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Ahmed Zidan

@zidan.bsky.social
7.7K followers 1.6K following 709 posts

Platforms | Press Freedom | Journalism Good takes and bad jokes. Dark humor and 🦋hite 🦋ine. Deputy director, audience, @freedom.press and @pressfreedomtracker.us. @zidanism on that other site.

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Ahmed Zidan @zidan.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
The Egyptian authorities have detained an entire newsroom, accusing them of “spreading misinformation.” The irony is that outlet is a reputable fact-checking news site, which is actually countering misinformation. Dictators are so thin-skinned.
reuters.com
Egyptian police arrest all six journalists of investigative outlet
Egyptian police arrested six journalists from a fact-checking and investigative media outlet, accusing them of spreading misinformation ​on behalf of the banned Muslim Brotherhood, which the ‌publicat...
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Freedom of the Press Foundation @freedom.press · 29/09/2026
Huge win for government transparency and accountability! CA Senate Bill 423 was signed into law today, requiring release of 911 calls from ICE detention centers. This critical info will cast light on how ICE is treating people it holds. Congrats to coalition of advocates who made this possible.
calmatters.org
Data from 911 calls at ICE detention centers must be disclosed under new California law
Gov. Newsom signed a law compelling disclosure of emergency calls from ICE detention centers. It followed CalMatters' reporting about alleged rapes at one site.
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Freedom of the Press Foundation @freedom.press · 30/09/2026
The recent release of Meta’s Muse AI agent needs far-reaching access to your data to conduct tasks on your behalf. We keep seeing stories of how that has backfired on users. Read our newsletter to learn more, and subscribe!
freedom.press
Meta’s Muse AI surprises users — but not in a good way
After granting permission to access a considerable amount of your personal data, agents may behave in unexpected ways. We are not a-Muse’d
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Adam Rose @adamrose.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Critical read by @seth-stern.bsky.social in @theintercept.com. Ellisons know a scary amount about you via Oracle. (Ever wonder, "what's their actual product"? It's YOU / your data!) By taking over mass media, they can give America false fears, causing us to give up even more of our data & privacy.
theintercept.com
The Ellisons Could Make a Killing in Big Surveillance With the Paramount Merger
With the Paramount–Warner Bros. merger set to proceed, the Ellisons can stoke Americans’ fears — and sell the government its solution.
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Freedom of the Press Foundation @freedom.press · 28/09/2026
The First Amendment protects speech regardless of viewpoint, especially if it is adversarial to the government. Watch @adamrose.bsky.social explain why Trump banning @cnn.com, @ms.now, and @politico.com from the White House is incompatible with the Constitution.
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Ahmed Zidan @zidan.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
The masks are off. The era when big corporations, especially Big Tech, felt obligated to check the social-responsibility boxes is over.
wired.com
Meta-Led Anti-Terrorism Group Faces Mass Resignation of Expert Advisers
Meta and other tech giants are pushing through structural changes at the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism that outside researchers allege will weaken oversight of an already embattled consor...
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Fight for the Future @fightforthefuture.org · 25/09/2026
VPNs make it safer to use the Internet. Governments are trying to ban them. With the continued global rise of social media bans and “age verification” bills, threats against VPNs have only escalated. Read the letter & take action @ DefendVPNS.com for our 2nd annual Defend VPNs Day of Action!
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Freedom of the Press Foundation @freedom.press · 25/09/2026
Dozens of former federal prosecutors filed a brief in support of our lawsuit to stop Trump's corrupt scheme to charge for expedited access to headlines he generates when he announces everything from military strikes to media bans on Truth Social.
fortune.com
‘It’s so corrosive to democracy': Over 50 federal prosecutors speak out against Trump's $100,000 a month 'insider trading' scheme | Fortune
"We're in an environment where we all want to be looking to the founders, right?"
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Freedom of the Press Foundation @freedom.press · 25/09/2026
Denying three media outlets access to the White House, despite a judge’s order, and then praising Chinese state media for being “friendly”? Xi couldn’t have asked for a better gift. China is one of the world’s worst jailers of journalists, with 100+ behind bars, per RSF.
cnn.com
CNN, MS NOW White House reporters denied access to Xi’s state dinner arrival | CNN Politics
CNN, MS NOW and Politico have been allowed back into the White House after a federal judge ordered the Trump administration to temporarily reinstate press badges for the news outlets.
