If you’ve filed a public records request and received a denial, delay or heavily redacted response, you’re not alone. This guide breaks down common reasons requests get denied, how to revise your language and what to do when agencies stall, over-redact or claim records don’t exist.

As of May 19, 2026, 1,843 law enforcement agencies in 39 states and two U.S. territories are signed up to participate in a program that partners with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. buff.ly/b0V68L4

As of May 19, 2026, 1,843 law enforcement agencies in 39 states and two U.S. territories are signed up to participate in a program that partners with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. buff.ly/b0V68L4

Want to learn more about how to get records from ICE? Our last FOIAFriday session explored how to obtain records from the agency. We were joined by by Madison Holcomb from @shastascout.bsky.social and @katehuangpu.bsky.social and Danielle Ohl from @spotlightpa.org. buff.ly/vyIBzqf .

The Trump administration’s workforce cuts and increasing number of FOIA requests have deepened challenges for already strained federal offices charged with overseeing FOIA processing.

New lawsuit: @rcfp.org attorneys are representing three news outlets in challenging a Penn State University policy that censors the speech of the school’s trustees, making it harder for journalists to report news about the state’s largest university.

Want to learn more about how to get records from ICE? Our last FOIAFriday session explored how to obtain records from the agency. We were joined by by Madison Holcomb from @shastascout.bsky.social and @katehuangpu.bsky.social and Danielle Ohl from @spotlightpa.org. buff.ly/vyIBzqf .

Being specific increases your chances of success and signals to the agency that you understand how records are actually kept. Get our guide to diagnose common FOIA roadblocks and rewrite your request to get results. buff.ly/5ZDHx4I

Hey Charlottesville! Pick up this week's free C-VILLE Weekly to read The Foilies, EFF and MuckRock's annual tongue-in-cheek report on government transparency. issuu.com/cvilleweekl...

Did your latest public records request hit a brick wall? You aren't alone. Even the most seasoned journalists and public records requestors run into bureaucratic roadblocks. But a denial doesn't have to be the end of the road.

This month, we discussed how you can obtain records and reporting on ICE on FOIAFriday. We were joined by Madison Holcomb from Shasta Scout and Kate Huangpu and Danielle Ohl from SpotlightPA. Watch the full video: buff.ly/IZBniy5

A new collaboration from MuckRock and @thefloridatrib.bsky.social dug into the names of 89 officers across Duval, Clay, and Nassau counties obtained through the Brady List: buff.ly/mua8zfP

Did your latest public records request hit a brick wall? You aren't alone. Even the most seasoned journalists and public records requestors run into bureaucratic roadblocks. But a denial doesn't have to be the end of the road.

A federal court sided with @freedom.press on Wednesday, dealing a huge blow to the Trump administration’s efforts to hide its records.

To test the current state of disclosure around agreements between ICE and local law enforcement, we filed Freedom of Information Act requests across multiple counties with 287(g) agreements to compare how jurisdictions respond to transparency requests.

"This would substantially weaken the watchdog function of the public and the press and would create perverse incentives to hide government misdeeds or controversial actions behind a single personal phone number or line of attorney advice."

Journalists across the country have used primary source documents to expose corruption and hold power to account. See how 2026 Pulitzer Prize-recognized journalists use public records in their reporting.

The 2026 midterm elections are gearing up to be both consequential and complicated to cove. And many newsrooms have limited reporting capacity and are straining to cover regions where other outlets that have served readers have since shut down.

A new collaboration from MuckRock and @thefloridatrib.bsky.social dug into the names of 89 officers across Duval, Clay, and Nassau counties obtained through the Brady List: buff.ly/mua8zfP

On the flip side, this is how the government thwarts transparency. Today, I got a narrow scope request for a #FOIA request that I filed on May 23, 2016 -- one day short of 10 years.

Want to learn more about how to get records from ICE? We'll explore how to obtain records from the agency in our next FOIAFriday session. We will be joined by Madison Holcomb from @shastascout.bsky.social and @katehuangpu.bsky.social and Danielle Ohl from @spotlightpa.org. buff.ly/EPzjcux

We're still looking for two newsrooms in competitive states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Georgia, North Carolina, Iowa, Ohio, Maine and Nevada. If your newsroom is covering pivotal races this November, we want to hear from you.

Want to learn more about how to get records from ICE? We'll explore how to obtain records from the agency in our next FOIAFriday session. We will be joined by Madison Holcomb from @shastascout.bsky.social and @katehuangpu.bsky.social and Danielle Ohl from @spotlightpa.org. buff.ly/EPzjcux

A federal judge ordered the White House on Wednesday to preserve all presidential records including text messages exchanged among its top officials.

