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Justice Department Investigates Television Networks Over Press Pool Boycott
Just the facts
The United States Department of Justice opened an antitrust investigation into whether broadcast networks illegally colluded by pausing joint press pool coverage. The press pool provides shared video feeds and reporting from White House events to participating domestic and international news organizations. Investigators are reviewing communications among network executives regarding the coordinated boycott. Broadcasters maintained that the collective stance was taken in response to access restrictions imposed against specific credentialed news outlets.
Why this is news
Major television networks temporarily suspended pool coverage of President Donald Trump after the White House barred reporters from CNN, MS Now, and Politico from presidential events.
Sources
This summary is compiled strictly from the original reporting below.