Seth Stern
@seth-stern.bsky.social
Director of Advocacy @freedom.press
Reposted by Seth Stern
That's an all-star panel!!
🔔 Join us for a discussion with immigration journalists about reporting truth and protecting communities, ft. @maritzafelix.bsky.social, @arelisrhdz.bsky.social, @lamthuyvo.bsky.social, @joseiswriting.bsky.social, and @caitlinvogus.bsky.social.
🗓️ Dec. 5, 2 pm ET
RSVP: freedom.press/immigration-...
🗓️ Dec. 5, 2 pm ET
RSVP: freedom.press/immigration-...
November 21, 2025 at 10:03 PM
That's an all-star panel!!
Reposted by Seth Stern
📩 Read in our weekly newsletter (and subscribe):
- Journalist-hating president kisses up to journalist-killing crown prince
- DHS targets journalists for speaking out about Gaza
- Journalists targeted at Oregon protests
- Plus, what we're reading...
- Journalist-hating president kisses up to journalist-killing crown prince
- DHS targets journalists for speaking out about Gaza
- Journalists targeted at Oregon protests
- Plus, what we're reading...
Arms supplier to press murderers welcomes press murderer to DC
DHS targets journalists for speaking out about Gaza
freedom.press
November 21, 2025 at 10:34 PM
📩 Read in our weekly newsletter (and subscribe):
- Journalist-hating president kisses up to journalist-killing crown prince
- DHS targets journalists for speaking out about Gaza
- Journalists targeted at Oregon protests
- Plus, what we're reading...
- Journalist-hating president kisses up to journalist-killing crown prince
- DHS targets journalists for speaking out about Gaza
- Journalists targeted at Oregon protests
- Plus, what we're reading...
Reposted by Seth Stern
"Judges need to rise to the moment, confront present realities, and stop pretending yesterday’s norms and assumptions remain valid while we slide further into authoritarianism."
November 21, 2025 at 2:17 AM
"Judges need to rise to the moment, confront present realities, and stop pretending yesterday’s norms and assumptions remain valid while we slide further into authoritarianism."
Reposted by Seth Stern
So we went from feigned outrage about allegedly biased public media to the president making deals with centibillionaire friends to make corporate media more biased. Got it.
Larry Ellison discussed axing CNN hosts with White House in takeover bid talks
Exclusive: Senior officials indicated favorability toward Paramount Skydance acquiring Warner Bros Discovery
www.theguardian.com
November 20, 2025 at 3:09 PM
So we went from feigned outrage about allegedly biased public media to the president making deals with centibillionaire friends to make corporate media more biased. Got it.
Reposted by Seth Stern
From endless delays in response time to ridiculously overbroad redactions, FOIA is plagued with problems.
Urge Congress to reform the law using our easy action center tool:
Urge Congress to reform the law using our easy action center tool:
Strengthen the Freedom of Information Act
Defending press freedom for the next generation
freedom.press
November 20, 2025 at 9:10 PM
From endless delays in response time to ridiculously overbroad redactions, FOIA is plagued with problems.
Urge Congress to reform the law using our easy action center tool:
Urge Congress to reform the law using our easy action center tool:
Reposted by Seth Stern
The county "drew condemnation from civil liberties advocates across the country, sacrificed any credibility it had when it comes to valuing transparency and respecting First Amendment rights — and all to recover a grand total of $50," writes @seth-stern.bsky.social in @citybeatcincy.bsky.social.
[OPINION] Kenton County’s $50 Lesson in Press Freedom
Even after dropping charges, Kenton County can’t undo the damage caused by prosecuting journalists who were simply covering a protest, despite clear legal protections for the press.
www.citybeat.com
November 20, 2025 at 10:25 PM
The county "drew condemnation from civil liberties advocates across the country, sacrificed any credibility it had when it comes to valuing transparency and respecting First Amendment rights — and all to recover a grand total of $50," writes @seth-stern.bsky.social in @citybeatcincy.bsky.social.
Reposted by Seth Stern
“It looks like these officers believe transparency itself is obstructive to their operations, which is a pretty good indicator that their operations are in need of obstruction … The First Amendment is intended to obstruct government abuses.”
Immigration agents claim routine reporting violates federal law
Officers who can’t handle public scrutiny should get a job that doesn’t involve publicly abducting people.
freedom.press
November 20, 2025 at 10:09 PM
“It looks like these officers believe transparency itself is obstructive to their operations, which is a pretty good indicator that their operations are in need of obstruction … The First Amendment is intended to obstruct government abuses.”
“The practical effect,” the court wrote, “is to enjoin all law enforcement officers within the Executive Branch.”
