White House bans CNN, MS Now and Politico

What’s on screen and what’s said

Every word in the video, in order, with the Guardian article it comes from. On-screen labels are in small capitals; narrated lines are marked Narration.

Sound. Narration by a synthetic British voice (Kokoro’s “Emma”), generated offline, over a taut, rhythmic score in a minor key, with a steady pulse through the nine days. Stamps thud as the badges are switched off, falling notes as the TV pool goes dark and rising ones as it returns, and a rush of air for Air Force One. The rhythm stops for the closing quote, which is underscored by a few piano notes.

1. 0:00

   Title

   18–26 September 2026

2. 0:02

   Friday 18 September

   Trump bans three news outlets from the White House1

   CNN · MS Now · Politico1

   Press

   “constant ‘reporting’ FAKE NEWS!”1

   Donald Trump on Truth Social1

   Narration Donald Trump banned three news outlets from the White House.1

3. 0:06

   Saturday 19 September

   Their badges are switched off2

   Disabled2

4. 0:07

   Monday 21 September

   They sue.2

   The TV networks stop filming the president, in solidarity4

   Fox · ABC · CBS · CNN · NBC2

   The TV pool4

5. 0:10

   In court

   Government lawyers argue the ban protects national security3

6. 0:12

   Thursday 24 September

   A judge orders their access restored for 14 days3

   143

   days

   That night, CNN and MS Now reporters are kept out of a state dinner3

   Narration Despite a court order, CNN and MS Now reporters were kept out.3

7. 0:19

   Friday 25 September

   The TV pool starts filming again4

8. 0:20

   Saturday 26 September

   CNN is left off Air Force One5

   Air Force One · Tennessee5

   Narration Then the White House blocked CNN from Air Force One.5

9. 0:24

   Why it matters

   “This is about more than the rights of journalists”1

   Jacqui Heinrich, president of the White House Correspondents’ Association, 18 Sept1

10. 0:27

    End card