📩 Read in our weekly newsletter (and subscribe): - Covering protests is a dangerous job for journalists - Stop Heng Guan's deportation - The FCC’s declaration of dependence - Trump’s BBC lawsuit is nonsense, like his others - Plus, what we're reading...

oh that reminds me, the Espionage Act is a ticking time bomb that gives would-be authoritarians a potential tool to prosecute newspapers and sources they don't like ... see, e.g., scholarship.law.unc.edu/falr/vol19/i...

Excited to host this special screening of Cover-Up, Laura Poitras's new documentary on the legendary journalist Sy Hersh — just short listed for an Oscar yesterday! In NYC this Friday night: filmforum.org/events/event...

In 2025, @pressfreedomtracker.us documented at least 32 instances in which journalists were detained or charged — just for doing their jobs. Nearly 90% of them occurred while journalists were covering demonstrations. Read our annual arrest report:

ICE claims it has no bodycam footage of its Chicago operations, in response to our @freedom.press FOIA request. As the @nytimes.com reports, this contradicts its "sworn court testimony and the fact that it had previously submitted video footage to a judge." www.nytimes.com/2025/12/10/u...

Congratulations to the indefatigable @nsarchive.bsky.social on 40 years of clawing back the self-serving veil of government secrecy! We need organizations like yours now more than ever.

Great to see news orgs with a spine and fighting back. Our statement at @freedom.press on the @nytimes.com suing the Pentagon over its absurd and unconstitutional loyalty pledge: freedom.press/issues/appea...

i will be at mozfest with @trevortimm.bsky.social - come say hi!

Wired and 404 Media make FOIA reporting free. Other news outlets should too freedom.press/issues/wired...

📣THREAD: It’s surprising to me that so many people were surprised to learn that Signal runs partly on AWS (something we can do because we use encryption to make sure no one but you–not AWS, not Signal, not anyone–can access your comms). It’s also concerning. 1/

Griffith was found guilty of failure to disperse and fined $50. That's unconstitutional -- even the DOJ recognizes journalists' right to cover how law enforcement disperses protesters. But it also shows what a giant waste of taxpayer funds it is to prosecute journalists for doing their jobs.

We’re very excited to welcome @adamrose.bsky.social as our new deputy director of advocacy on the @freedom.press team! He’ll primarily focus on protecting local press freedom, so reach out if you’re a journalist who needs help.

Abusing FCC authority to pressure media outlets into censorship or bribes is plainly unconstitutional. But it turns out, it's also incredibly unpopular, even with the president's own supporters! www.nytimes.com/2025/09/30/p...

Your kitchen cabinets? A national security threat. Your favorite movie? Also a national security threat. Your favorite cocktail? Possibly a national security threat. Here’s our current top five list of the dumbest things officials have done, or hidden, ostensibly to protect national security.

The First Amendment protects your right to call Trump a fascist. You can say it on a street corner, wear it on a shirt in the courthouse, or even shout it in a crowded theater.

Government officials do not get to decide that your rights have become inconvenient or problematic. They are your rights. They are not privileges provided by the government and revocable at will.

Los Angeles Press Club press rights chair @adamrose.bsky.social graciously spent some time with me discussing the long history of violence against journalists in L.A. He also highlighted victories in lawsuits against DHS and the LAPD. Watch/listen here: thedissenter.org/las-long-his...

🔔 Join us to discuss first steps newsrooms need to take when ICE arrests a journalist, with @attorneynora.bsky.social, @scarletprim.bsky.social, @caitlinvogus.bsky.social, @writeralejandra.bsky.social, Samantha C. Hamilton, and Marium Uddin. 🕒 Sept. 15, 4 pm EDT RSVP: http://freedom.press...

I'm thrilled for this line in court order against LAPD. Officers at protests got away with shameful conduct for years, tarnishing badge and endangering others (including fellow officers). Subtle, but this puts officers on hook for discipline. Now we can prove they were aware this conduct is wrong.

BREAKING: Federal judge issues preliminary injunction against LAPD to restrict use of force on press. First line: "It is déjà vu all over again." Cities 25 year history. Judge in LA Press Club v. City of LA also issued injunction against DHS yesterday in LAPC v. Noem. Big wins!!! Full order:

"The idea of 'official' versus 'unofficial' press is a ridiculous invention, completely at odds with constitutional protections and civic norms." freedom.press/issues/journ...

A giant in the civil liberties field! We all owe a debt of gratitude to Cindy Cohn for her indelible leadership at @eff.org for so many years (and for being our legal counsel at @freedom.press since our founding in 2012).

traditionally prosecutors have had better luck charging the sandwich

One thing to note about this is that it was apparently a double-tap strike: Israel killed one journalist (among others) in the first strike, waited a few minutes, and then carried out a second strike that killed first-responders and other journalists. www.reuters.com/world/middle...