And that’s supposed to be a bad thing, when the head of the Executive Branch openly encourages and even demands exactly the kinds of illegality the order restricts?
And that’s supposed to be a bad thing, when the head of the Executive Branch openly encourages and even demands exactly the kinds of illegality the order restricts?
Appeals Court Halts Sweeping Order that Restricts Immigration Agents’ Use of Force Around Chicago
The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals has agreed to stay an order issued by U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis that sought to rein in agents’ use of tear gas, pepper balls and other crowd control measures ...
news.wttw.com
November 20, 2025 at 1:04 PM
“The practical effect,” the court wrote, “is to enjoin all law enforcement officers within the Executive Branch.”
And that’s supposed to be a bad thing, when the head of the Executive Branch openly encourages and even demands exactly the kinds of illegality the order restricts?
And that’s supposed to be a bad thing, when the head of the Executive Branch openly encourages and even demands exactly the kinds of illegality the order restricts?
Reposted by Seth Stern
Here's Brendan Carr before trading his integrity for a Trump lapel pin: "A newsroom’s decision about what stories to cover and how to frame them should be beyond the reach of any government official, not targeted by them."
Now, he's targeting newsrooms that weren't even involved in BBC's decisions.
Now, he's targeting newsrooms that weren't even involved in BBC's decisions.
November 20, 2025 at 2:11 AM
Here's Brendan Carr before trading his integrity for a Trump lapel pin: "A newsroom’s decision about what stories to cover and how to frame them should be beyond the reach of any government official, not targeted by them."
Now, he's targeting newsrooms that weren't even involved in BBC's decisions.
Now, he's targeting newsrooms that weren't even involved in BBC's decisions.
Reposted by Seth Stern
Probably should've predicted that our roving army of misfit fed goons would consist of the kind of men who subsist largely on Slim Jims and energy drinks in between beating immigrants
“.. Federal agents walk through a gas station market searching for undocumented immigrants during Operation Charlotte's Web in Charlotte, North Carolina.”
@gettyimages.com
@gettyimages.com
November 17, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Probably should've predicted that our roving army of misfit fed goons would consist of the kind of men who subsist largely on Slim Jims and energy drinks in between beating immigrants
Reposted by Seth Stern
NEW — An investigation by a group of Chicago-area newsrooms and independent journalists found that federal agents used chemical weapons on protesters at least 49 times across 18 incidents across Chicago and the suburbs since October 1.
thetriibe.com/2025/11/feds...
thetriibe.com/2025/11/feds...
Feds used chemical agents dozens of times in Chicago • The TRiiBE
An investigation by reporters from six newsrooms found that agents used chemical irritants nearly 50 times during Operation Midway Blitz.
thetriibe.com
November 19, 2025 at 3:47 PM
NEW — An investigation by a group of Chicago-area newsrooms and independent journalists found that federal agents used chemical weapons on protesters at least 49 times across 18 incidents across Chicago and the suburbs since October 1.
thetriibe.com/2025/11/feds...
thetriibe.com/2025/11/feds...
Reposted by Seth Stern
NEW: As immigration enforcement continues across North Carolina, communities are mobilizing--inside and outside formal organizing networks--to protect their neighbors:
North Carolina immigration raids expected to escalate
As the impacts of the raids quickly ripple outward from Charlotte, North Carolinians are mobilizing to stem enforcement operations in their communities
prismreports.org
November 19, 2025 at 8:54 PM
NEW: As immigration enforcement continues across North Carolina, communities are mobilizing--inside and outside formal organizing networks--to protect their neighbors:
Reposted by Seth Stern
It might lead one to suspect that being ICE had previously gotten him out of charges
Sounds like he thought he had a get out of jail free card on the underage sex charge since he was ICE www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/ne...
November 19, 2025 at 2:38 AM
It might lead one to suspect that being ICE had previously gotten him out of charges
Reposted by Seth Stern
"Somehow calling a female reporter 'piggy' was only the second-most offensive anti-press utterance to come out of the president’s mouth in recent days."
Read our statement: freedom.press/issues/press...
Read our statement: freedom.press/issues/press...
November 19, 2025 at 8:21 PM
"Somehow calling a female reporter 'piggy' was only the second-most offensive anti-press utterance to come out of the president’s mouth in recent days."
Read our statement: freedom.press/issues/press...
Read our statement: freedom.press/issues/press...
Reposted by Seth Stern
Tomorrow: Join FPF's @laurenleharper.bsky.social on @npr.org's 1A for a discussion about secrecy surrounding the Trump admin's immigration activities, the targeting of foreign journalists, and the fight for more transparency.
