Kirstin McCudden
@kamccudden.bsky.social
VP 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
Reposted by Kirstin McCudden
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:
‘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 — and there have …
pressfreedomtracker.us
October 30, 2025 at 8:35 PM
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:
Reposted by Kirstin McCudden
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.
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.
September 30, 2025 at 9:14 PM
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.
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.
Reposted by Kirstin McCudden
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:
Here's what we're tracking so far:
September 29, 2025 at 6:00 PM
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:
Here's what we're tracking so far:
Reposted by Kirstin McCudden
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)
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)
Your kitchen cabinets are a national security threat
The dumbest things the government has done, or hidden, in the name of national security
freedom.press
September 26, 2025 at 5:21 PM
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)
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)
Reposted by Kirstin McCudden
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 ⬇️
📌 @columbiajournalism.bsky.social, NYC
🗓️ Thursday, 6-8 pm ET
RSVP: www.eventbrite.com/e/urgent-ide...
And save the link to watch live ⬇️
Urgent Ideas for Defending Press Freedom in Gaza
YouTube video by Columbia Journalism School
www.youtube.com
September 22, 2025 at 10:33 PM
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 ⬇️
📌 @columbiajournalism.bsky.social, NYC
🗓️ Thursday, 6-8 pm ET
RSVP: www.eventbrite.com/e/urgent-ide...
And save the link to watch live ⬇️
Reposted by Kirstin McCudden
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
Email: tips@pressfreedomtracker.us
September 11, 2025 at 3:00 PM
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
Email: tips@pressfreedomtracker.us
Reposted by Kirstin McCudden
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-...
Watch Managing Editor @kamccudden.bsky.social explain and subscribe to our newsletter for more: pressfreedomtracker.us/blog/nearly-...
August 28, 2025 at 6:38 PM
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-...
Watch Managing Editor @kamccudden.bsky.social explain and subscribe to our newsletter for more: pressfreedomtracker.us/blog/nearly-...
Reposted by Kirstin McCudden
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.
I just made a new one. It's bigger. It's worse. And it's just one week in Los Angeles.
Police Treatment Of Journalists In LA, June 2025
WARNING: DISTURBING IMAGES AND VIDEO Photo of LAPD skirmish line brandishing “less lethal” munitions. Courtesy Ringo Chiu.
docs.google.com
June 16, 2025 at 8:16 PM
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.
I just made a new one. It's bigger. It's worse. And it's just one week in Los Angeles.
Reposted by Kirstin McCudden
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...
- 32 assaults on journalists
- 6 detainments/arrests of journalists
- 4 equipment damages
- 2 equipment searches/seizures
View our database: pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incident...
June 13, 2025 at 6:59 PM
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...
- 32 assaults on journalists
- 6 detainments/arrests of journalists
- 4 equipment damages
- 2 equipment searches/seizures
View our database: pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incident...
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:
June 13, 2025 at 1:50 PM
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:
Reposted by Kirstin McCudden
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.
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.
Tracking Trump’s anti-press social media posts
YouTube video by Freedom of the Press Foundation
www.youtube.com
June 12, 2025 at 7:30 PM
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.
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
June 10, 2025 at 3:01 PM
the numbers of assaults — and now a detainment of CNN correspondent and crew — are rapidly changing. as we verify we publish on pressfreedomtracker.us
Reposted by Kirstin McCudden
We are actively reporting on multiple attacks against journalists covering protests in LA — including assaults, equipment damage, and other press freedom violations.
June 9, 2025 at 4:09 PM
We are actively reporting on multiple attacks against journalists covering protests in LA — including assaults, equipment damage, and other press freedom violations.
Reposted by Kirstin McCudden
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.
Read our complaint here.
FPF takes State Department to court over Öztürk secrecy
Freedom of Information Act lawsuit seeks documents on targeting of journalist
freedom.press
June 9, 2025 at 7:15 PM
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.
Read our complaint here.
Reposted by Kirstin McCudden
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.
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.
June 9, 2025 at 12:46 AM
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.
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:
Dropping federal oversight programs into police reform means journalists are left to the policies and reform measures — if any — at the state and local level.
