@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
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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 — 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 —
Newsrooms: We've made a lot of changes to our guide to confidential tip pages. The biggest change — informed by our research into common channels — is that we've actually cut WhatsApp from the list and added web forms. Check it out. freedom.press/digisec/blog...
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...
We track press freedom violations in the United States here: pressfreedomtracker.us
Here’s what we’ve been able to verify and report so far (I’m using an ‘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...
— 7 detainments/arrests of journalists
— 35 + assaults of journalists
— multiple reports of damaged news vehicles
— other incidents, like forced bag searches, tear gassing and harassment
1/ Now a week into California protests in response to immigration raids, here’s what we’re working on documenting at the Tracker — 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:
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: