ICYMI: Republican AG Group Cuts Ties with Leonard Leo, Brings in $10.1 Million in First Half of 2025

“Viral social media videos... not only spread misinformation, but also undermine public safety," said DHS spox Tricia McLaughlin today. Does that include social media videos on DHS violence against journalists?

If DHS can violently attack journalists and citizen observers without any consequences, none of us are safe anywhere in the country. #protest #LAProtests #PressFreedom #ProtectJournalists

A June 2 email from RLDF’s then President to RAGA members obtained by CMD shows that Bondi has set up a State Attorneys General Task Force to work with her & the DOJ to “focus on addressing different criminal and civil issues via state statutes & regulations, in concert with enforcing federal codes”

They just tear-gassed us. They tried to run us over in a van holding a peaceful protester. They shot us with pepper balls. They dragged another protester into the facility.

NEW investigation from the Center for Media and Democracy reveals that the Republican Attorneys General Association (RAGA) has cuts ties with Christian Right activist/funder Leonard Leo and brought in $10.1 million in the first half of 2025. Read more 👇

NEW: The Republican Attorneys General Association brought in $10.1 mil in contributions in the first six months of 2025, its latest IRS filing examined by the Center for Media and Democracy shows. The haul is $1.3 mil larger than what the pay-to-play group raised in the first half of 2023.

DHS and local law enforcement in Los Angeles have been systematically injuring journalists amid a broader crackdown. Watch our investigation here:

Shocking violence against journalists and observers at anti-ICE protests in LA threatens all of our rights. #protest #LAProtests #PressFreedom #ProtectJournalists

“I know these people. These are people who are suffering broken ribs, gashed open fingers, concussions. Our democracy depends on an informed public, and you don’t have an informed public without a free press.” – Adam Rose, LA Press Club #protest #LAProtests #PressFreedom #ProtectJournalists

WATCH: Important coverage from the Center for Media and Democracy about the repression journalists are facing from local and federal law enforcement simply for doing their jobs. ⬇️

The LA Press Club has logged more than one hundred incidents of law enforcement misconduct since June 6th, including one where a journalist was held by the LAPD for four days without charges. #protest #LAProtests #PressFreedom #ProtectJournalists

In the past few weeks, we've been extensively covering the Trump administration's crackdown on press freedom. This video sums it up. Journalists have been repeatedly injured at protests against ICE activity, by both federal and local law enforcement. Watch here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CNj...

“I've covered protests around the world for three decades, and the law enforcement violence at anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles is as bad as in some conflict zones. It's a clear violation of journalists' First Amendment rights.” – Nick Stern, freelance photojournalist

Attacks on the press are attacks on the public's right to know. DHS, LAPD, and other law enforcement must be held accountable for their brazen and repeated violations of the First Amendment.

Federal judge orders DHS and LAPD to cease “indiscriminate” use of violence against journalists and observers at anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles. #protest #LAProtests #PressFreedom #ProtectJournalists

watch this ⬇️

Shocking violence against journalists and observers at anti-ICE protests in LA threatens all of our rights. #protest #LAProtests #PressFreedom #ProtectJournalists

A great piece on our recent legal battles in Los Angeles. Nick did a great job explaining the importance of this issue:

NEW: Internal report reveals DHS intelligence portal was accidentally opened to tens of thousands of users for months, exposing sensitive intel about Americans. @brennancenter.org obtained the docs. @wired.com has the story. 🧵 www.wired.com/story/a-dhs-...

If DHS can violently attack journalists and citizen observers without any consequences, none of us are safe anywhere in the country. #protest #LAProtests #PressFreedom #ProtectJournalists

As DHS fire less-lethal munitions at reporters and harass observers, they claim those filming are the source of violence. According to Kristi Noem, anyone exercising their 1st amendment right to film law enforcement is engaging in violence. From @matthewccook5.bsky.social: trib.al/SnE35MZ

A federal district court judge in LA issued a sweeping preliminary injunction Wednesday barring DHS officers from “dispersing, threatening, or assaulting” journalists or legal observers, or using crowd control weapons on or shooting projectiles at anyone who doesn’t “pose a threat of imminent harm.”

As a scholar of violence and nonviolence I am used to thinking broadly about what constitutes violence beyond what is considered a standard definition. But this is whack, filming the state being violent is an act of resistance, not violence.

Some weekend Prospect for you: Homeland Security officers have been banned from “dispersing, threatening, or assaulting” journalists or legal observers in a ruling out of Los Angeles. Co-published with our friends at @exposedbycmd.bsky.social. prospect.org/justice/2025...

