The outlets argued the ban is punishment for coverage they do not like, and that their passes were pulled without real notice or a chance to respond. They want access kept in place while the case runs. The White House argued the ban is about national security and reporting it says spread falsehoods, and that the outlets were given a written chance to answer and did not take it.
Kelly called the national-security defense an uphill climb, because Trump's own words pointed to the coverage, not security. He said due process is probably the government's biggest hurdle. A longer ruling could come Tuesday or sooner.
USA TODAY on the judge's extension.
This is the second round for the judge. Kelly issued the first temporary order in September, lifting the ban for two weeks so he could hear arguments on whether a longer block is needed. The ban started with Trump's September 18 social media post, where he announced he was banning CNN, MS NOW and Politico over what he called unfavorable coverage — though the outlets say they only got formal notice through letters sent four days later. That gap between the announcement and the notice is part of what made Kelly skeptical of the due-process claims from the start.