MS NOW Confirms Paula Reid as Chief White House Reporter Amid Press Access Legal Battle
MS NOW has officially hired former CNN veteran Paula Reid as its chief White House reporter, effective October 29, 2026. This high-profile addition strengthens the network’s independent newsroom as it expands coverage of the Trump administration. The hire coincides with an expanded federal lawsuit by MS NOW, CNN, and Politico against the White House for restricting press access despite a court order restoring credentials. Reid joins a growing team that includes other recruited journalists, marking a significant shift for the network following its separation from NBC News.
Key points
- Paula Reid begins her role as MS NOW’s chief White House reporter on October 29, 2026, per an internal memo from Washington Bureau Chief Sudeep Reddy.
- Reid previously served as CNN’s chief legal affairs correspondent and joined the network in 2021 after more than a decade at CBS News.
- MS NOW, CNN, and Politico expanded a federal lawsuit on October 28, accusing the Trump administration of continuing to restrict access to presidential events despite a judge’s order restoring press credentials.
- The network has added over 30 reporters and hundreds of newsroom positions in the past year, building its own infrastructure after nearly three decades of relying on NBC News.
- Reid will work alongside White House Director Scott Foster and a team including senior reporter Vaughn Hillyard and others.
Background
This hiring follows a period of intense conflict between the Trump administration and major news outlets. In late September 2026, the White House banned CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from covering events, citing 'fake news' reporting. A federal judge temporarily restored their credentials, but the administration continued to restrict access, including excluding CNN from Air Force One pool coverage. The legal dispute involves the Justice Department seeking to overturn a 50-year-old precedent on press due process. Additionally, Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison attended a White House state dinner despite the ongoing ban on his company’s news division, raising concerns about the pending merger with Warner Bros. Discovery.
Why it matters
The appointment of a veteran journalist like Paula Reid signals MS NOW’s commitment to building a robust, independent newsgathering operation. This move is critical as the network faces legal and physical barriers to covering the White House, highlighting the broader struggle for press freedom and access in the current political climate.
What to watch
MS NOW plans to continue investing in its journalism ahead of the midterm elections and the 2028 presidential race. The legal battle over White House press access is expected to continue, with the Justice Department potentially seeking to overturn the federal judge’s order restoring credentials for the affected outlets.
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