Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press
@rcfp.org
The Reporters Committee provides free legal help to journalists and protects their First Amendment rights. (RCFP for short.) Find us at rcfp.org.
☎️ Legal Hotline: 800-336-4243 | hotline@rcfp.org
✉️ Sign up for our newsletters: rcfp.org/subscribe
☎️ Legal Hotline: 800-336-4243 | hotline@rcfp.org
✉️ Sign up for our newsletters: rcfp.org/subscribe
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Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press
The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press provides free legal guides and resources to help reporters understand their rights.
rcfp.org
👋 We’re the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press (RCFP), a nonpartisan nonprofit that provides free legal help to journalists and protects their First Amendment + newsgathering rights.
Follow us to keep up with the fight for #pressfreedom!
Learn more at rcfp.org and in the thread below 👇
Follow us to keep up with the fight for #pressfreedom!
Learn more at rcfp.org and in the thread below 👇
“The government appears to have ignored a crucial press freedom guardrail in searching a journalist's home.”
RCFP statement on FBI's newly unsealed justification for seizing reporter's electronic devices
“The government appears to have ignored a crucial press freedom guardrail in searching a journalist's home.”
www.rcfp.org
February 10, 2026 at 12:10 AM
“The government appears to have ignored a crucial press freedom guardrail in searching a journalist's home.”
Unsealed records — obtained by news outlets with free legal help from @rcfp.org attorneys — reveal new details about the Trump administration’s unconstitutional efforts to deport noncitizen students and faculty who spoke out about Israel’s actions in Gaza.
Unsealed records shed light on Trump administration’s targeting of noncitizen students, faculty
RCFP attorneys co-represented The Intercept and The Center for Investigative Reporting in a successful effort to make the records public.
www.rcfp.org
February 9, 2026 at 5:14 PM
Unsealed records — obtained by news outlets with free legal help from @rcfp.org attorneys — reveal new details about the Trump administration’s unconstitutional efforts to deport noncitizen students and faculty who spoke out about Israel’s actions in Gaza.
@rcfp.org is urging Maryland lawmakers to pass an anti-SLAPP bill that would allow courts to quickly dismiss meritless lawsuits intended to chill speech about matters of public interest.
RCFP urges Maryland lawmakers to pass anti-SLAPP bill
The legislation would allow courts to quickly weed out meritless lawsuits intended to chill speech about matters of public interest.
www.rcfp.org
February 8, 2026 at 5:09 PM
@rcfp.org is urging Maryland lawmakers to pass an anti-SLAPP bill that would allow courts to quickly dismiss meritless lawsuits intended to chill speech about matters of public interest.
In a Q&A, @rcfp.org's new Abrams Legal Fellow Tanvi Valsangikar discussed why free legal vetting is important for documentary filmmakers, how pre-publication review works for visual journalism, and her passion for public-interest reporting. https://www.rcfp.org/tanvi-valsangikar-interview/
February 7, 2026 at 4:47 PM
In a Q&A, @rcfp.org's new Abrams Legal Fellow Tanvi Valsangikar discussed why free legal vetting is important for documentary filmmakers, how pre-publication review works for visual journalism, and her passion for public-interest reporting. https://www.rcfp.org/tanvi-valsangikar-interview/
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said that his trip to Samoa in 2019 ahead of a deadly measles outbreak had “nothing to do with vaccines.”
But records obtained by @theguardian.com + @apnews.com — stemming from a FOIA lawsuit filed by @rcfp.org attorneys on the outlets' behalf — tell a different story.
But records obtained by @theguardian.com + @apnews.com — stemming from a FOIA lawsuit filed by @rcfp.org attorneys on the outlets' behalf — tell a different story.
Newly revealed emails undermine RFK Jr testimony about 2019 Samoa trip ahead of measles outbreak
Kennedy later said the purpose of his trip had nothing to do with vaccines. US embassy and UN staff at the time said otherwise, emails show
www.theguardian.com
February 6, 2026 at 8:24 PM
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said that his trip to Samoa in 2019 ahead of a deadly measles outbreak had “nothing to do with vaccines.”
