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Most Press Arrests In 2025 Resulted In Zero Criminal Charges

The vast majority of journalists or media professionals arrested in 2025 were released and never charged with any criminal offenses, according to an analysis from the US Press Freedom Tracker.

Report Calls Attention To Capitalism's Destruction Of The Press And Media System

The history and analysis laid out by the Roosevelt Institute is a worthwhile plea for a radical shift that enables “a truly democratic information ecosystem”

University of Alabama Shuts Down Two Student Magazines

University administrators claim a July memo from Attorney General Pam Bondi requires them to suspend the publications.

FBI Allegedly Targeted Filipino American Journalist Who Is Now In ICE Detention

The FBI reviewed Ya'akub Vijandre’s immigration record and social media posts, and then recommended that immigration services terminate his DACA status

'I Hurt The Oppressor': British Journalist Sami Hamdi Recounts ICE Detention

"My voice was powerful enough that they couldn’t leave me alone. They had to put me in detention for two weeks."

The Censorship Battle I’ve Been Fighting Against A Suburban Chicago Library

I have been fighting a suburban Chicago library that has attempted to censor a newsletter that I launched.

British Journalist Sami Hamdi Fights Deportation While In ICE Detention

The British journalist and commentator plans to fight deportation rather than simply board a plane and go home.

Dissenter Update: October 28, 2025

Brazen Censorship Against Student Journalists At Indiana University

Indiana University Media School administrators shut down printing of the school’s student newspaper after firing the newspaper’s chief adviser. The brazen act of censorship sparked widespread media coverage and a show of solidarity from student journalists at Purdue University, which is the school’s rival. A little more

Pentagon Reporters Should Turn In Their Badges

Thanks for supporting The Dissenter. This article was written exclusively for paid subscribers. In 2010, when WikiLeaks published files on United States military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, Pentagon spokesperson Geoff Morrell expressed panic. He told CNN host Howard Kurtz that the organization represented a “frightening new development” since they

Media Refuse To Sign Up As Propagandists For Trump's Pentagon

Nearly all media organizations refused to sign the Pentagon's censorship policy

Judge Bars ICE Attacks On Journalists And Protesters While Hearing Lawsuit

In Chicago, U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis issued a temporary restraining order to protect journalists and protesters from attacks by federal agents.

Lawsuit Challenges ICE's Brutal Silencing Of Press, Protesters In Chicago

Media organizations, journalists, clergy, and citizens in the Chicagoland area sued officials in President Donald Trump’s administration for systematically violating their First Amendment rights.  To protect the constitutional rights of journalists and residents engaged in freedom of expression and assembly and freedom of the press, the plaintiffs seek an

Dissenter Update: October 6, 2025

The Deportation Of Mario Guevara Is Chilling For Journalism

“Words cannot begin to describe the loss and devastation my family feels. I am in utter shock and disbelief the government has punished my father for simply doing his life’s work of journalism,” declared Oscar Guevara after his father Mario Guevara was deported to El Salvador. The deportation sets

Climate Of Fear Intensifies As Trump Officials Fire HUD Whistleblowers

Two civil rights attorneys at the United States Housing and Urban Development Department (HUD) were fired after blowing the whistle

Chicago Journalist Detained For Several Hours By Federal Agents

On September 27, federal agents outside an ICE facility detained Chicago journalist Steve Held, the co-founder of Unraveled Press, during an evening of attacks on peaceful protesters. He was released the following day after midnight.  The Triibe, a Black news media organization that has partnered with Unraveled Press and the

‘Three Days of the Condor’ At 50: A Classic Conspiracy Thriller And Whistleblower Film

Moviegoers in the United States were primed for a film like “Three Days of the Condor" when it was released in 1975.

