Freedom of the Press Foundation

The same Trump billionaire buddy behind the CBS MAGA makeover is now coming for CNN. But presidents don't get to shape the news business. That’s why journalists are now standing up for editorial independence and objecting to the merger. @trevortimm.bsky.social explains:

A man best known for going after Trump’s political enemies is now the acting DNI — as Congress debates renewing a law already exploited to spy on Americans. That's bad news for press freedom, and for your privacy rights. @trevortimm.bsky.social explains:

Turns out, when you stand up to a bully, you win. News outlets are fighting back against Trump — and it’s working. ABC is standing up to the FCC. @nytimes.com is suing the Pentagon. @wsj.com is resisting subpoenas. All while his DOJ is losing again and again. @trevortimm.bsky.social explains:

Trump is abusing FISA Section 702 to spy on Americans — and deliberately concealing the truth to get it renewed. People deserve to know how a law is being used against them before it's reauthorized. Watch @trevortimm.bsky.social to find out how you can take action: freedom.press/fisa

Sharyn Alfonsi is out at @60minutes.bsky.social for standing up for editorial integrity. That's what press freedom looks like under the Ellisons — and that’s why we need to stop them from buying CNN and running the same playbook. @jimacosta.bsky.social and @karaswisher.bsky.social break it down.

The Paramount & Warner Bros. merger doesn’t make business sense because it isn’t about business — it’s about building corporate influence over the media that bends to the government. That's a threat to journalistic independence and the free press. Watch @karaswisher.bsky.social explain.

It's never been more important to stick up for press freedom in the United States. We at the Freedom of the Press Foundation are here to fight for those rights. Watch our Executive Director @trevortimm.bsky.social to learn more about our work, and find out how you can take action.

A Trump judicial pick ruled in his favor in a suit against the Pulitzer Prize Board — while seeking a federal nomination. Days later, the White House interviewed him for the job. That's why @freedom.press filed an ethics complaint. @seth-stern.bsky.social explains on @meidastouch.com:

Big court win against Trump for @freedom.press and @citizensforethics.org. A federal judge halted the White House effort to evade the Presidential Records Act — no president gets to claim America’s story belongs to them alone. Watch @laurenleharper.bsky.social explain. freedom.press/secrecy

The government is forcing tech companies to hand over journalists' data so it can spy on them. Fortunately, there are tools that can help, including @signal.org and @securedrop.org . Watch @trevortimm.bsky.social to find out how to stay one step ahead.

David Ellison is throwing press freedom under the bus for the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger. Why else be silent after Trump threatened bogus criminal investigations of the news outlet he wants to buy, even throwing a fancy dinner for Trump soon after? Watch @trevortimm.bsky.social explain.

Israel says it will sue @nytimes.com over Nicholas Kristof's reporting on the horrible torture of Palestinian prisoners. It's an absurd attack on press freedom meant to further shield any accountability. Watch us count the ways this lawsuit threat is both frivolous and outrageous.

Undeterred by soldiers, riot police & politicians, Amy Goodman of @DemocracyNow.org reports the truth others won't touch. “Steal This Story, Please!” is the film this moment demands. Watch @trevortimm.bsky.social explain and then follow the link to get your tickets: stealthisstory.org

Every outlet that fights back against Trump's press freedom threats wins. The only cases he's "won"? Two settlements that never saw a trial — that's not a win, that's a payoff. TV networks facing his FCC: Stop playing scared. You have a winning hand. @trevortimm.bsky.social explains:

“I am obviously, as a person, as a journalist with a record, concerned.” Watch CNN legend @camanpour.bsky.social raise concerns about Trump donor David Ellison’s takeover of the news network, citing the ongoing ‘ideological realignment’ at CBS, at @sirharrysummit.bsky.social on Wednesday.

The @pressfreedomtracker.us has recorded nearly 200 LAPD press freedom violations involving journalists. On May Day, reporters were handcuffed and struck with batons. With the World Cup coming to LA, FPF's @adamrose.bsky.social challenged LAPD to prevent an international incident. Watch ⬇️

FBI’s probe of Kash Patel reporting by The Atlantic's @sfitz787.bsky.social shows utter disregard for the First Amendment. It also exposes Patel’s argument as nonsense. If The Atlantic had “sham sources,” what is there to investigate? Fake sources can’t leak. @trevortimm.bsky.social explains:

FCC Chair Brendan Carr ordered a review of ABC TV licenses on the heels of a Jimmy Kimmel joke about Trump and the first lady. This is nothing but illegal jawboning. Watch @trevortimm.bsky.social explain why Disney should call their bluff and take the FCC to court.

It’s never been more important to stand up for press freedom in the United States. This World Press Freedom Day — and every day — Freedom of the Press Foundation is here to defend those rights. Watch @trevortimm.bsky.social to learn more about our work, and donate today: freedom.press/donate

“Here are a bunch of unarmed people with baby formula on a ship, and then there’s this elite navy who are just armed to the f — ing teeth ... there to intercept us,” @recolston.bsky.social told us in November about the last time he and other journalists were abducted by Israel from flotillas.

