U.S. Press Freedom Tracker

Analysis

Original analyses on press freedom trends and monthly incident roundups written by U.S. Press Freedom Tracker staff with features on First Amendment issues published by our partner organizations.

Showing posts by Stephanie Sugars

  1. President Donald Trump has received a total of $32 million to settle his claims against ABC News and CBS News. With ongoing suits against the Des Moines Register and The Wall Street Journal, he is more emboldened than ever to pursue claims against the new

    The silence and the siege

    Media independence and journalists’ safety are under threat, as Trump uses suits to cudgel news outlets and his immigration crackdown endangers those covering it.

    Published
    Written by
    Stephanie Sugars
  2. More than 75 journalists were arrested, assaulted, tear-gassed or had equipment searched or seized while documenting anti-deportation protests in Los Angeles in June 2025.

    Journalists are facing attacks, both digital and physical

    As dozens of journalists faced assault and arrest on the streets of LA and beyond, President Trump’s unrelenting anti-press rhetoric online reached a 10-year milestone.

    Published
    Written by
    Stephanie Sugars, Kirstin McCudden