Justice probe into TV networks rests on thin legal grounds, legal experts say

Posted Tuesday, October 13, 2026 10:47 am

Miriam Waldvogel and Scott Nover | The Washington Post

During the second Trump administration, major news outlets and their journalists have been sued, searched or subpoenaed by the president and his administration and kicked out of the White House.

The Justice Department’s antitrust investigation into five major television networks is the latest, and one of the starkest, escalations yet of the administration’s approach toward taking action against the news media — and rests on thin legal grounds, according to experts on media and antitrust law interviewed Sunday.

The Justice Department confirmed Saturday it was conducting an antitrust probe into the networks over their decision last month to pause participating in pooled video coverage of the president.

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Justice probe into TV networks rests on thin legal grounds, legal experts say

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