I had a great chat with @masnick.com about my new book, the role financial companies should play in policing online speech, starting @freedom.press, and jawboning. Listen to the Tech Dirt podcast on your player of choice or at this link: www.techdirt.com/2026/03/31/t...

“The Federal Defendants fail to cite a single case in which a court has ever upheld a statute or executive action that bars a particular person or entity from participating in any federally funded activity based on that person or entity’s past speech.”

Anyone here at #ONA26 who actually wants to talk about Bluesky? #ONA2026 @journalists.org

“With few exceptions, Western news outlets did not report on the events on the day they occurred—the latest instance of Israel’s well-documented targeting of journalists and health workers in Lebanon and Gaza.” More in @columjournreview.bsky.social:

“We have seen a disturbing pattern in this war and in the decades prior of Israel accusing journalists of being active combatants and terrorists without providing credible evidence. Journalists are not legitimate targets, regardless of the outlet they work for.”

Israel now murders journalists and acknowledges it, because it can just get away with it with complete impunity. On Saturday, it targeted a reporter for Hezbollah’s al-Manar TV--alongside two other journalists--who has been a war correspondent for three decades.

NEW: On the first day of the war with Iran, the United States used a new ballistic missile. It was untested in combat. Our analysis shows it struck a sports hall, an elementary school, and residential areas — killing at least 21 people, including children. w/ @johnismay.bsky.social

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.

About 35mins combined for wait in line and through security this afternoon at LGA, Terminal C/Delta. Most ID checks and checkpoints staffed by federal immigration police (for an internal flight). This shouldn’t be normalized.

Lol

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

LIVE NOW: Join us for a conversation about the Trump administration’s escalating attacks on the First Amendment, featuring @freepress.bsky.social’s @attorneynora.bsky.social, @knightcolumbia.org’s @jameeljaffer.bsky.social, and @aclu.org’s Ben Wizner, moderated by FPF’s @laurenleharper.bsky.social.

Trump wants YOU in a massive, secret government database, fully searchable by AI. So at @freedom.press, we are suing the administration for documents behind it. Watch our @trevortimm.bsky.social explain, and show your support: freedom.press/donate

Big new: A judge has ruled that ICE can’t ignore FOIA because of a lapse in funding and must produce records in response to a @freedom.press FOIA lawsuit. That’s great news, in no small part because the records will shed light on obfuscation of congressional oversight of ICE detention facilities.

Friday, federal prosecutors dropped charges related to a January church protest against a woman who argues she was never there. Attorneys for three defendants argued that prosecutors knew those charges were false and declined to tell the court before asking for more time to turn over evidence.

It’s up to news networks to stand up to the bullshit threats from the FCC and its commissioner. Bring a lawsuit, it's an easy win. “The giant corporations should make it their business to defend the First Amendment, or stay the heck out of the news business altogether.”

The Supreme Court's refusal to intervene here is an absolute travesty for press freedom rights.

When historians look back on any erosion of First Amendment rights from this era, it will not just be the fault of Trump, but also the news outlets themselves who failed to stand up for their own rights. Kudos to the @nytimes.com. Sad how many others are cowards. www.nytimes.com/2026/03/20/u...

It's almost like this guy enjoys losing First Amendment cases and insists on doing so on the dumbest facts possible. Maybe station owners who didn't want to rock the boat when he threatened news will grow a spine now that he's messing with real money.

This clown named Hegseth whines during a Pentagon briefing that reporters “call into question every step.” No shit?! That’s the definition of journalism, Pete. This is like confusing reporting with cheerleading—and getting mad when it isn’t.

It turns out, when news outlets aggressively fight back against blatant press freedom restrictions, they will win. (Attention: every network under the FCC’s jurisdiction.) www.nytimes.com/2026/03/20/b...

It’s shocking that this sweeping prior restraint was the official policy of our federal government and that Department of Justice lawyers had the nerve to argue that journalists asking questions of the government is criminal. Read our full statement: freedom.press/issues/amid-...

NEW: This new report, from BBC, is the best takedown of the insanity of Trump you will see anywhere. Calm, coherent and repeating only Trump’s own words. Devastating. Brilliant work once again from Roz Atkins. (🎥 BBC News)

After 10 weeks of a U.S. oil blockade, Cuba's grid is near collapse. Russia may be sending a lifeline: a state-owned tanker full of crude. But a Chinese-owned tanker, spooked by U.S. threats, abandoned its Cuba delivery and is now looking for a buyer elsewhere. w/ @jacknicas.bsky.social

Small publishers hit hardest by search traffic declines, @axios.com reports based on Chartbeat data.