Whether they appear in a yellow lined notebook or on white printer paper, government documents are government documents. Text messages are public records, too. buff.ly/jauAUg7

Explore the Python libraries for the MuckRock Requests and DocumentCloud APIs and how they can be used with large language models (LLMs) to streamline records requests assist in analyzing responsive documents. buff.ly/P6rdylY

BIG win for Freedom of the Press Foundation and @citizensforethics.org: Trump’s White House must comply with Presidential Records Act, judge rules

FBI procurement records reveal the agency wants to buy nationwide access to automated license plate readers including Flock, an ALPR provider with at least 80,000 cameras connected to its tool, reports @josephcox.bsky.social for @404media.co.

Learn how you can obtain records and reporting on the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during our next FOIAFriday session. We will be joined by Madison Holcomb from @shastascout.bsky.social and @katehuangpu.bsky.social and Danielle Ohl from @spotlightpa.org. buff.ly/EPzjcux

ICE can authorize state and local law enforcement officers to carry out certain immigration enforcement duties under their oversight. MuckRock’s latest guide explains how to obtain records about ICE’s involvement and better understand how enforcement operates at the local level.

From following the paper trail behind ICE’s local immigration enforcement to strengthening local journalism ahead of the midterm elections, For the Record offers the latest in public records and transparency battles, threats and wins. Read today's edition:

“One of these days the Cubans will shoot down one of these planes” The Archive's Peter Kornbluh and William LeoGrande reveal essential US documents on the case at the heart of the Raul Castro indictment nsarchive.gwu.edu/briefing-boo...

Join us today at 1 p.m. ET! us02web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

From following the paper trail behind ICE’s local immigration enforcement to strengthening local journalism ahead of the midterm elections, For the Record offers the latest in public records and transparency battles, threats and wins. Read today's edition:

"Despite its stated objectives, DOGE has become a barrier for government transparency, including restricting access to the U.S. Institute of Peace’s FOIA system and firing the employees responsible for fulfilling FOIA requests."

Interested in joining the Election Accountability Cohort? We're looking for two newsrooms in competitive states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Georgia, North Carolina, Iowa, Ohio, Maine and Nevada. If your newsroom is covering pivotal races, we want to hear from you. buff.ly/9Wse1n2

Journalists across the country have used primary source documents to expose corruption and hold power to account. See how 2026 Pulitzer Prize-recognized journalists use public records in their reporting.

FBI procurement documents show the agency is interested in buying nationwide access to automated license plate readers (ALPRs) including Flock, which has at least 80,000 cameras connected to its tool. From @404media.co:

How do you explain the real cost of investigative journalism to your audience? Learn how local newsrooms turned to MuckRock and @sunlightresearch.bsky.social to make their investigative work visible. buff.ly/cjWkaDU

BREAKING: FAC represents journalist Holly McDede in a lawsuit against LAUSD for unlawfully withholding records on teacher misconduct—including allegations of sexual harassment and assault. Public records are public for a reason. firstamendmentcoalition.org/news/post/fa...

Learn how you can obtain records and reporting on the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during our next FOIAFriday session. We will be joined by Madison Holcomb from @shastascout.bsky.social and @katehuangpu.bsky.social and Danielle Ohl from @spotlightpa.org. buff.ly/EPzjcux

On behalf of @oklahomavoice.com and @readfrontier.bsky.social, an @rcfp.org attorney filed a public records lawsuit against the Oklahoma Department of Corrections, arguing it is unlawfully withholding a state contract with ICE.

Minnesota state education officials repeatedly raised concerns about possible fraud in the federally funded meals program during the pandemic, but their supervisors stopped them from taking more aggressive action, according to law enforcement records reports @startribune.com.

Whether they appear in a yellow lined notebook or on white printer paper, government documents are government documents. Learn how to obtain text messages through public records requests.

Whether they appear in a yellow lined notebook or on white printer paper, government documents are government documents. Learn how to obtain text messages through public records requests.

Join us on Wednesday where we'll be joined by Andrea Ball, an Investigative Reporter from the Austin Current, explores the flaws in AI tools, what happens when you push them further, where they break, and how to revise your approach to use them more effectively. Register: buff.ly/pjUKMPl

MuckRock will equip local journalists in the Election Accountability Cohort with the investigative resources needed to deeply cover pivotal races and their impact on communities during the 2026 midterm elections. buff.ly/ivtBbJL

Newsrooms using the toolkit reported gains in dollars raised, donor counts, & campaign performance, with one newsroom hitting 180% of their fundraising goal. Access the toolkit below, and if you're at the Lenfest News Philanthropy Summit, catch Brandi Swicegood's lightning talk Tuesday at 2:15 p.m.

When fundraising for investigative reporting, showing donors how your newsroom operates — not just why it matters — can transform results. @muckrock.com's @sunlightresearch.bsky.social built a free toolkit to help local newsrooms communicate their work and drive donations.

Connecticut has some of the lowest FOIA fees in the country, but pending cases could allow for agencies to charge hourly fees. New from @foiakatherine.bsky.social for @insideinvestigator.bsky.social. insideinvestigator.org/priced-out-f...