Armed federal agents recently arrested Dr. David Morens, strip-searched him, and charged him with crimes that could carry decades in prison — all for allegedly using his personal email to try and evade Freedom of Information Act requests. From @theintercept.com and @freedom.press:

The US has taken de facto control of Venezuela’s oil industry, but details of the arrangement are hidden. A series of FPF FOIA requests targets this secrecy, which threatens to entrench the US in the deeply corrupt industry. Read more in The Classifieds:

"That’s the real danger: making it so FOIA evasion is only a crime if the administration has a score to settle," writes @laurenleharper.bsky.social, @freedom.press’s Daniel Ellsberg Chair on Government Secrecy.

New White House guidelines try to make previously mandatory preservation rules discretionary, signaling "an attempt to privatize the American story," FPF's @laurenleharper.bsky.social said on @npr.org's 1A: Listen to the rest ⬇️

Some people leave prison quieter. Others return determined to speak out loud. Read this moving article by Ahmed Shihab-Eldin, the journalist recently freed from a Kuwaiti prison after nearly two months behind bars.

SLAPP suits pose a serious threat to press freedom. Learn how free speech bullies use the court system to silence everyday people in this TEDx talk from Laura Prather: "How legal bullying works—and how to protect yourself."

Given the Trump admin’s "open hostility to journalism and its novel legal tactics to attack the press, it’s entirely possible that the next target of financial censorship could be a news outlet," @reitman.bsky.social, FPF board president, wrote in @theintercept.com.

In not so great news, local freelance journalist Nick Stern @plasticjesusart.bsky.social, who was arrested on May Day by LAPD, just had his car stolen, with many important bits of gear and PPE inside. The licks just keep on coming—sharing a GoFundMe here for those who might want to support him

The US has taken de facto control of Venezuela’s oil industry, but details of the arrangement are hidden. A series of FPF FOIA requests targets this secrecy, which threatens to entrench the US in the deeply corrupt industry. Read more in The Classifieds:

We’re demanding records on Paramount's capitulation to Trump because shareholders are entitled to know when the government leverages corporate transactions to meddle in editorial decisions. Read from @megjames.bsky.social and @bwieder.bsky.social about our letter:

Dear DOJ, I have a long list of obstructionist FOIA officers -- past and present -- for you to pursue! theintercept.com/2026/05/09/d...

The Espionage Act has been used for decades to target journalists and whistleblowers who expose wrongdoing. Use our action center tool to tell lawmakers to pass the Daniel Ellsberg Press Freedom and Whistleblower Protection Act and reform the archaic law.

The U.S. Virgin Islands is the site of news of both local and national importance, from military facilities to “Epstein Island.” But its public records and open meetings laws are badly outdated. Use our action center to tell local lawmakers to modernize its transparency laws.

The same warrantless surveillance tactics being used in immigration sweeps could be turned against journalists and their sources. Congress should pass the Government Surveillance Reform Act and close the data broker loophole.

We commend ABC for standing up for itself and the First Amendment. It’s about time outlets start telling Brendan Carr to kick rocks. Otherwise, he’ll continue making bogus pretexts to harass and jawbone licensees that air content his boss doesn’t like.

Given the Trump admin’s "open hostility to journalism and its novel legal tactics to attack the press, it’s entirely possible that the next target of financial censorship could be a news outlet," @reitman.bsky.social, FPF board president, wrote in @theintercept.com.

Given the Trump admin’s "open hostility to journalism and its novel legal tactics to attack the press, it’s entirely possible that the next target of financial censorship could be a news outlet," @reitman.bsky.social, FPF board president, wrote in @theintercept.com.

It’s great to see reporting on retaliation against incarcerated whistleblowers and news sources. But this kind of retaliation is certainly not limited to those who participate in reporting about Jeffrey Epstein’s accomplices — it happens all the time and should be covered regularly.

🔔 Join us for a conversation with a group of former federal FOIA officials to learn about the current transparency landscape, featuring @kevinhbell.bsky.social, Michael Sarich, and Bobak Talebian, and Ginger Quintero-McCall. 🗓️ Friday, May 15, 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT RSVP: freedom.press/workin-foias

Dodging FOIA could now mean arrest and strip search, depending on who’s asking: The DOJ is now treating evading a records request as a crime, a stunning act of hypocrisy from the Trump administration. Read @laurenleharper.bsky.social’s latest article in @theintercept.com:

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 ⬇️

The DOJ is now treating evading a records request as a crime, a stunning act of hypocrisy from the Trump administration.

“That’s the real danger: making it so FOIA evasion is only a crime if the administration has a score to settle.” My latest for @theintercept.com:

Journalists reporting on this year’s World Cup: Make it your GOALLLLLLLLL to protect sensitive data when traveling. Read a few tips about how to score by securing your devices.