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Ahmed Zidan @zidan.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
"With NSPM-7, Trump and Miller have made clear they plan to exploit the broad counterterrorism authorities of the executive branch to unleash this machinery of repression upon their domestic political opponents" @chipgibbons.bsky.social writes. "Unless Congress acts now, they will get away with it"
rightsanddissent.org
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Ahmed Zidan @zidan.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
From fine cuisine as "a soft power" and "oasis-to-table" concept, Saudi is trying to foodwash its reputation. Good read in the @newyorker.com.
newyorker.com
Saudi Arabia’s Pursuit of Michelin Stardom
Saudi Arabia, seeking to rebrand as a culinary juggernaut, has bankrolled new restaurants and conscripted big-name chefs. Will it succeed?
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Freedom of the Press Foundation @freedom.press · 23/09/2026
As Trump uses "national security" as an excuse to ban news outlets, remember that challenging the government’s classification claims can be an act of patriotism. @danielellsberg.bsky.social, our co-founder, proved that when he leaked the Pentagon Papers in 1971.
freedom.press
The Pentagon Papers
How a leak revealed that lies were the foundation of U.S. policy on Vietnam
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Ahmed Zidan @zidan.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
The White House briefs outlets on background then complains the press used an anonymous senior admin official for the same very story… Oh well! @scottnover.bsky.social has the story.
washingtonpost.com
The White House banned Politico, citing anonymous sources. It provided the quotes.
In a letter defending its ban of Politico, the White House critiqued a report based on a press call it conducted, where reporters were told not to name the speaker.
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Lauren Harper @laurenleharper.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Put another way, the guy who stored classified documents in a country club bathroom thinks reporting stories like that is a "significant violation of decorum."
politico.com
Trump cites national security, midterms coverage to defend press ban
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Freedom of the Press Foundation @freedom.press · 22/09/2026
President Donald Trump is banning @cnn.com, @msnownews.bsky.social, and @politico.com from the White House. But can a U.S. president do this? Watch FPF’s @adamrose.bsky.social break down what to expect next as the administration increases its attacks on the free press.
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Ahmed Zidan @zidan.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Not good.
baltimorebrew.com
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Freedom of the Press Foundation @freedom.press · 21/09/2026
A Paramount-appointed editorial independence board for CNN and CBS is worthless. The fish rots from the head, and this fish is headed by a compromised oligarch with a history of throwing journalists under the bus to advance his business interests. Our statement: freedom.press/issues/fpf-s...
Screenshot of quote from Freedom of the Press Foundation Chief of Advocacy Seth Stern
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Freedom of the Press Foundation @freedom.press · 21/09/2026
CJR covers the ordeal of exiled journalist Luis Galeano, detained by ICE in Florida last week. Galeano—who was stripped of his Nicaraguan citizenship by the Ortega regime in 2023 over his reporting—has an asylum case pending in the U.S. 'We are in danger if they deport us,' his wife said.
freepress.net
Press-Freedom Coalition Calls for the Immediate Release of ICE-Detained Journalist Luis Galeano
Luis Galeano is the latest in a long line of journalists who came to the United States to report on issues of the day and instead face deportation.
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Freedom of the Press Foundation @freedom.press · 16/09/2026
Journalist @pablo.show’s reporting triggered a DOJ investigation into a massive NBA scandal. But despite using reporters’ leads, the Trump admin continues to crack down on journalist-source confidentiality. That’s why it’s time to pass the PRESS Act. Watch @trevortimm.bsky.social explain:
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Freedom of the Press Foundation @freedom.press · 21/09/2026
Turns out when you keep firing at the press, you shouldn't be surprised when the whole thing backfires 'just a little bit.' Sideline the messengers and you don't silence them. You silence yourself.
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Adam Rose @adamrose.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
The state attorneys general consent decree with Paramount to secure a merger with Warner Bros includes requirement for a "News Editorial Independence Board" for CBS News and CNN. Here are the exact terms for the board, which will be appointed by... ::checks notes:: ... David Ellison.
D. News Editorial Independence Board Commitments
1. Formation. Within one hundred eighty (180) days following Closing, the
Combined Entity shall establish the News Editorial Independence Board
(the “Editorial Independence Board”) and appoint Editorial
Independence Board Members in manner that is consistent with this Section
III.D.
2. Composition. The Editorial Independence Board shall be made up of five
(5) established journalists (active or retired), each of whom shall have
practiced journalism for a minimum of ten (10) years (including with
credentials for at least three (3) years) (“Journalist”). (“Editorial
Independence Board Members”). No more than two (2) Editorial
Independence Board Members may be affiliated with the same political
party.
