DOJ Investigates Five Networks Over Press Pool Boycott

The Justice Department is investigating ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox News and NBC over their brief suspension of shared White House press-pool coverage after the administration barred reporters from CNN, Politico and MS NOW. The department says coordinated boycotts by competing businesses can violate the Sherman Act and has reportedly sought communications about the decision; coverage later resumed, and the inquiry does not establish that any network broke the law. The excluded outlets sued, and a federal judge temporarily blocked the restrictions. Critics say excluding news organizations because of their reporting threatens First Amendment protections, while the DOJ probe focuses on whether broadcasters’ collective response violated antitrust law.