were wrongfully detained on accusations of espionage.

— A judge in Iowa dismissed President Trump’s lawsuit against The Des Moines Register that claimed he was damaged by a poll published before the 2024 election that said he was trailing Kamala Harris among Iowa voters by three points. Trump’s lawsuit claimed “brazen election interference.”

  Trump, however, won the state by double digits while also winning the presidency.

   Polls always come with a margin of error and Judge Scott Beattie ruled that the press has a right to be wrong.  “Reporting such a poll during a presidential and congressional election year is speech about a matter of public concern, occupying the summit of the pyramid of First Amendment values,” Beattie said. “The First Amendment has its fullest and most urgent application to speech uttered during a campaign for political office.”

— The Navy admits that eight sailors out of the crew of 5,000 aboard the USS Lincoln aircraft carrier attempted suicide during the ship’s 300-day deployment. One sailor attempting to kill himself went overboard but was rescued.

  While the Lincoln was still at sea President Trump was asked whether the deployment was too long and he replied, “Not nearly long enough.” 

  New York Democratic Sen. Kirsten Hillibrand said, “That this administration can find endless taxpayer dollars for bombs, ballrooms and billionaires, but cannot take care of our service members, is completely unacceptable.”

— First Lady Melania Trump told Fox News that she will be appearing in a two-part documentary series later this year that she described as “exciting.”

THE SPIN RACK: A powerful nor’easter storm is gathering strength along the East Coast, pounding beaches with high surf and threatening coastal flooding, wind, and rain to parts of the Northeast through the weekend. — The online retailer eBay is banning sales of expensive automobile airbags and many airbag parts because they are often stolen. — Camp Mystic in Texas, the girls’ summer camp where 28 people died in July of 2025 during massive flooding in the Hill Country, is under investigation by the Texas Rangers for possible criminal charges. The Rangers have served 14 search warrants on the family owners and staff members that run the camp. 

BELOW THE FOLD: Right wing opinionator Tucker Carlson told NPR that in a conversation with President Trump in which he expressed doubts about the war with Iran Trump responded, “We’ll all die anyway.”

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