But records obtained by @theguardian.com + @apnews.com — stemming from a FOIA lawsuit filed by @rcfp.org attorneys on the outlets' behalf — tell a different story.
But records obtained by @theguardian.com + @apnews.com — stemming from a FOIA lawsuit filed by @rcfp.org attorneys on the outlets' behalf — tell a different story.
Reposted by Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press
“Whether by lawsuit or intimidation, the administration has been eroding press freedom and independence, and by acquiescence, some in the media have encouraged their own surrender,” Harold Holzer, author of “The Presidents vs. the Press,” tells @rcfp.org.
Is Trump the most anti-press president in U.S. history? We asked the guy who wrote the book on the subject.
We spoke with the author of "The Presidents vs. the Press" to get some historical perspective on Trump's relationship with the news media.
www.rcfp.org
February 5, 2026 at 5:42 PM
“Whether by lawsuit or intimidation, the administration has been eroding press freedom and independence, and by acquiescence, some in the media have encouraged their own surrender,” Harold Holzer, author of “The Presidents vs. the Press,” tells @rcfp.org.
“Taxpayers deserve to know for what purpose their money is spent when public officials use the state plane,” @rcfp.org attorney Leslie Briggs told @oklahomavoice.com, which is suing to obtain complete and unredacted travel logs.
OK Voice sues for access to state flight logs
An RCFP attorney is representing the news outlet in a public records lawsuit.
www.rcfp.org
February 5, 2026 at 8:12 PM
“Taxpayers deserve to know for what purpose their money is spent when public officials use the state plane,” @rcfp.org attorney Leslie Briggs told @oklahomavoice.com, which is suing to obtain complete and unredacted travel logs.
Is Trump the most anti-press president in U.S. history?
We asked Harold Holzer, historian and author of “The Presidents vs. the Press,” for his thoughts on that and much more in a new interview.
We asked Harold Holzer, historian and author of “The Presidents vs. the Press,” for his thoughts on that and much more in a new interview.
Is Trump the most anti-press president in U.S. history? We asked the guy who wrote the book on the subject.
We spoke with the author of "The Presidents vs. the Press" to get some historical perspective on Trump's relationship with the news media.
www.rcfp.org
February 5, 2026 at 6:21 PM
Is Trump the most anti-press president in U.S. history?
We asked Harold Holzer, historian and author of “The Presidents vs. the Press,” for his thoughts on that and much more in a new interview.
We asked Harold Holzer, historian and author of “The Presidents vs. the Press,” for his thoughts on that and much more in a new interview.
Want to keep up with the latest news on press freedom? Subscribe to @rcfp.org's monthly newsletter.
Our February edition goes out Friday, with updates on:
👉 Don Lemon/Georgia Fort arrests
👉 FBI raid of a journalist's home
👉 Q&A on Trump + the press
Sign up: www.rcfp.org/subscribe/
Our February edition goes out Friday, with updates on:
👉 Don Lemon/Georgia Fort arrests
👉 FBI raid of a journalist's home
👉 Q&A on Trump + the press
Sign up: www.rcfp.org/subscribe/
February 4, 2026 at 11:35 PM
Want to keep up with the latest news on press freedom? Subscribe to @rcfp.org's monthly newsletter.
Our February edition goes out Friday, with updates on:
👉 Don Lemon/Georgia Fort arrests
👉 FBI raid of a journalist's home
👉 Q&A on Trump + the press
Sign up: www.rcfp.org/subscribe/
Our February edition goes out Friday, with updates on:
👉 Don Lemon/Georgia Fort arrests
👉 FBI raid of a journalist's home
👉 Q&A on Trump + the press
Sign up: www.rcfp.org/subscribe/
With free legal help from @rcfp.org attorney Leslie Briggs, @oklahomawatch.bsky.social successfully sued to obtain records related to the resignation of a senior official at Oklahoma's education agency, which admitted in a court filing that it violated the state public records law.