🕒 10 a.m. EST
🌐 the1a.org
📻 88.5 FM in D.C. metro area
🕒 10 a.m. EST
🌐 the1a.org
📻 88.5 FM in D.C. metro area
1A | Speak Freely
1A is a show for a changing America.
the1a.org
November 19, 2025 at 10:48 PM
Tomorrow: Join FPF's @laurenleharper.bsky.social on @npr.org's 1A for a discussion about secrecy surrounding the Trump admin's immigration activities, the targeting of foreign journalists, and the fight for more transparency.
🕒 10 a.m. EST
🌐 the1a.org
📻 88.5 FM in D.C. metro area
🕒 10 a.m. EST
🌐 the1a.org
📻 88.5 FM in D.C. metro area
Reposted by Seth Stern
8 years ago, a billionaire laid us off + shuttered our newsroom.
We had no funding + no idea what nonprofit news was. But we had a dream to build @blockclubchi.bsky.social.
Today, we were named Editor & Publisher's Best News Site.
Never give up on your dream.✨ blockclubchicago.org/2025/11/17/b...
We had no funding + no idea what nonprofit news was. But we had a dream to build @blockclubchi.bsky.social.
Today, we were named Editor & Publisher's Best News Site.
Never give up on your dream.✨ blockclubchicago.org/2025/11/17/b...
Block Club Named Best Daily News Site In International Competition
Block Club Chicago has published more than 29,000 stories since it launched in 2018.
blockclubchicago.org
November 17, 2025 at 4:34 PM
8 years ago, a billionaire laid us off + shuttered our newsroom.
We had no funding + no idea what nonprofit news was. But we had a dream to build @blockclubchi.bsky.social.
Today, we were named Editor & Publisher's Best News Site.
Never give up on your dream.✨ blockclubchicago.org/2025/11/17/b...
We had no funding + no idea what nonprofit news was. But we had a dream to build @blockclubchi.bsky.social.
Today, we were named Editor & Publisher's Best News Site.
Never give up on your dream.✨ blockclubchicago.org/2025/11/17/b...
Reposted by Seth Stern
🔴 Scolding a U.S. reporter for asking questions about MBS ordering a fellow journalist to be bonesawed to death signals to dictators everywhere that they can murder journalists with impunity.
Read our full statement below:
Read our full statement below:
November 19, 2025 at 2:28 AM
🔴 Scolding a U.S. reporter for asking questions about MBS ordering a fellow journalist to be bonesawed to death signals to dictators everywhere that they can murder journalists with impunity.
Read our full statement below:
Read our full statement below:
Reposted by Seth Stern
Update: Sami Hamdi and his wife, Soumaya will also join today's discussion.
Sami is back home in England after 18 days in ICE custody.
Register here: zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Sami is back home in England after 18 days in ICE custody.
Register here: zoom.us/webinar/regi...
🔔 Join us for a conversation about ICE's targeting of pro-Palestinian journalists, featuring @hmaesq.bsky.social, @cgbatty.bsky.social, Samantha C. Hamilton, Sam Judy, Marium Uddin, and moderated by FPF's @seth-stern.bsky.social.
🗓️ Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2 p.m. EST
RSVP: freedom.press/targeted-by-ice
🗓️ Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2 p.m. EST
RSVP: freedom.press/targeted-by-ice
November 18, 2025 at 1:28 PM
Update: Sami Hamdi and his wife, Soumaya will also join today's discussion.
Sami is back home in England after 18 days in ICE custody.
Register here: zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Sami is back home in England after 18 days in ICE custody.
Register here: zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Reposted by Seth Stern
Earlier this year, I wrote a guide for Freedom of the Press Foundation about some ways that prison agencies obscure what happens inside their facilities and how to overcome some commonly used obstructions. You can find that resource here.
freedom.press/issues/cover...
freedom.press/issues/cover...
November 14, 2025 at 12:46 AM
Earlier this year, I wrote a guide for Freedom of the Press Foundation about some ways that prison agencies obscure what happens inside their facilities and how to overcome some commonly used obstructions. You can find that resource here.
freedom.press/issues/cover...
freedom.press/issues/cover...
Reposted by Seth Stern
"Police baked their own contempt into the data, listing people’s occupations as 'SCUM BAG,' 'TURD,' or simply 'BLACK.'"
Great FOIA work from @sreynolds.bsky.social and reporting from @dell.bsky.social
Worth noting this DHS-CPD partnership happened under Biden; no admin has had good DHS oversight.
Great FOIA work from @sreynolds.bsky.social and reporting from @dell.bsky.social
Worth noting this DHS-CPD partnership happened under Biden; no admin has had good DHS oversight.
