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This week a federal judge This week a federal judge granted CNN's request for emergency relief, restoring the press

credential that the Trump administration took away from Jim Acosta, CNN's chief

White House correspondent.

The White House's decision to revoke Acosta's press credential generated an intense debate

over Trump's attacks on the press and the White House's ability to regulate the conduct of journalists.

Is Trump undermining the First Amendment?

What can be done to protect the freedom of the press?

Let's get on topic. Welcome to On Topic, a weekly in-depth look at a topic that helps us understand the week's news.

My name is Renata Mariati. I'm a former federal prosecutor and a

CNN legal analyst and I'm joined by my friend Patty Vasquez, a comedian and

WGM radio host who will join us regularly on this podcast.

So Patty I have to say it's rare that CNN is the news of the week.

Usually CNN reports on the news of the week, but I will say this week there

was a lot of attention that was paid to this battle over a Jim Acosta's access to the White House briefing room because the implications were significant.

You know, the Trump administration liked to point out that other CNN journalists were still in the room.

But if the president and the White House can determine which journalists that it allows

in, essentially what it can do is punish journalists who are being aggressive or are calling out the

administration. Well Ranao you talked about whether or not this is an attack on the

First Amendment and obviously people have conversations you know what you can and

can't say or whatever happened to our First Amendment

rights to say whatever we want, I don't have to be politically correct.

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