Oklahoma education agency settles public records dispute with Oklahoma Watch
Represented by an RCFP attorney, Oklahoma Watch sued the state last year for records related to the resignation of a senior education official.
www.rcfp.org
February 4, 2026 at 5:13 PM
With free legal help from @rcfp.org attorney Leslie Briggs, @oklahomawatch.bsky.social successfully sued to obtain records related to the resignation of a senior official at Oklahoma's education agency, which admitted in a court filing that it violated the state public records law.
“By not alerting the judge to the existence of a federal law that is supposed to limit searches for reporting materials, it may have greased the skids for the judge agreeing to the warrant when otherwise the judge might have scrutinized it more carefully,” @rcfp.org's Gabe Rottman told @nytimes.com.
U.S. Failed to Alert Judge to Press Law in Application to Search Reporter’s Home
The Justice Dept. did not address a 1980 law that generally bars warrants for reporting material when it sought to seize a Washington Post reporter’s devices, an unsealed filing shows.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/02/u...
The Justice Dept. did not address a 1980 law that generally bars warrants for reporting material when it sought to seize a Washington Post reporter’s devices, an unsealed filing shows.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/02/u...
U.S. Failed to Alert Judge to Press Law in Application to Search Reporter’s Home
www.nytimes.com
February 4, 2026 at 12:42 AM
“By not alerting the judge to the existence of a federal law that is supposed to limit searches for reporting materials, it may have greased the skids for the judge agreeing to the warrant when otherwise the judge might have scrutinized it more carefully,” @rcfp.org's Gabe Rottman told @nytimes.com.
In its affidavit, the FBI didn't reference the Privacy Protection Act, which largely prohibits raids targeting the press to seize unpublished work.
“The gov't appears to have ignored a crucial press freedom guardrail in searching a journalist’s home,” said @rcfp.org's Gabe Rottman.
“The gov't appears to have ignored a crucial press freedom guardrail in searching a journalist’s home,” said @rcfp.org's Gabe Rottman.
February 3, 2026 at 4:43 PM
In its affidavit, the FBI didn't reference the Privacy Protection Act, which largely prohibits raids targeting the press to seize unpublished work.
“The gov't appears to have ignored a crucial press freedom guardrail in searching a journalist’s home,” said @rcfp.org's Gabe Rottman.
“The gov't appears to have ignored a crucial press freedom guardrail in searching a journalist’s home,” said @rcfp.org's Gabe Rottman.
New: A federal judge unsealed documents that reveal the FBI's justification for raiding the home of Washington Post reporter Hannah Natanson.
The records were made public after @rcfp.org asked the court to unseal search warrant materials related to the raid.
The records were made public after @rcfp.org asked the court to unseal search warrant materials related to the raid.
RCFP statement on FBI's newly unsealed justification for seizing reporter's electronic devices
“The government appears to have ignored a crucial press freedom guardrail in searching a journalist's home.”
www.rcfp.org
February 3, 2026 at 4:43 PM
New: A federal judge unsealed documents that reveal the FBI's justification for raiding the home of Washington Post reporter Hannah Natanson.
The records were made public after @rcfp.org asked the court to unseal search warrant materials related to the raid.
The records were made public after @rcfp.org asked the court to unseal search warrant materials related to the raid.
Reposted by Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press
The U.S. Journalist Assistance Network invites you to join us for a roundtable discussion on best practices for protecting data and devices for journalists in the U.S.
🗓️ 2/10 | 12-1 p.m. ET
Register: cpj.org/USJANPaneldata
🗓️ 2/10 | 12-1 p.m. ET
Register: cpj.org/USJANPaneldata
February 2, 2026 at 9:54 PM
The U.S. Journalist Assistance Network invites you to join us for a roundtable discussion on best practices for protecting data and devices for journalists in the U.S.