"We commend ABC for standing up for itself and the First Amendment. The legal theories the FCC asserts against broadcast licensees are frivolous and unconstitutional, and FCC Chair Brendan Carr knows it," FPF's @seth-stern.bsky.social said.

It’s great to see reporting on retaliation against incarcerated whistleblowers and news sources. But this kind of retaliation is certainly not limited to those who participate in reporting about Jeffrey Epstein’s accomplices — it happens all the time and should be covered regularly.

“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.

📩 Read in our weekly newsletter (and subscribe): - Exposing Paramount’s press freedom sellout - Investigating leaks, Kash Patel demands higher proof - Financial censorship of SPLC could impact the press next - Take action to modernize U.S. Virgin Islands public records laws

We commend ABC for standing up for itself and the First Amendment. It’s about time outlets start telling Brendan Carr to kick rocks. Otherwise, he’ll continue making bogus pretexts to harass and jawbone licensees that air content his boss doesn’t like.

Given the Trump admin’s "open hostility to journalism and its novel legal tactics to attack the press, it’s entirely possible that the next target of financial censorship could be a news outlet," @reitman.bsky.social, FPF board president, wrote in @theintercept.com.

Blocking donations to the SPLC based on this bogus indictment is wrong on every level. My new article in the Intercept: theintercept.com/2026/05/08/s...

In a highly unusual move, the Justice Department has indicted Dr. David Morens, a former senior scientific adviser at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, for conspiring to evade FOIA requests regarding COVID-19 research, from @freedom.press.

Please come watch our event! Please do not read into the implications of my being the only panelist on bsky!

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 ⬇️

🔔 Join us for a conversation with a group of former federal FOIA officials to learn about the current transparency landscape, featuring @kevinhbell.bsky.social, Michael Sarich, and Bobak Talebian, and Ginger Quintero-McCall. 🗓️ Friday, May 15, 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT RSVP: freedom.press/workin-foias

Shareholders are entitled to know when the government uses its leverage over corporate transactions to meddle in editorial decisions that the First Amendment leaves to the press. That’s why we’re demanding records on potentially corrupt Paramount acquisitions. freedom.press/issues/press...

Scoop: Two organizations that hold Paramount stock have sent a letter to the company's chief legal officer demanding to inspect records over concerns the Ellisons have agreed to compromise CNN to secure approval of its WBD merger. Details in @status.news: www.status.news/p/paramount-...

This is the worst possible time for presidential records to be hidden from the public. Use our action center to tell Congress: Presidential records are vital parts of the American story, and the Justice Department’s efforts to say otherwise are wrong.

@freedom.press, @rsf.org demand records on potentially corrupt Paramount acquisitions

Press groups demand records on potentially corrupt Paramount acquisitions

“What do I have to do … so I don’t get brutalized by LAPD?” An outsized number of press freedom aggressions in CA, continued restrictions on the press by the administration and more in our monthly newsletter from @pressfreedomtracker.us Managing Editor @kamccudden.bsky.social (and subscribe):

Update: Independent journalist Mickey Barker sued the city of Virginia Beach on April 28. His lawyer says he was unlawfully arrested while documenting effects of a curfew in its oceanfront area.

🔔 Join us for a conversation with a group of former federal FOIA officials to learn about the current transparency landscape, featuring @kevinhbell.bsky.social, Michael Sarich, and Bobak Talebian, and Ginger Quintero-McCall. 🗓️ Friday, May 15, 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT RSVP: freedom.press/workin-foias

Congress may pass a set of dangerous "kids online safety" bills that would censor online speech and harm press freedom, while doing little to protect children. Use our action center to tell Congress: No online censorship in the guise of child safety!

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:

Further proof that going on offense against the Trump administration's censorial bullying works. Take these clowns to court -- they lose regularly!

Barking up a storm to protect your sources? So are your four-legged friends like Kala! Show your love for whistleblowers and support @SecureDrop.org by grabbing a "Too cute to stay silent" bandana from our store: freedom-press-store.myshopify.com/products/sec...

“The fact the [ICE partnership] program is inherently tied to local communities and local policing, and ICE is giving local law enforcement a gag order, is a slap in the face of taxpayers and the public at large,” FPF's Lauren Harper told @thefloridatrib.bsky.social.

Join FPF's @laurenleharper.bsky.social on @npr.org's 1A tomorrow for a discussion about presidential records and our lawsuit with @citizensforethics.org to defend the Presidential Records Act. 🕚 11 a.m. ET/8 a.m. PT 📻 88.5 FM in D.C. metro area

Further proof that going on offense against the Trump administration's censorial bullying works. Take these clowns to court -- they lose regularly!