Kirstin McCudden

$100k a month for early access to essential government info ? Nope, that's unconstitutional.

The Trump administration isn't just investigating alleged crimes. It’s aggressively pursuing the sources behind the stories, using the legal system as a blunt instrument to stop the flow of information. Find the full story in our monthly newsletter: pressfreedomtracker.us/newsletter

This time, vertical: It was fascinating to look across three administrations of data in the @uspresstracker.bsky.social and pull out how subpoenas and legal orders have been used on the federal level

“If I hadn't had it, I'd be dead right now.” Journalists across the U.S. told us why they use personal protective equipment while covering protests, and why attempts to ban it are so dangerous.

Photographer @john-abernathy.bsky.social was violently arrested by federal officers in MN in January for covering a protest, despite repeatedly identifying himself as press. It’s an egregious affront to the First Amendment. Watch @trevortimm.bsky.social explain and follow @pressfreedomtracker.us.

That's this Saturday — and I have to say I can't wait to be back in Minn and have this conversation there

It was a tough month to pull together, from court cases to on-the-ground assaults of journalists unfolding as this went to print. Tracker reporters are publishing those +detainments from 'No Kings 3' as we speak

Want to get loud about press freedom? Drop a hint with this handy safety whistle. Check out our shop for this and more:

DHS Secretary says filming ICE is illegal and amounts to doxxing. They’re absolutely wrong. Recording law enforcement in public spaces is protected by the First Amendment — and courts have affirmed that right time and again. Watch @freedom.press’s @trevortimm.bsky.social explain.

A January wrap up of the state of press freedom in the U.S. Was filmed <<checks notes>> Wednesday, and January kept going for aggressions against the press, didn't it, eh ? Find those as we document them @pressfreedomtracker.us

The raid on the home of @washingtonpost.com’s @hannahnatanson.bsky.social is a reminder journalists need to be vigilant. We can’t stop government overreach — but we can help you secure yourself digitally. Watch @trevortimm.bsky.social share tips that can make a real difference for journalists.

A much-needed discussion and I'll be bringing context from the @uspresstracker.bsky.social database:

One year from Trump's second inauguration and, with it, a list of a "constant barrage of norm-breaking aggressions against the press" as documented by @uspresstracker.bsky.social

Incredible effort by the team in those early days of 2021 to gather all assaults of journalists covering the Capitol attack and damage to their equipment, and in the years following to closely track charges brought against individuals who harmed reporters/photographers covering the news that day —

In which I link 'Jurassic Park' dinosaurs and the state of press freedom in the US

Over 150 journalists have been assaulted this year — that’s more than the last two years combined. We’re documenting every violation against the press. Help power the database tracking attacks on journalists. Donate to the @pressfreedomtracker.us today.

The Tracker's 2025 arrest report now live

More assaults of journalists this year than the last two years combined, our interview with deported journalist Mario Guevara, and more in this month’s Tracker newsletter by managing editor @kamccudden.bsky.social:

Since becoming president-elect, Trump has sued @nytimes.com , @wsj.com and more. At the same time, his administration is tightening access — the press now faces new Pentagon rules. Plus, journalist Mario Guevara has spent 100-plus days in ICE custody. Watch @kamccudden.bsky.social explain.

We working on verifying and documenting reports of multiple journalists assaulted, arrested and other press freedom violations while they covered U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement activities in and around Chicago recently. Here's what we're tracking so far:

The Trump administration has given a whole new meaning to "Kitchen Confidential." Here's @freedom.press top 5 dumbest things the government has done, or kept secret, ostensibly to protect national security (with an evergreen example from @nsarchive.bsky.social)

Join us for a panel discussion exploring ideas to defend journalists and press freedom in Gaza, co-sponsored by @freedom.press and Columbia Journalism School. 📌 @columbiajournalism.bsky.social, NYC 🗓️ Thursday, 6-8 pm ET RSVP: www.eventbrite.com/e/urgent-ide... And save the link to watch live ⬇️

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: tips@pressfreedomtracker.us

More journalists have already been assaulted in the U.S. this year than in all of 2024 — most while covering anti-immigration protests. We're tracking every case. Watch Managing Editor @kamccudden.bsky.social explain and subscribe to our newsletter for more: pressfreedomtracker.us/blog/nearly-...

In 2021, I made a slideshow based on 50+ incidents of police misconduct toward journalists. It covered all California over a 12 month period. The legislature responded with new laws to protect press. I just made a new one. It's bigger. It's worse. And it's just one week in Los Angeles.

Los Angeles immigration raids protests began a week ago on June 6. The @pressfreedomtracker.us is investigating: - 32 assaults on journalists - 6 detainments/arrests of journalists - 4 equipment damages - 2 equipment searches/seizures View our database: pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incident...

When it comes to combative relationships between presidents and the press, Trump’s social media use sets him apart. For the past 10 years, and since descending that escalator in June 2015, we’ve cataloged every single anti-press post. Watch @stephaniesugars.bsky.social explain our latest project.

the numbers of assaults — and now a detainment of CNN correspondent and crew — are rapidly changing. as we verify we publish on pressfreedomtracker.us

We are actively reporting on multiple attacks against journalists covering protests in LA — including assaults, equipment damage, and other press freedom violations.

Today, @freedom.press, represented by @loevy.com, filed a FOIA lawsuit against the State Department over its refusal to disclose information about the arrest of Rümeysa Öztürk for exercising her right to free speech. Read our complaint here.

JOURNALISTS IN LA or COVERING FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT: Press rights groups are trying to coordinate responses to unlawful attacks by federal officers against journalists during protests. If you can help ID individuals in charge of operations (incident commander, etc.) & contact info please LMK.

And the courts may offer relief, too, which is why more than 50 journalists sued following aggressions at Black Lives Matter protests ... my newsletter this month:

That's tomorrow !

Our digital security training team answers, how do you identify everyone in conversation on Signal?

🔔 Join us for a conversation about Trump's attacks on Voice of America and other publicly funded outlets, featuring press freedom reporter @liamjscott.bsky.social, Archive Team Co-founder @textfiles.com, and FPF's @caitlinvogus.bsky.social. 🗓️ May 23 at 12:30 pm ET RSVP: freedom.press/silencing-VOA

Your right to know deserves a plan. We just published ours. Read our 2025-2026 strategic plan:

The Trump administration's multipronged attacks on the press — I walk you through the last 100 days — and read more here : pressfreedomtracker.us/blog/trump-a...

Happy birthday to @barbrastreisand.bsky.social, whose 1973 fundraiser kept our co-founder Daniel Ellsberg’s legal fight alive long enough for him to win. She kept Dan out of jail for leaking the Pentagon Papers; now we’re continuing his fight to defend whistleblowers.

Explainer — How to share sensitive leaks with the press

Thanks, @rmac.bsky.social, for recommending @securedrop.org for potential leakers and whistleblowers, and thanks, Laura, for writing this timely article. ➡️ Check out our video on how to leak sensitive information to media outlets securely and anonymously: www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1FR...

Happy International Fact-Checking Day to those who celebrate ! (ahem)

It took 2 months but this is great news — charges dropped against photoj Matthew Kaplan, who was covering a protest in Indiana:

Great and important panels at #ISOJ2025 last week, and got to talk to some incredible journalists:

A Signal guide for beginners from here at FPF, for all your group chat needs (also en español):

Traveling into the U.S. has become increasingly dangerous for digital privacy. From the ace @wired.com security team, here's tangible guidance on minimizing the risk of Customs and Border Patrol accessing your data. www.wired.com/2017/02/guid...