3. Appointment. Editorial Independence Board Members shall be appointed
by the Combined Entity’s Board of Directors (the “Combined Entity’s
Board”).a. No member of any government or governmental entity may be
appointed to the Editorial Independence Board.
b. No member of any government or governmental entity, including
federal, state, and local governments, may approve or have approval
rights over members appointed to the Editorial Independence Board.
c. No officer, director, shareholder or non-Journalist employee or
contractor of the Combined Entity may be appointed to the Editorial
Independence Board.
4. Board Member Term. Editorial Independence Board Members are
expected to serve for three (3) years from the date of their appointment. The
Combined Entity’s Board can remove an Editorial Independence Board
Member only for good cause, which for purposes of this paragraph shall
mean fair and honest reasons, regulated by good faith on the part of the
employer, that are not trivial, arbitrary, or capricious, unrelated to business
needs or goals, or pretextual. When an Editorial Independence Board is
vacated, the Combined Entity’s Board will fill that vacancy in a manner
consistent with this Section III.D.5. Role. The Editorial Independence Board will have the following
responsibilities during the Commitment Period:
a. Establishing a set of guiding editorial principles based on CBS News
and CNN’s Standards & Practices policies and principles in effect
as of the Effective Date of accuracy, independence, fairness, and
journalistic integrity (collectively, “News Editorial Principles”).
b. Resolving any disputes between CBS News employees, CNN
employees, and management of the Combined Entity regarding
alleged violations of the News Editorial Principles.
c. Resolving any disputes between CBS News employees, CNN
employees, and management of the Combined Entity regarding
alleged reporting bias or failure to meet agreed reporting fairness
standards.
d. Establishing and monitoring adherence to ethical journalism as
defined by journalism industry best practices and to editorial
independence, including from the Combined Entity’s ownership and
shareholders.6. Reporting. The Editorial Independence Board shall report to the Combined
Entity’s Board through the Combined Entity’s Chief Compliance Officer.

7. Scope. The Editorial Independence Board’s above-described
responsibilities are limited to news and editorial content produced
principally for distribution in the United States.
8. Indemnification. The Combined Entity shall indemnify and hold harmless
Plaintiff States for any claims and litigation related to this section of the
Consent Decree.
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Freedom of the Press Foundation @freedom.press · 16/09/2026
It seems naive to call on this administration in particular to stand up for a Palestinian-American journalist detained by Israel. But they should. It’s their job, and we can’t normalize inaction, no matter who is in office.
dropsitenews.com
Palestinian-American Journalist Naqaa Hamed Detained by Israeli Forces After Settlers Targeted Her
The freelance journalist and Drop Site contributor was arrested by Israeli authorities as she returned from covering Israeli settler attacks in Masafer Yatta.
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Ahmed Zidan @zidan.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Powerful statement from @freedom.press’ @seth-stern.bsky.social: “It’s difficult to imagine a more blatant violation of the First Amendment than Trump banning news outlets from the People’s House for criticizing the government. It’s also hard to imagine a dumber move.” freedom.press/issues/fpf-c...
It’s difficult to imagine a more blatant violation of the First Amendment than Trump banning news outlets from the People’s House for criticizing the government. It’s also hard to imagine a dumber move.The press must continue to fight back to protect their rights, not only to access the White House but to access the public records and whistleblowers this administration so desperately wants to keep from them. In the meantime, though, they can take a break from getting lied to and insulted at the White House. There are plenty of places to find news, and reporters will continue to do just that no matter how many tantrums Trump throws on Truth Social. Just like he can’t keep his name on the Kennedy Center, he can’t keep it out of the headlines.
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U.S. Press Freedom Tracker @pressfreedomtracker.us · 31/08/2026
President Trump has attacked the press on social media nearly every day for over a decade. Explore the Tracker dataset that catalogs every time Trump uses Truth Social to abuse the news media and journalists. That and more in this month’s newsletter from managing editor @kamccudden.bsky.social:
pressfreedomtracker.us
What 3,725 (and counting) of Trump’s anti-press posts look like
What 3,725 (and counting) of Trump’s anti-press posts look like
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Freedom of the Press Foundation @freedom.press · 01/09/2026
Trump is using his official statements on Truth Social as profiteering opportunities, charging seven figures per year for premium access It’s a corrupt assault on the Constitution that harms members of the press and public who don’t line the president’s pockets. That’s why we’re suing to stop it.
freedom.press
FPF seeks order to stop Trump from monetizing official statements
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:New York, Sept. 1, 2026 — The Intercept and Freedom of the Press Foundation (FPF) moved in federal court yesterday to preliminarily enjoin President Donald Trump from providing e...
