BREAKING: Lawyer for independent journalist and former CNN anchor @donlemonofficial.bsky.social said today that Lemon’s phone was seized when he was arrested by federal agents in Beverly Hills, California, in January; it still has not been returned.

Charges were dropped Feb. 4 against an independent journalist arrested by Illinois State Police while photographing an immigration protest in Broadview, Ill., in November. Her equipment was searched and her camera gear returned with $1,800 in damage.

Update: Journalists stopped at the U.S. border in 2018 and 2019 and questioned about their coverage of a migrant caravan settled their suit against the Department of Homeland Security on Jan. 26.

If you are a journalist — or know one — who has been attacked, seriously threatened, denied access by a public official or targeted with a legal order in the course of reporting, let us know. You can now submit tips in English or Spanish. Email: [email protected]

A freelance photojournalist was hit in the chest by police with what he described as paintball munitions while covering an immigration protest in LA on Jan. 30.

Update: Journalists @jonnypeltz.bsky.social and Kate Gallagher settled their suit against Los Angeles, they told the court Feb. 2; the city will pay $500,000 to the journalists and their legal team.

Independent journalist Jordyn Gualdani was struck in the shoulder with a crowd-control munition at a demonstration in Minneapolis on Jan. 24. He was photographing from behind a protester holding their hands in the air.

The @dailycaller.bsky.social’s Jorge Ventura and independent photojournalist Erik Herrera were harassed and shoved by multiple individuals while reporting on a makeshift anti-ICE barricade in Minneapolis on Feb. 2.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced on social media that her office had caught another alleged leaker, name-dropping Daily Mail senior reporter @spccohen.bsky.social and asserting he had lost another source.

If you are a journalist — or know one — who has been attacked, seriously threatened, denied access by a public official or targeted with a legal order in the course of reporting, let us know. You can now submit tips in English or Spanish. Email: [email protected]

Update: Outlet @newsguard.bsky.social sued the FTC in federal court on Feb. 6, calling its order for the media rating service’s communications and journalistic materials unconstitutional.

Freelance photojournalist Moon Mandel was struck twice with a baton by an LAPD officer and exposed to multiple types of chemical irritants — blinding them and causing them to vomit — while documenting protests in LA on Jan. 30.

Everyone's heard of the Don Lemon case, but there are a HUGE number of other instances of ICE violently infringing the rights of journalists in Minnesota. The last month has been particularly disturbing. @uspresstracker.bsky.social has been documenting them all:

Individuals cut the cord of a @foxla.bsky.social photojournalist’s camera and stole the crew’s microphone while they were reporting on a protest in Los Angeles on Jan. 31.

Independent photojournalist Jackson Tammariello was hit with a baton by a police officer while documenting an immigration protest in LA on Feb. 4.

You’ve heard about the Don Lemon arrest, but have you seen the stories of the dozens of *other* journalists who’ve had their rights violated by ICE? “What we have seen out of Minnesota — just in the last month — is shocking.” Watch @freedom.press' @trevortimm.bsky.social explain.

Independent photographer Anna Moltke was manhandled and thrust to the ground by an LAPD officer while covering an immigration protest in LA on Jan. 30.

Correspondent Veronica Miracle was shot with a pepper ball while reporting live for CNN outside the Metropolitan Detention Facility in LA on Jan. 30 as protesters gathered as part of nationwide protests against DHS operations.

Reporter Eve Weston of @eugeneweekly.com was covering a protest in front of the Federal Building in Eugene, Oregon, on Jan. 27 when she was struck by crowd-control munitions fired at a group of journalists by DHS officers.

If you are a journalist — or know one — who has been attacked, seriously threatened, denied access by a public official or targeted with a legal order in the course of reporting, let us know. You can now submit tips in English or Spanish. Email: [email protected]

Reporter @shoton35mm.bsky.social, on assignment for @lataco.bsky.social, was pepper-sprayed by DHSG and pushed by LAPD officers while covering a protest against immigration raids Jan. 30 in LA.

Update: Oregon journalists win temporary restraining order against DHS on Feb. 3, ruling that agents at “Portland ICE Building” can’t fire chemical or projectile munitions at journalists and protesters without imminent threat of physical harm.

“How can you not know I’m press if you literally shot me in my press badge?” — independent journalist @anthonycabassa.bsky.social, who was struck in the torso with impact projectiles while covering an immigration protest in LA on Jan. 30.

Student photojournalist Griffin O'Rourke was struck by multiple crowd-control munitions fired by DHS and was pushed by LAPD officers while covering an immigration protest for @dailysundial.bsky.social in LA on Jan. 30.

Update: Nevada appeals court ruled Jan. 28 that state judge violated First Amendment rights of @reviewjournal.com staff when she ejected them from Las Vegas sexual assault trial after they refused pledge not to name alleged victim who was testifying.

Reporter Agostinho Da Silva was struck six times with crowd-control munitions fired by DHS officers Jan. 27, as he covered a protest in front of Eugene, Oregon’s Federal Building for The Torch, the student newspaper of Lane Community College.

Outlet @newsguard.bsky.social asked the FTC on Jan. 16 to withdraw a legal order issued in DC last May, seeking all communications and journalistic materials related to its media ratings. NewsGuard argued it chills press freedom.