🗓️ 2/10 | 12-1 p.m. ET
Register: cpj.org/USJANPaneldata
🗓️ 2/10 | 12-1 p.m. ET
Register: cpj.org/USJANPaneldata
"The extraordinary arrests of journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort last week are a dangerous escalation in the Trump administration’s attacks on the press and pose a clear threat to First Amendment freedoms," write @tboutrous.bsky.social and @ktownsend.bsky.social. [via @us.theguardian.com]
The arrests of Don Lemon and Georgia Fort are a danger to all Americans | Theodore J Boutrous, Jr and Katie Townsend
We are witnessing a dangerous escalation in the Trump administration’s attacks on the press and a clear threat to first amendment freedoms
www.theguardian.com
February 2, 2026 at 7:04 PM
"The extraordinary arrests of journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort last week are a dangerous escalation in the Trump administration’s attacks on the press and pose a clear threat to First Amendment freedoms," write @tboutrous.bsky.social and @ktownsend.bsky.social. [via @us.theguardian.com]
In a new lawsuit on behalf of the @oklahomavoice.com, @rcfp.org attorney Leslie Briggs alleges that the Oklahoma transportation department unlawfully withheld parts of flight log entries for the state plane.
OK Voice sues for access to state flight logs
An RCFP attorney is representing the news outlet in a public records lawsuit.
www.rcfp.org
February 1, 2026 at 4:48 PM
In a new lawsuit on behalf of the @oklahomavoice.com, @rcfp.org attorney Leslie Briggs alleges that the Oklahoma transportation department unlawfully withheld parts of flight log entries for the state plane.
Another victory in @rcfp.org’s push to help journalists fight for transparency around capital punishment.
Judge orders Tennessee to expand media access to executions
The judge sided with arguments RCFP attorneys made in a lawsuit on behalf of a news media coalition.
www.rcfp.org
January 31, 2026 at 5:11 PM
Another victory in @rcfp.org’s push to help journalists fight for transparency around capital punishment.
@rcfp.org's statement on the arrest of independent journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort, who were charged with violating federal law while covering a protest inside a Minnesota church.
🔗 Read more: www.rcfp.org/lemon-fort-a...
🔗 Read more: www.rcfp.org/lemon-fort-a...
January 30, 2026 at 5:19 PM
@rcfp.org's statement on the arrest of independent journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort, who were charged with violating federal law while covering a protest inside a Minnesota church.
🔗 Read more: www.rcfp.org/lemon-fort-a...
🔗 Read more: www.rcfp.org/lemon-fort-a...
Settlement records in the wrongful-death lawsuit of 14-year-old Grace Packer were filed under seal without justification.
Represented by @rcfp.org attorneys, the Bucks County Courier Times is fighting to access the records.
Represented by @rcfp.org attorneys, the Bucks County Courier Times is fighting to access the records.
PA newspaper seeks settlement records in wrongful-death lawsuit related to teen’s murder
RCFP attorneys have spent years representing the Bucks County Courier Times in its fight to unseal the records.
www.rcfp.org
January 30, 2026 at 5:00 PM
Settlement records in the wrongful-death lawsuit of 14-year-old Grace Packer were filed under seal without justification.
Represented by @rcfp.org attorneys, the Bucks County Courier Times is fighting to access the records.
Represented by @rcfp.org attorneys, the Bucks County Courier Times is fighting to access the records.
@hubbardschoolumn.bsky.social assembled a list of resources for journalists covering the surge of federal immigration enforcement in Minnesota, including legal help and guides from @rcfp.org.
Check it out:
Check it out:
Safety, legal and resilience resources for journalists covering the federal surge in Minnesota | Hubbard School of Journalism
A chemical irritant canister remains at the scene where an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent shot a man while trying to apprehend him on Jan. 15 in north Minneapolis. Protests erupted after th...
hsjmc.umn.edu
January 29, 2026 at 9:57 PM
@hubbardschoolumn.bsky.social assembled a list of resources for journalists covering the surge of federal immigration enforcement in Minnesota, including legal help and guides from @rcfp.org.