NEW: DHS secretly obtained Chicago police data on 900 residents accused of gang ties. It was quietly deleted after intelligence officers violated rules against domestic spying.
The handoff came well after city inspectors formally announced CPD's gang data was deeply flawed and infected w/ bias.
The handoff came well after city inspectors formally announced CPD's gang data was deeply flawed and infected w/ bias.
DHS Kept Chicago Police Records for Months in Violation of Domestic Espionage Rules
The Department of Homeland Security collected data on Chicago residents accused of gang ties to test if police files could feed an FBI watchlist. Months passed before anyone noticed it wasn’t deleted.
www.wired.com
November 13, 2025 at 1:43 PM
"Police baked their own contempt into the data, listing people’s occupations as 'SCUM BAG,' 'TURD,' or simply 'BLACK.'"
Great FOIA work from @sreynolds.bsky.social and reporting from @dell.bsky.social
Worth noting this DHS-CPD partnership happened under Biden; no admin has had good DHS oversight.
Great FOIA work from @sreynolds.bsky.social and reporting from @dell.bsky.social
Worth noting this DHS-CPD partnership happened under Biden; no admin has had good DHS oversight.
Reposted by Seth Stern
Police and judges need a refresher on the First Amendment.
Kansas’ Marion County just provided the syllabus — the expensive way.
Kansas’ Marion County just provided the syllabus — the expensive way.
Kansas county pays $3M for forgetting the First Amendment
Marion County cops got their First Amendment lesson the hard way. Police elsewhere should take note
freedom.press
November 12, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Police and judges need a refresher on the First Amendment.
Kansas’ Marion County just provided the syllabus — the expensive way.
Kansas’ Marion County just provided the syllabus — the expensive way.
Reposted by Seth Stern
Contrary to what you might have heard, journalists don't need to seek permission from or check in with the government to cover immigration courts.
Thanks to FPF's advocacy, the government changed its practices and its policies to make that clear.
freedom.press/issues/no-jo...
Thanks to FPF's advocacy, the government changed its practices and its policies to make that clear.
freedom.press/issues/no-jo...
November 12, 2025 at 11:18 PM
Contrary to what you might have heard, journalists don't need to seek permission from or check in with the government to cover immigration courts.
Thanks to FPF's advocacy, the government changed its practices and its policies to make that clear.
freedom.press/issues/no-jo...
Thanks to FPF's advocacy, the government changed its practices and its policies to make that clear.
freedom.press/issues/no-jo...
Reposted by Seth Stern
A $3 million settlement is major victory, but it can’t undo the damage to press freedom from the illegal raid on the Marion County Record.
If other communities don’t want to learn First Amendment law the expensive way, they must train police and prosecutors to respect press rights.
If other communities don’t want to learn First Amendment law the expensive way, they must train police and prosecutors to respect press rights.
November 12, 2025 at 4:01 PM
A $3 million settlement is major victory, but it can’t undo the damage to press freedom from the illegal raid on the Marion County Record.
If other communities don’t want to learn First Amendment law the expensive way, they must train police and prosecutors to respect press rights.
If other communities don’t want to learn First Amendment law the expensive way, they must train police and prosecutors to respect press rights.
Reposted by Seth Stern
The top brass at the LA County Sheriff's Department “don’t want their deputies to be accountable to the public they serve. The Sheriff’s Department fights all Public Records Act cases. It’s a knee-jerk reaction," Susan E. Seager tells Seth Stern.
LA sheriff ducks journalist’s request for deputy photographs
ICE won’t be the only secret police in town if the department gets its way
freedom.press
November 11, 2025 at 3:10 PM
The top brass at the LA County Sheriff's Department “don’t want their deputies to be accountable to the public they serve. The Sheriff’s Department fights all Public Records Act cases. It’s a knee-jerk reaction," Susan E. Seager tells Seth Stern.
Reposted by Seth Stern
It's past time for cameras in courtrooms nationwide. None of the studies have ever substantiated whatever harms critics have claimed transparency would cause.
Hopefully, the Kirk trial will make this a bipartisan issue.
Hopefully, the Kirk trial will make this a bipartisan issue.
Plea to televise Charlie Kirk trial renews Senate talk of cameras in courtrooms
Senate Judiciary Committee chairman Chuck Grassley is again stumping for legislation requiring federal courts — including the Supreme Court — to provide public video of proceedings.
www.courthousenews.com
November 10, 2025 at 2:05 PM
It's past time for cameras in courtrooms nationwide. None of the studies have ever substantiated whatever harms critics have claimed transparency would cause.
Hopefully, the Kirk trial will make this a bipartisan issue.
Hopefully, the Kirk trial will make this a bipartisan issue.