ICYMI: DHS's Tricia McLaughlin told the Center for Media and Democracy that “videotaping ICE law enforcement and posting photos and videos of them online is doxing our agents,” and added: “We will prosecute those who illegally harass ICE agents to the fullest extent of the law.”

NEW: President Trump’s Department of Homeland Security claims that making and posting videos of ICE agents as they disappear tens of thousands of immigrants from America’s streets, workplaces, and courtrooms without due process is an act of “violence” to be dealt with accordingly.

In our new report, DHS claims that videotaping ICE is "violence," amid violence against reporters doing their jobs. www.exposedbycmd.org/2025/09/09/d...

In a big reversal from their usual faux-masculinity, ICE is now claiming that videotaping their actions is “violence.” That’s quite embarrassing, but it’s also a serious attack on the freedom of the press. From @matthewccook5.bsky.social with @exposedbycmd.bsky.social:

DHS doubles down in statement to me that videotaping ICE is "violence." prospect.org/justice/2025...

The Department of Homeland Security has threatened to prosecute journalists or citizens filming and posting videos of ICE agents as they disappear immigrants as an act of “violence.” Here's the story, co-published with @exposedbycmd.bsky.social. prospect.org/justice/2025...

"A people who cannot remember their past are a people who cannot resist a fascist future."

NEW: The right-wing State Policy Network and its affiliates have an overall combined revenue of $270 million, according to an analysis by the Center for Media and Democracy of the latest publicly available IRS filings. This marks a 77% increase since CMD last reported on SPN’s core finances in 2022.

NEW: An outside group funded by GOP billionaire and Christian Right activist Richard Uihlein is running radio attack ads to influence this year’s race for attorney general in Virginia.

Would You Trust This Man With Your Elections?

As Utah expands energy production, EnerguySolutions is buying lawmakers memberships to ALEC, a conservative group pushing policy in nuclear’s direction.

The #FirstAmendment gives journalists the right to report freely, without fear of violence. A new lawsuit against DHS demands justice for targeted attacks by federal agents against reporters. We must protect press rights and accountability.

Since Trump deployed troops to Los Angeles, federal and local law enforcement have repeatedly assaulted journalists and protesters, per a new lawsuit. More: rollingstone.com/politics/pol...

here's the link at @exposedbycmd.bsky.social www.exposedbycmd.org/2025/08/19/p...

I covered explosive new allegations in lawsuits against DHS, for @rollingstone.com and @exposedbycmd.bsky.social www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...

NEW: In the weeks since Trump targeted American cities for “the single largest Mass Deportation Program in history” & deployed U.S. troops to the streets of Los Angeles, federal & local law enforcement officers have repeatedly assaulted & seriously injured journalists, legal observers, & protesters.

NEW: State legislatures seem to be obsessed with squatters these days — and the corporate-dominated American Legislative Exchange Council has played a major role in advancing legislation to crack down on them.

NEW: We took a deep-dive look at ALEC's role in coordinating a crackdown on squatting. www.exposedbycmd.org/2025/08/11/r...

I wrote about ALEC's role in our present housing dystopia, for @rollingstone.com and @exposedbycmd.bsky.social www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...

Several conservative states have recently cracked down on squatting despite no evidence of a crisis. Some of the legislation resembles a model bill drafted by the right-wing American Legislative Exchange Council. Story: www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...

“There’s no real evidence of any significant squatting crisis despite what the industry claims,” says Eric Dunn, director of litigation at the National Housing Law Project (NHLP). More: www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...

NEW: Through an analysis of hundreds of IRS filings, CMD has been able to identify the sources of $21.5 million that is bankrolling the GOP gerrymandering guru responsible for engineering new Texas maps. www.exposedbycmd.org/2025/08/07/p...

In August, we are supporting 3 wonderful nonprofits: @exposedbycmd.bsky.social, @csldf.org and @natabortionfed.bsky.social. You can vote on how the donations are allocated between the groups at www.credodonations.com

NEW: Who Funds ALEC? ALEC’s largest identifiable funder is the Milwaukee-based Bradley Foundation, which funneled $3.6 million into its coffers between 2019 and 2024. Some of the funds were used to bankroll ALEC CARE, the pay-to-play group’s controversial voter management campaign software.

ICYMI: ALEC Brings Voter Suppression Activities Out of the Dark and Coddles Fossil Fuel Industry at This Week’s Annual Meeting #ALECExposed #ALECideas #ALECinIndy