If you are a journalist — or know one — who has been attacked, seriously threatened, denied access by a public official or targeted with a legal order in the course of reporting, let us know. You can now submit tips in English or Spanish. Email: [email protected]

Independent journalist and former CNN anchor @donlemonofficial.bsky.social was arrested in LA Thursday night after a grand jury indicted him on charges in connection with his coverage of a protest that disrupted church services in St. Paul, Minnesota, on Jan. 18.

A Border Patrol agent pushed independent journalist @nickvalencianews.bsky.social into a line of demonstrators at a protest in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Jan. 24.

Federal prosecutors subpoenaed New York Times Magazine journalist Jeffrey Toobin on Jan. 23 to testify about his reporting in a criminal case in Greenbelt, MD. Attorneys for the publication moved to strike down the legal order.

Update: NYC man sentenced to 15 years in prison Jan. 28 for plotting to kill Iranian American journalist Masih Alinejad.

From assaults at protests to a raid at a reporter’s home, plus a prior restraint in Las Vegas — a month into 2026, journalists are facing a landscape of aggressions. Watch our Managing Editor @kamccudden.bsky.social explain, and subscribe to our newsletter: pressfreedomtracker.us/newsletter

Reporter @tinadesireeberg.com of @statuscoupnews.bsky.social was grabbed and thrown to the ground by a Border Patrol officer while reporting on anti-ICE protests Jan. 25 at a Minneapolis hotel where federal agents were rumored to be staying.

If you are a journalist — or know one — who has been attacked, seriously threatened, denied access by a public official or targeted with a legal order in the course of reporting, let us know. You can now submit tips in English or Spanish. Email: [email protected]

Senior DOJ official Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon seeks to charge independent journalist and former CNN anchor @donlemonofficial.bsky.social, even after an appeals court declined Jan. 23 to issue an arrest warrant for his coverage of an anti-ICE protest at a church service in St. Paul.

If you are a journalist — or know one — who has been attacked, seriously threatened, denied access by a public official or targeted with a legal order in the course of reporting, let us know. You can now submit tips in English or Spanish. Email: [email protected]

Jana Shortal, an anchor for @kare11.bsky.social, was shoved and sprayed in the eye with a chemical irritant by federal agents while covering the aftermath of Alex Pretti’s killing in Minneapolis on Saturday.

Journalists covering the January immigration protests in Minneapolis have been exposed to tear gas, pepper spray and other irritants, at times forcing them to retreat or halt reporting. Cases are documented here, updated as they come in.

Pentagon contractor Aurelio Luis Perez-Lugones was charged Jan. 22 by a Maryland grand jury with retaining and transmitting classified national defense information to a reporter. It’s believed to be the first prosecution of a leaker by Trump’s second administration.

Update: A Nevada judge ejected @reviewjournal.com staff on Jan. 21 from a Las Vegas sexual assault trial after they refused to promise not to name an alleged victim who was testifying. The judge previously imposed, then lifted, a gag order on media coverage of the trial.

Photographer @zdroberts.bsky.social, on assignment for @statuscoupnews.bsky.social, was hit in the head with an impact projectile fired by federal officers while covering a protest Jan. 14 in Minneapolis.

Photographer John Abernathy was shot with pepper balls, pepper-sprayed and detained for obstruction by federal officers while documenting anti-deportation protests outside the Whipple Federal Building in the Minneapolis, Minnesota, area Jan. 15.

If you are a journalist — or know one — who has been attacked, seriously threatened, denied access by a public official or targeted with a legal order in the course of reporting, let us know. You can now submit tips in English or Spanish. Email: [email protected]

TODAY: Join a conversation on mental health and journalism with the @pressfreedomtracker.us's @kamccudden.bsky.social, @luortizperez.bsky.social and Dagmar Thiel from @mdrnetorg.bsky.social, and independent journalist @joeruiz.bsky.social. 🕒 1 pm ET/10 am PT 🔗 www.youtube.com/@VitaActivaOrg

Military newspaper @starsandstripes.bsky.social will be “overhauled,” Defense Department officials announced Jan. 15. It will refocus on “warfighting” instead of “woke distractions that syphon morale,” and half its content will be produced by the Defense Department:

🗣 “Journalists envision a future in which mental health care is not a privilege, but a professional necessity.” ➡️ Learn about our Survey findings 🗓 Jan 22, 1:00 PM ET | 📺 YouTube: www.youtube.com/@VitaActivaOrg #MentalHealthMatters #JournalismCare #ResilientNewsrooms #MediaFuture

Reporter Jon Fetherston of the Maine Wire was assaulted by a member of the public while questioning a public official at a Lewiston City Council meeting Jan. 5.

🧵 Year 1 of Trump 2.0 has brought a constant barrage of norm-breaking aggressions against the press — from tightened access and investigations to lawsuits — aimed at those who dare to report unfavorably on the administration.

If you are a journalist — or know one — who has been attacked, seriously threatened, denied access by a public official or targeted with a legal order in the course of reporting, let us know. You can now submit tips in English or Spanish. Email: [email protected]