Check it out:
Check it out:
‼️ We're expanding @rcfp.org's Local Legal Initiative to Minnesota — and hiring an in-state attorney to provide local journalists and newsrooms free legal help to pursue impactful reporting in their communities.
Learn more and apply: smrtr.io/wM-xy
Learn more and apply: smrtr.io/wM-xy
January 29, 2026 at 4:48 PM
‼️ We're expanding @rcfp.org's Local Legal Initiative to Minnesota — and hiring an in-state attorney to provide local journalists and newsrooms free legal help to pursue impactful reporting in their communities.
Learn more and apply: smrtr.io/wM-xy
Learn more and apply: smrtr.io/wM-xy
Subject Matter supports documentaries highlighting social issues and nonprofits tackling the featured topics.
Its latest backed film is "Seized," which chronicles the troubling police raid on the Marion County Record.
The film will be available to watch online starting tomorrow. Check it out:
Its latest backed film is "Seized," which chronicles the troubling police raid on the Marion County Record.
The film will be available to watch online starting tomorrow. Check it out:
Program Guide | 2025 Sundance Film Festival
Discover the 2025 film lineup.
festival.sundance.org
January 28, 2026 at 8:16 PM
Subject Matter supports documentaries highlighting social issues and nonprofits tackling the featured topics.
Its latest backed film is "Seized," which chronicles the troubling police raid on the Marion County Record.
The film will be available to watch online starting tomorrow. Check it out:
Its latest backed film is "Seized," which chronicles the troubling police raid on the Marion County Record.
The film will be available to watch online starting tomorrow. Check it out:
Now is a perfect time to support press freedom with a donation to @rcfp.org: Through Sunday, our friends at Subject Matter will be adding $100 to each contribution, up to $5,000!
It's a great opportunity to maximize your impact in defense of the First Amendment. Donate here:
It's a great opportunity to maximize your impact in defense of the First Amendment. Donate here:
Seized + Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press — SUBJECT MATTER
www.subjectmatter.org
January 28, 2026 at 8:16 PM
Now is a perfect time to support press freedom with a donation to @rcfp.org: Through Sunday, our friends at Subject Matter will be adding $100 to each contribution, up to $5,000!
It's a great opportunity to maximize your impact in defense of the First Amendment. Donate here:
It's a great opportunity to maximize your impact in defense of the First Amendment. Donate here:
Thanks to @laurenleharper.bsky.social for highlighting FOIA Wiki as one of her "favorite resources" in a recent @freedom.press newsletter! freedom.press/the-classifi...
FOIA.wiki is a free public resource with all the information you need to submit FOIA requests, appeal a denial, and more.
FOIA.wiki is a free public resource with all the information you need to submit FOIA requests, appeal a denial, and more.
January 28, 2026 at 6:00 PM
Thanks to @laurenleharper.bsky.social for highlighting FOIA Wiki as one of her "favorite resources" in a recent @freedom.press newsletter! freedom.press/the-classifi...
FOIA.wiki is a free public resource with all the information you need to submit FOIA requests, appeal a denial, and more.
FOIA.wiki is a free public resource with all the information you need to submit FOIA requests, appeal a denial, and more.
@hannahbeckler.bsky.social and @businessinsider.com, represented by @rcfp.org attorneys, are fighting for access to records that could shed light on how Virginia deploys attack dogs in its prisons — which it does more often than any other state.
Business Insider fights for access to prison attack dog records
An RCFP attorney is representing Business Insider and one of its reporters.
www.rcfp.org
January 28, 2026 at 1:26 AM
@hannahbeckler.bsky.social and @businessinsider.com, represented by @rcfp.org attorneys, are fighting for access to records that could shed light on how Virginia deploys attack dogs in its prisons — which it does more often than any other state.