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Freedom of the Press Foundation @freedom.press · 28/08/2026
DHS just released a privacy assessment for its new surveillance tool, 'Helix.' But it is one of the few privacy assessments made this year. In fact, DHS failed to make similar assessments public for a range of ICE surveillance tools. @laurenleharper.bsky.social explains:
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Christiaan Triebert @trbrtc.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
High-resolution satellite imagery from Vantor shows the aftermath of the devastating floods along the Nepal-China border. This is the Gyirong Port/Rasuwagadhi border post (location: 28.280, 85.377).
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Freedom of the Press Foundation @freedom.press · 26/08/2026
Lobbying for press freedom legislation in a post-Trump world will require a "relentless, multipronged effort from the very beginning of the congressional session," FPF's @trevortimm.bsky.social writes for @knightcolumbia.org. That includes passing the PRESS Act. Read more:
knightcolumbia.org
How Do We Aggressively Lobby for Press Freedom Legislation in a Post-Trump World?
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Freedom of the Press Foundation @freedom.press · 26/08/2026
Are you a journalist who uses FOIA or other public records laws in your reporting? Then you could win $25,000 through our new journalism award, the Penlight Prize. But the deadline is approaching fast! Watch @trevortimm.bsky.social to learn more, and apply today!
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Seth Stern @seth-stern.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
Larry Ellison said he wants to surveil everyone, Jewish, Palestinian or neither, to keep us on our best behavior. It's not antisemitic to talk about how his gov subsidized surveillance, war and "scary technology" businesses may impact his family's media outlets www.ms.now/opinion/davi...
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Freedom of the Press Foundation @freedom.press · 24/08/2026
🚨 LAST FULL WEEK TO APPLY! Are you a journalist who uses FOIA or other public records laws in your reporting? You could win $25,000 with our new journalism award, the Penlight Prize. Read more and apply by Sept. 1:
penlightprize.org
The Penlight Prize ∙ Freedom of the Press Foundation
The Penlight Prize honors exemplary paywall-free public records reporting, from Freedom of the Press Foundation
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Freedom of the Press Foundation @freedom.press · 22/08/2026
📢 Are you a journalist who uses FOIA or other public records laws in your reporting? You could win $25K with our new journalism award, the Penlight Prize. Read more and apply today:
freedom.press
New $25K ‘Penlight’ journalism award honors paywall-free FOIA reporting
The Penlight Prize celebrates paywall-free reporting based on records obtained through the Freedom of Information Act or state public records laws.
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Freedom of the Press Foundation @freedom.press · 21/08/2026
‘Truth Social posts move markets. And none move markets more than Trump’s posts. So to give nonpaying people, particularly journalists, access on a tier below those who are willing to pay up, that’s absurd and that’s clearly unconstitutional,’ FPF’s @seth-stern.bsky.social told DW News. Watch:
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Freedom of the Press Foundation @freedom.press · 21/08/2026
“The First Amendment doesn't say that Congress has no right to abridge freedom of the press, except when they don't think it's fair.” Watch our Executive Director @trevortimm.bsky.social share his take on why Trump is wrong to target news media simply because he doesn’t like their coverage.
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Freedom of the Press Foundation @freedom.press · 21/08/2026
Journalist Carlitos Ricardo Parias has been in ICE detention for 300+ days; the longest known time a journalist has been in U.S. custody. In Oct., he was shot in the arm, arrested by ICE at an immigration stop in LA. @adamrose.bsky.social writes about the horrific detention conditions he’s facing.
theintercept.com
ICE Shot a Journalist and Threw Him in Detention. He’s Approaching 300 Days Behind Bars With a Festering Wound.
With the case of Carlitos Ricardo Parias, the U.S. has broken its own record for holding a journalist in custody.
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Freedom of the Press Foundation @freedom.press · 21/08/2026
ICE collected DNA from nearly 1 million people in just the last year. Yet when it comes to wearing body cameras for accountability, the agency suddenly runs out of money. When agencies operate in the dark, surveillance abuse isn’t a glitch, it’s a guarantee. @laurenleharper.bsky.social explains:
youtube.com
ICE is building a vast DNA database, but can't manage to deploy bodycams?
YouTube video by Freedom of the Press Foundation
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Freedom of the Press Foundation @freedom.press · 20/08/2026
You may have seen that we’re suing Trump over his corrupt scheme to sell his social media posts to Wall Street. But that’s just one of our nine active lawsuits against the administration or its cronies, with more on the way. Watch @trevortimm.bsky.social explain and learn how you can help.
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Freedom of the Press Foundation @freedom.press · 20/08/2026
Brendan Carr’s threats against the press should concern Republicans and Democrats alike. Sen. Ted Cruz, Sen. Rand Paul, and even Justice Neil Gorsuch have sharply criticized aspects of the FCC’s approach under Carr. Watch @trevortimm.bsky.social break it down.