Our statement on Israel's killing of more journalists in #Gaza. "Israel’s killing of journalists continues while the world watches and fails to act firmly on the most horrific attacks the press has faced in recent history,” said CPJ’s Sara Qudah. “These murders must end now.” cpj.org/2025/08/at-l...

Punishing universities for "fighting back"--that is, for petitioning the courts for redress of grievances--would be a serious violation of the First Amendment even if Trump's broader campaign against the universities was lawful, which it isn't. www.nytimes.com/2025/08/19/u...

UPDATE: I just got one of the emails from DOE. I've screenshotted it below. It doesn't even reference a specific #FOIA request, just links to the Federal Register notice. Absolutely ridiculous.

And this was the precise purpose, to silence a journalist who was producing more than one man and a team have ever produced over this period of time and under these conditions

It almost feels quaint demanding an investigation and accountability at this point. Israel acts with absolute impunity, bragging about their crimes after the fact. Until world leaders grow a backbone, the wanton murder of journalists and civilians will never stop. www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblo...

We really appreciate the support! @freedom.press 🙏🙏🙏 We could use your support, please checkout the article at the link below to find out more and donate!

Without photojournalism, the news stays out of sight. @nppa.org fights to protect the lens that keeps the public informed. Their work is more important than ever, but they need your help. Read about their work and support them if you can.

The government that has killed more journalists than all other countries combined over the last few years shouldn’t be lecturing a newspaper about anything — let alone an obviously true story.

Very proud of @freedom.press for uncovering this. Also, this blog post is fascinating; it exposes a censorship tool I hadn't heard of before.

In June, I uncovered a Google vulnerability that was exploited to de-index legitimate articles from search. Google acknowledged it and introduced a universal fix. But also, there is a backstory about a SF tech exec., a domestic violence case, and a persistent censorship campaign. @freedom.press:

Recent law grads — we're now hiring for legal fellows to begin in Fall 2025. Our First Amendment rights are under daily assault. I hope you'll consider applying to work with us at @knightcolumbia.org to push back. knightcolumbia.org/page/legal-f...

In light of his frivolous lawsuits and record of vexatious litigation, @thefireorg.bsky.social is asking an Iowa court to require Donald Trump to post a $300,000 bond in his second lawsuit against J. Ann Selzer. www.thefire.org/research-lea...

My very favorite Times Insider was actually written by a Times Outsider: my husband, @trevortimm.bsky.social, after I used Apple AirTags, Tiles, and a GPS tracker to watch his every move. I think it was actually better than the original story. www.nytimes.com/2022/03/06/i...

The @nppa.org does an incredible job protecting the rights of press photographers and all journalists. They are in financial trouble right now and need help. Please support their work if you can.

A sad day for press freedom in the United States. This was a frivolous lawsuit and the payment being described as a “settlement” is more accurately labeled a payoff. Trump’s presidential library will be a permanent monument to Paramount’s surrender. www.nytimes.com/2025/07/02/b...

Strong statement from @jodieginsberg.bsky.social and @pressfreedom.bsky.social

Paramount has thrown its own respected journalists under the bus, along with countless other news outlets—who Trump will inevitably target for a shakedown next with his ridiculous and unconstitutional legal theories.

Paramount’s spineless decision to settle Trump’s patently unconstitutional lawsuit is an insult to the First Amendment and to the journalists and viewers of ‘60 Minutes.’ It's a dark day for press freedom. www.nytimes.com/2025/07/02/b...

ENGINEERING FRIENDS: This could turn out to be one of the most important jobs for the fate of Democracy. If you're a talented Engineering Manager and personally driven by mission for the betterment of America and the world, we need SecureDrop to remain a world-class product. Good peeps at FPF.

Paramount should read its own lawyers' brief—filed just two days ago. It explains how Trump's suit is totally without merit, how Trump cites no case law to back up his absurd claims, and how CBS is obviously protected by the 1st Amendment. It's quite good! deadline.com/wp-content/u...

If your law is good when there are good people in office, but dangerous when there are bad people in office, your law is bad.

I'm selfishly really looking forward to today's FOIA panel! I have tons of questions lined-up for @foianate.bsky.social, @mirandaspivack.bsky.social, and @morisy.bsky.social, and know I'll learn a lot from our conversation. If you haven't already RSVP'd, please join @freedom.press at 1 eastern!

Isn't it weird how all the national security hawks have gone silent about the imminent, serious threat to America that TikTok supposedly poses? It's almost like it was BS the whole time.

whoever gets to this guy first is going to be pretty damn happy about it

Come work at @freedom.press, and help us keep journalists and whistleblowers safe! We have an important job opening for the manager of our SecureDrop team. Apply in the next week, and reach out if you have questions:

Are you a software engineer with management experience and a passion for open-source projects and press freedom? @freedom.press is hiring an engineering manager for its @securedrop.org team. Learn more and apply here: freedom.press/careers/job/...