Live updates: Trump media ban returns to court; WH science summit includes awards for Musk, Huang

CNN, MS NOW and Politico’s lawsuit against the Trump administration’s ban of the media outlets on White House grounds returns to D.C. federal court on Thursday morning. Despite a judge’s ruling two weeks ago that the outlets should be allowed in the complex for pool duties, the president has blocked them routinely.

Trump on Wednesday night doubled down on his comments suggesting Iran could hit Los Angeles and San Diego during a rally in San Antonio, adding that the U.S. would not let such a scenario play out. California leaders lashed out at the president after he suggested at a rally in Nebraska on Monday that the cities could be targets if Tehran developed a nuclear weapon.

On Thursday, the White House will hold a science summit. While is expected to unveil initiatives to strengthen America’s hand in evolving technologies, Trump is set to award trillionaire tech mogul Elon Musk with the National Medal of Science.

Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has worked closely with Trump throughout his second administration. Last week, he was among several AI industry leaders to sign the new “morally binding” self-policing pledge . Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, who was also among the signees, will receive a national honor during the summit, The Hill’s broadcasting partner, NewsNation, confirmed Wednesday evening. The event is slated to begin at 1:30 p.m. EDT.

Later Thursday, Georgia Senate candidates Mike Collins (R) and Sen. Jon Ossoff (D) will face off in a televised debate, scheduled for 7 p.m. EDT. As of Oct. 3, nonpartisan election forecaster Decision Desk HQ has the Democratic incumbent nine points ahead of his challenger.

Nexstar’s WOOD-TV is also hosting a forum between Michigan Senate hopefuls Abdul El-Sayed (D) and former GOP Rep. Mike Rogers (Mich.). Trump, who endorsed Rogers, blasted the progressive as “radical.”