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Freedom of the Press Foundation @freedom.press · 19/08/2026
Ronald Reagan's first FCC chair—in a sworn declaration submitted in the ABC case—on the FCC under Trump and Brendan Carr: “Never in its history has the agency ever acted so corruptly and unlawfully to intrude on broadcasters’ First Amendment rights.” techfreedom.org/wp-content/u...
Screenshot of sworn declaration in ABC case.
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Freedom of the Press Foundation @freedom.press · 18/08/2026
Disney is suing the FCC for violating its First Amendment rights and other license holders Brendan Carr has bullied should do the same. That's because the censorship is about to get worse: Trump nominated Carr's own lawyer to fill the FCC's fourth commission seat. @trevortimm.bsky.social explains:
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Freedom of the Press Foundation @freedom.press · 17/08/2026
"Official statements belong to every American equally. A president cannot strip us of timely access to executive decisions simply because he found a way to turn the podium into a private revenue stream," FPF's @laurenleharper.bsky.social writes in @ms.now.
ms.now
Opinion | All the president’s records are either secret — or for sale
A president cannot strip us of timely access to executive decisions simply because he found a way to turn the podium into a private revenue stream.
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Freedom of the Press Foundation @freedom.press · 17/08/2026
Carlitos Ricardo Parias is approaching 300 days behind bars, the longest known time a journalist has spent in U.S. custody. Authorities say he's undocumented, but their account doesn't explain a growing mountain of evidence, FPF's @adamrose.bsky.social writes in @theintercept.com:
theintercept.com
ICE Shot a Journalist and Threw Him in Detention. He’s Approaching 300 Days Behind Bars With a Festering Wound.
With the case of Carlitos Ricardo Parias, the U.S. has broken its own record for holding a journalist in custody.
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Justin Baragona @justinbaragona.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
Freedom of the Press Foundation's Seth Stern says that "countless others whose First Amendment rights have been chilled by Carr’s antics should follow Disney’s lead," stating that "it's about time for someone to take Carr and his FCC to court over their endless campaign of intimidation."
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Freedom of the Press Foundation @freedom.press · 16/08/2026
"Perhaps no journalist has endured such a sustained sequence of violence, prosecution, and imprisonment at the hands of the U.S. government." Read more from FPF's @adamrose.bsky.social about the alarming abuse endured by Carlitos Ricardo Parias.
theintercept.com
ICE Shot a Journalist and Threw Him in Detention. He’s Approaching 300 Days Behind Bars With a Festering Wound.
With the case of Carlitos Ricardo Parias, the U.S. has broken its own record for holding a journalist in custody.
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Freedom of the Press Foundation @freedom.press · 16/08/2026
"At the same time the president is selling advance access to his official communications to those with the deepest pockets, the Justice Department is engaged in an all-out effort to keep the rest of the president’s records completely hidden from the public," writes FPF's @laurenleharper.bsky.social.
ms.now
Opinion | All the president’s records are either secret — or for sale
A president cannot strip us of timely access to executive decisions simply because he found a way to turn the podium into a private revenue stream.
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Freedom of the Press Foundation @freedom.press · 14/08/2026
The world's leading media outlets must demand “that Israel allow them to send reporters into Gaza, so that evidence for war crimes is documented. Leaving Palestinian journalists alone to cover Israel's atrocities is a dereliction of duty,” Taghreed El-Khodary writes in @haaretzcom.bsky.social.
haaretz.com
Opinion | International media is failing Palestinian journalists in Gaza
The world's leading media outlets must demand every day that Israel allow them to send reporters into Gaza, so that evidence for war crimes is documented. Leaving Palestinian journalists alone to cove...
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Kirstin McCudden @kamccudden.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
$100k a month for early access to essential government info ? Nope, that's unconstitutional.
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Freedom of the Press Foundation @freedom.press · 13/08/2026
Truth Social's new service offering faster access to Trump's posts for a $100K price tag is brazen grift. That’s why Freedom of the Press Foundation, along with @theintercept.com, filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday to shut down this unconstitutional scheme. Watch @kamccudden.bsky.social explain.
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Freedom of the Press Foundation @freedom.press · 13/08/2026
ICE collected DNA from nearly 1 million people in just the last year. Yet when it comes to wearing body cameras for accountability, the agency suddenly runs out of money. When agencies operate in the dark, surveillance abuse isn’t a glitch, it’s a guarantee. @laurenleharper.bsky.social explains:
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