This and more updates in our Tracker newsletter from managing editor @kamccudden.bsky.social:
This and more updates in our Tracker newsletter from managing editor @kamccudden.bsky.social:
Protecting journalism, without federal police reforms
People take part in a candlelight vigil on the fifth anniversary of the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Earlier that week, the Department of Justice announced it was dropping federal oversight ...
pressfreedomtracker.us
May 30, 2025 at 2:03 PM
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 !
🔔 Join us for a conversation about leak investigations and their impacts on the press, featuring Telos founder @ryanlizza.bsky.social, Pulitzer Prize winner James Risen, and FPF's @laurenleharper.bsky.social and @trevortimm.bsky.social.
🗓️ May 28, 2pm ET/11am PT
RSVP: freedom.press/burn-after-r...
🗓️ May 28, 2pm ET/11am PT
RSVP: freedom.press/burn-after-r...
May 27, 2025 at 4:35 PM
That's tomorrow !
Reposted by Kirstin McCudden
Our digital security training team answers, how do you identify everyone in conversation on Signal?
Ask a security trainer: Checking identities in Signal
Welcome to “Ask a security trainer,” the column where the Digital Security Training team at Freedom of the Press Foundation (FPF) answers your burning questions at the intersection of journalism and s...
freedom.press
May 19, 2025 at 8:30 PM
Our digital security training team answers, how do you identify everyone in conversation on Signal?
Reposted by Kirstin McCudden
🔔 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
🗓️ May 23 at 12:30 pm ET
RSVP: freedom.press/silencing-VOA
May 20, 2025 at 5:34 PM
🔔 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
🗓️ May 23 at 12:30 pm ET
RSVP: freedom.press/silencing-VOA
Reposted by Kirstin McCudden
Your right to know deserves a plan. We just published ours.
Read our 2025-2026 strategic plan:
Read our 2025-2026 strategic plan:
Freedom of the Press Foundation’s 2025-2026 Strategic Plan
Press freedom in the United States is under attack like never before — reporters arrested by law enforcement, news media openly vilified by political leaders, the First Amendment sidelined by courts. ...
freedom.press
May 15, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Your right to know deserves a plan. We just published ours.
Read our 2025-2026 strategic plan:
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...
April 29, 2025 at 10:33 PM
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...
Reposted by Kirstin McCudden
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.
She kept Dan out of jail for leaking the Pentagon Papers; now we’re continuing his fight to defend whistleblowers.
Barbra Streisand Kept Pentagon Papers Leaker Daniel Ellsberg Out of Jail, Says Filmmaker
Paul Jay, at work on ‘How to Stop a Nuclear War,’ a documentary based on Ellsberg’s book, tells THR about Streisand throwing a party to crucially fund the whistleblower’s legal defense fund and keep h...
www.hollywoodreporter.com
April 24, 2025 at 2:28 PM
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.
She kept Dan out of jail for leaking the Pentagon Papers; now we’re continuing his fight to defend whistleblowers.
Reposted by Kirstin McCudden
Explainer — How to share sensitive leaks with the press
Hey, whistleblowers: Exposing corruption is vital but comes with its own risks. If you’re sharing sensitive information, make sure to protect your identity — use encrypted tools like @securedrop.org
Stay safe, stay anonymous.
freedom.press/digisec/blog...
Stay safe, stay anonymous.
freedom.press/digisec/blog...
How to share sensitive leaks with the press
YouTube video by Freedom of the Press Foundation
www.youtube.com
March 11, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Explainer — How to share sensitive leaks with the press
Reposted by Kirstin McCudden
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...
➡️ Check out our video on how to leak sensitive information to media outlets securely and anonymously:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1FR...
April 2, 2025 at 10:45 PM
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...
➡️ 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)
How do we know if what we read is true?
Fact-checking has been around since the 19th century, fighting misinformation long before the internet. Read more ➡️ w.wiki/DCzG
Fact-checking has been around since the 19th century, fighting misinformation long before the internet. Read more ➡️ w.wiki/DCzG
April 2, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Happy International Fact-Checking Day to those who celebrate ! (ahem)