The House passed Section 702, allowing warrantless spying on Americans. But its fate remains uncertain as many senators from both sides of the aisle oppose it. Watch FPF’s @trevortimm.bsky.social to see who backed it — and how to pressure the Senate to reject it. freedom.press/fisa

“It’s not the role of the FCC or any other government agency to police any kind of speech,” FPF’s @adamrose.bsky.social tells the BBC News on Trump’s latest spat with Jimmy Kimmel, warning that government interference in late-night comedy and news threatens free speech and a free press.

Photographer @john-abernathy.bsky.social was violently arrested by federal officers in MN in January for covering a protest, despite repeatedly identifying himself as press. It’s an egregious affront to the First Amendment. Watch @trevortimm.bsky.social explain and follow @pressfreedomtracker.us.

The Fourth Amendment protects against warrantless searches. But government agencies are exploiting the “data broker loophole” to get around it. Congress can close this gap. Watch @trevortimm.bsky.social explain and tell your representative: No spying on Americans without a warrant.

Remember when the Trump administration pressured app stores to remove the ICEBlock app? It was a classic example of Trump’s favorite censorship move — jawboning. But a recent court case shows how media organizations can fight back. Watch FPF’s @trevortimm.bsky.social to find out more.

“Our relationship with the working media … I don't think is as good anywhere in the country,” claimed LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell. But journalists covering LA protests tell a different story. Watch FPF’s @adamrose.bsky.social push back, calling out repeated mistreatment of the press.

Congress is voting to renew FISA Section 702 — the dangerous surveillance law that lets the NSA and FBI search Americans’ calls and texts without a warrant. Watch @trevortimm.bsky.social explain, and TELL THEM: No spying on Americans without a warrant. Period. freedom.press/reform-section-702

Watch David Borenstein, who just won an Oscar for his documentary “Mr. Nobody Against Putin,” call out the dangers of the pending Paramount-WBD merger, and what it means for press freedom.

“The First Amendment’s guarantee of a free press means nothing if private concentrations of power can achieve the same suppressive effect as government censorship.” Journalist @katiephang.bsky.social testifies about how the Paramount-WMD merger poses a grave risk to press freedom.

How many public records requests are too many? According to one New Jersey school district, the answer is just 14 over a single year. And they’re suing a journalist over it. Watch @trevortimm.bsky.social to learn more — and take action: freedom.press/foia

Both Democrats and Republicans are hypocrites when it comes to Section 702 of FISA, the law that allows the government to spy on Americans’ communications without a warrant. It must be reformed NOW. Watch @trevortimm.bsky.social explain, and take action: freedom.press/reform-section-702

Even by Trump's standards, his recent attacks on the press are increasingly unhinged — threatening journalists with jail time and outlets with investigations for reporting on his disastrous war in Iran. Watch @trevortimm.bsky.social explain and subscribe: freedom.press/newsletters

For journalists working on sensitive stories, location data can expose sources or tip off the agencies they’re investigating. Watch this video to understand the risks and how to reduce them, and read our full guide below: freedom.press/limit-location-tracking

Trump's DOJ wants to scrap the Watergate-era law making presidential records public — effectively claiming the presidency owns the American story. We cannot let that happen. Watch @laurenleharper.bsky.social explain this bipartisan emergency, and find out how you can help: freedom.press/save-pra

Finally, some good news: Journalist Justin Pulliam won a press freedom case against a Texas sheriff after he was arrested in 2021 for filming a welfare check. This should be a lesson to local law enforcement who violate the rights of journalists doing their job. @trevortimm.bsky.social explains:

The ICE case against Nashville reporter Estefany Rodríguez is not just wrong — it also has huge implications for free speech. The Trump admin is suggesting in court that anyone who it deems an “unlawful alien” does not have any First Amendment rights at all. Watch @trevortimm.bsky.social explain.

A federal court recently upheld journalists' First Amendment rights by ruling that DHS used unlawful force against reporters at LA immigration protests last year. Watch @adamrose.bsky.social explain, and if you're a journalist facing a press freedom violation, contact @pressfreedomtracker.us.

LAPD obstructed, threatened, and arrested journalists covering the No Kings 3 protests — violating a federal injunction. Watch @adamrose.bsky.social — who was on the ground in LA that day — explain, and if you're a journalist facing a press freedom violation, contact @pressfreedomtracker.us

Trump, once a vocal critic of FISA Section 702, is now pushing to reauthorize it. Section 702 allows the government to spy on Americans' communications without a warrant — and it must be reformed. Watch @trevortimm.bsky.social explain and find out how you can help: freedom.press/reform-section-702

What was once a fringe legal theory cooked up by Texas police to muzzle a local reporter is now being mirrored by the Trump administration to chip away at constitutional protections for basic journalistic practices. Watch @trevortimm.bsky.social explain, and subscribe: freedom.press/newsletters

It turns out, when news outlets actually challenge the Trump administration in court, they win. After @nytimes.com sued the Pentagon over its ridiculous loyalty pledge, a federal judge struck down the restrictions as violating the First Amendment. Watch @trevortimm.bsky.social explain.

Section 702 lets the government spy on Americans’ communications without a warrant. Now Congress is debating renewing it for several years. We must not let that happen without major reforms. Watch @trevortimm.bsky.social explain and learn how you can help: freedom.press/reform-section-702