Kirstin McCudden's Avatar

Kirstin McCudden

@kamccudden.bsky.social

Chief of Editorial for @freedom.press, Managing Editor for @pressfreedomtracker.us, documenting aggressions against journalists in the US. Also a journalist: frmrly St. Pete, ATX, KC, Geneva, now NYC. J-School: Mizzou x2. Puppers: That's Aoife_the_pomapoo

6,807 Followers  |  108 Following  |  49 Posts  |  Joined: 22.09.2023
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Posts by Kirstin McCudden (@kamccudden.bsky.social)

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Safety Whistle 2.5 " x 0.5" Includes metal key ring

Want to get loud about press freedom? Drop a hint with this handy safety whistle.

Check out our shop for this and more:

27.02.2026 18:35 β€” πŸ‘ 24    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 0
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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 β€” and courts have affirmed that right time and again.

Watch @freedom.press’s @trevortimm.bsky.social explain.

04.02.2026 20:17 β€” πŸ‘ 412    πŸ” 169    πŸ’¬ 24    πŸ“Œ 14

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

02.02.2026 15:08 β€” πŸ‘ 6    πŸ” 4    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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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 β€” but we can help you secure yourself digitally.

Watch @trevortimm.bsky.social share tips that can make a real difference for journalists.

23.01.2026 16:12 β€” πŸ‘ 83    πŸ” 57    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 4

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

21.01.2026 18:44 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

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

20.01.2026 17:41 β€” πŸ‘ 7    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

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 β€”

06.01.2026 21:39 β€” πŸ‘ 42    πŸ” 13    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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Security considerations for confidential tip pages News organizations should take a few steps to improve the security and efficacy of their confidential tip pages.

Newsrooms: We've made a lot of changes to our guide to confidential tip pages. The biggest change β€” informed by our research into common channels β€” is that we've actually cut WhatsApp from the list and added web forms. Check it out. freedom.press/digisec/blog...

05.01.2026 23:44 β€” πŸ‘ 13    πŸ” 9    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1

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

20.12.2025 20:36 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Over 150 journalists have been assaulted this year β€” 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.

16.12.2025 15:57 β€” πŸ‘ 118    πŸ” 60    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 1

The Tracker's 2025 arrest report now live

15.12.2025 15:23 β€” πŸ‘ 6    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1
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β€˜They see the media as the enemy.’ A lesson from a deported journalist Dear Friend of Press Freedom,I’m starting this month with a roundup of notable incidents and updates β€” and there have …

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:

30.10.2025 20:35 β€” πŸ‘ 18    πŸ” 9    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Since becoming president-elect, Trump has sued @nytimes.com , @wsj.com and more.

At the same time, his administration is tightening access β€” the press now faces new Pentagon rules.

Plus, journalist Mario Guevara has spent 100-plus days in ICE custody.

Watch @kamccudden.bsky.social explain.

30.09.2025 21:14 β€” πŸ‘ 36    πŸ” 23    πŸ’¬ 4    πŸ“Œ 1
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:

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:

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:

29.09.2025 18:00 β€” πŸ‘ 210    πŸ” 120    πŸ’¬ 6    πŸ“Œ 5
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Your kitchen cabinets are a national security threat The dumbest things the government has done, or hidden, in the name of national security

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)

26.09.2025 17:21 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Urgent Ideas for Defending Press Freedom in Gaza YouTube video by Columbia Journalism School

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.

πŸ“Œ @columbiajournalism.bsky.social, NYC
πŸ—“οΈ Thursday, 6-8 pm ET

RSVP: www.eventbrite.com/e/urgent-ide...

And save the link to watch live ⬇️

22.09.2025 22:33 β€” πŸ‘ 16    πŸ” 11    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
If you are a journalist β€” or know one β€” 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

If you are a journalist β€” or know one β€” 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

If you are a journalist β€” or know one β€” 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

11.09.2025 15:00 β€” πŸ‘ 32    πŸ” 27    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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More journalists have already been assaulted in the U.S. this year than in all of 2024 β€” 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-...

28.08.2025 18:38 β€” πŸ‘ 47    πŸ” 38    πŸ’¬ 3    πŸ“Œ 2
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Police Treatment Of Journalists In LA, June 2025 WARNING: DISTURBING IMAGES AND VIDEO Photo of LAPD skirmish line brandishing β€œless lethal” munitions. Courtesy Ringo Chiu.

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.

16.06.2025 20:16 β€” πŸ‘ 139    πŸ” 86    πŸ’¬ 5    πŸ“Œ 3
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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...

13.06.2025 18:59 β€” πŸ‘ 162    πŸ” 90    πŸ’¬ 3    πŸ“Œ 5
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U.S. Press Freedom Tracker The U.S. Press Freedom Tracker is a project that aims to comprehensively document press freedom incidents in the United States β€” such as the arrests of journalists, seizures of their equipment, interr...

We track press freedom violations in the United States here: pressfreedomtracker.us

13.06.2025 13:51 β€” πŸ‘ 6    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Incident Database The U.S. Press Freedom Tracker is a database of press freedom incidents in the United States β€” everything from arrests of journalists and the seizure of their equipment to interrogations at the U.S. b...

Here’s what we’ve been able to verify and report so far (I’m using an β€˜immigration’ tag and June 2025 date stamp. You can filter the database by location, date, journalists or news outlet and more)

pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incident...

13.06.2025 13:51 β€” πŸ‘ 10    πŸ” 5    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

β€” 7 detainments/arrests of journalists
β€” 35 + assaults of journalists
β€” multiple reports of damaged news vehicles
β€” other incidents, like forced bag searches, tear gassing and harassment

13.06.2025 13:50 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

1/ Now a week into California protests in response to immigration raids, here’s what we’re working on documenting at the Tracker β€” At least 50 incidents of violence or other types of aggressions against journalists, mostly by law enforcement, and some targeting of news cars, mostly by individuals:

13.06.2025 13:50 β€” πŸ‘ 38    πŸ” 17    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
Tracking Trump’s anti-press social media posts
YouTube video by Freedom of the Press Foundation Tracking Trump’s anti-press social media posts

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.

12.06.2025 19:30 β€” πŸ‘ 41    πŸ” 19    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 0

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

10.06.2025 15:01 β€” πŸ‘ 9    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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We are actively reporting on multiple attacks against journalists covering protests in LA β€” including assaults, equipment damage, and other press freedom violations.

09.06.2025 16:09 β€” πŸ‘ 99    πŸ” 67    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 3
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FPF takes State Department to court over Γ–ztΓΌrk secrecy Freedom of Information Act lawsuit seeks documents on targeting of journalist

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 RΓΌmeysa Γ–ztΓΌrk for exercising her right to free speech.

Read our complaint here.

09.06.2025 19:15 β€” πŸ‘ 72    πŸ” 21    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 2

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.

09.06.2025 00:46 β€” πŸ‘ 445    πŸ” 197    πŸ’¬ 3    πŸ“Œ 0

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:

30.05.2025 14:03 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0