The Trump administration is firing FOIA officials for lawfully releasing docs in response to public records requests. This should outrage anyone who cares about government transparency. @freedom.press’s @trevortimm.bsky.social explains what this means for government secrecy: freedom.press/foia

FINALLY, a good week! Leqaa Kordia was released earlier in the week, and thankfully, Estefany Rodríguez was released today. Sigh of relief...

A great opportunity to be the next executive director of an awesome nonprofit. I served on the board of @rightsdissent.bsky.social years ago and I still donate because they are fearless, principled, and effective. Someone awesome should apply today. www.idealist.org/en/nonprofit...

Very looking forward to reading this book!

Denying a media request because a ranger would need to speak Spanish — under the guise of “English is the official language of the US” — is both wrong and dumb. NPS and @deptofinterior.bsky.social officials don’t get to pick their audiences. Ojalá que no vengan con esas pendejadas la próxima vez.

This is a great way for journalists without the budget to sue to deal with FOIA stonewalling. Report the news you’re able to report and explain why the government’s bad faith stopped you from reporting more. Don’t let them off the hook without public shaming.

It appears that the real reason for her warrantless arrest of Estefany Rodríguez is likely that she critically covered the Trump admin's immigration policies. The admin. has repeatedly retaliated against noncitizens — from op-ed writer Rümeysa Öztürk to Mario Guevara — for criticizing its policies.

Free Estefany Rodriguez from ICE: Tell Congress to speak out against federal detention of the Nashville, TN, journalist and any effort to deport her. Via @freedom.press

WOWOW!

Trump wants to put you in a massive, secret government database. Agencies are reportedly pooling immigration data, SSNs, and more for this purpose. We are suing the Trump administration to learn how deep it goes. Read more in this article by FPF’s @laurenleharper.bsky.social in @theintercept.com.

This is what ICE has done to journalist Estefany Rodriguez.

Good news via @theimeu.bsky.social: After one year in ICE detention, Leqaa Kordia is finally free! “The US government wrongfully targeted Leqaa for protesting Israel’s killing of her family in Gaza “No one should be targeted for calling for freedom, and no one should be subjected to ICE’s cruelty”

While a U.S.-Israel war is ravaging the Middle East, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and his staff are worried about “unflattering” photos. Pentagon briefings are supposed to inform the public — not serve as photo-ops.

USA: RELEASE DETAINED PROTESTER #FREELEQAA

We spoke with independent journalists @taliajane.bsky.social & @acatwithnews.bsky.social about how they’ve safely filmed federal agents in the field. Here’s how they did it, plus see our digital security recommendations so you can do so safely, too.

Pretty cool from our friends @rsf.org: To mark the World Day Against Cyber Censorship Thursday, they added a room to their virtual library in Minecraft that focuses on the U.S. We agree with them that even democracies need a reminder that they must defend themselves against attacks on the press.

TODAY: The Espionage Act has been used to criminalize whistleblowing and newsgathering for years. Join us for a webinar to learn about Rep. Rashida Tlaib's bill to reform the archaic law. 🕒 3 p.m. ET/12 p.m. PT RSVP: freedom.press/reform-espionage-act

Use our action center to tell Congress to speak out against ICE's detention of Nashville journalist Estefany Rodriguez and any effort to deport her. The administration has repeatedly retaliated against noncitizen journalists and others who criticize its policies.

Very normal: Like Hegseth had a bad hair day, so he banned photographers from briefing. From Signalgate to Hairgate. Very competent administration.

Very consistent and coherent and normal. Shideler called @signal.org a ‘hallmark of antifa’ before adding that he uses it himself.” theintercept.com/2026/03/09/p...

We are calling on ICE to immediately release journalist Estefany Rodriguez, who has covered immigration, including ICE actions, for the Spanish-language news site Nashville Noticias. Read the letter we signed with 40 other press freedom and civil society groups: www.freepress.net/news/coaliti...

Mahmoud Khalil writes a heart-wrenching letter to Palestinian activist Leqaa Kordia, who has been unjustly detained by ICE for nearly a year for exercising her right to protest. The 33-year-old Kordia has lived in the U.S. for nearly a decade. #FreeLeqaa

Coalition of 41 press-freedom groups, incl. @freedom.press and @freepress.bsky.social, calls for immediate release of Nashville-based journalist Estefany Rodriguez arrested by ICE