US Judge Dismisses Wiretapping Charges In DOJ Prosecution Against A Journalist

A United States judge dismissed charges against journalist Timothy Burke that he violated a federal wiretapping law when he obtained and shared unaired portions of a Fox News interview between Tucker Carlson and Kanye West.  “Burke raises significant First Amendment concerns if the Wiretap Act facially prohibits the mere acquisition

Whistleblowers Say Trump Administration Imposed ‘Strict Gag Order’ On Fair Housing Attorneys

The following article was made possible by paid subscribers of The Dissenter. Become a subscriber and support journalism on whistleblowing, press freedom, and government secrecy. Five civil rights attorneys who were reassigned from their fair housing work at the United States Housing and Urban Development Department (HUD), claim that President

The Only Journalist In US Detention For Their Reporting

Journalist Mario Guevara faces imminent deportation from the United States unless a federal court intervenes

Pentagon To Reporters: Publish Approved Information Or Lose Access

The following is an exclusive article for paid subscribers. Thanks for supporting independent journalism. The Pentagon will revoke access to reporters who publish any information that Secretary Pete Hegseth and other United States military officials have not approved for release.  Sean Parnell, an official in the public affairs division of

LA's Long History Of Violence Against Journalists

Host Kevin Gosztola is joined by guest Adam Rose, who is the press rights chair for the Los Angeles Press Club. He discusses court victories in lawsuits against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, and the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD). The Los Angeles Press

'Surprising Savagery': US Court Prohibits Attacks On Journalists Covering ICE Protests

A United States court concluded that border patrol and other federal agents “unleashed crowd control weapons indiscriminately and with surprising savagery,” targeting journalists who were covering protests against ICE in Los Angeles

In Öztürk Case, Groups Urge Appeals Court To Uphold Rights Of Noncitizen Journalists

Several press freedom and First Amendment groups have urged a United States appeals court to side with Tufts University graduate student Rümeysa Öztürk and noncitizen journalists.

'Off To Jail': Gaza Aid Whistleblower Arrested For Interrupting Senate Hearing

Two U.S. military veterans, including a Gaza Humanitarian Foundation whistleblower, were arrested for interrupting a Senate committee hearing

Putting Profits Over Press Freedom: Interview With Jeff Cohen

Host Kevin Gosztola is joined by guest Jeff Cohen, the founder of Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR), the co-founder of Roots Action, and author of “Cable News Confidential: My Misadventures in Corporate Media.” We discuss corporate media capitulation during Donald Trump's second presidential term and "censorship

Illinois Restores Protections For Press Targeted With Frivolous Lawsuits

In the state of Illinois, several organizations and lawyers worked with legislators to clarify and expand protections for the news media after the Illinois Supreme Court significantly diminished the law in November 2024.

Israeli Double-Tap Strike On Hospital Kills At Least Five Journalists In Gaza

The following article was made possible by paid subscribers of The Dissenter. Become a subscriber and support journalism on press freedom, whistleblowing, and government secrecy. The Israeli military killed at least five more journalists in a double-tap strike on Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis in Gaza.  Hind Khoudary, a Palestinian

Fighting The Trump Administration's 'Unchecked Power' To Deport Noncitizen Students

The following article was made possible by paid subscribers of The Dissenter. Become a subscriber and support journalism on press freedom, whistleblowing, and government secrecy. The student newspaper at Stanford University in California has observed a “dramatic decrease in the number of international students willing to speak” to reporters. Their

ACLU Demands US Court Immediately Order Release Of Journalist In ICE Detention

The following article was made possible by paid subscribers of The Dissenter. Become a subscriber and support journalism on press freedom, whistleblowing, and government secrecy. The American Civil Liberties Union filed a habeas petition that demands the immediate release of Mario Guevara, a Spanish-language journalist who United States Immigration and

Podcast: Kevin Gosztola On The Disinfo Detox, Hosted By Nolan Higdon

Dissenter editor Kevin Gosztola appeared on the podcast The Disinfo Detox, which is hosted by Nolan Higdon. Nolan is a writer, author of "The Anatomy of Fake News: A Critical News Literacy Education," and a lecturer at Merrill College and the Education Department at University of California, Santa

Online Articles Are Protected Newspaper Articles, Too

Israeli Military Assassinates Prominent Al Jazeera Journalist Prior To Invading Gaza City

Israeli military forces assassinated Anas al-Sharif, a high-profile Al Jazeera journalist in Gaza City who officials falsely and maliciously labeled a “Hamas cell” leader.

Police Who Have 'Bad Breakfast' May Not Arrest Reporters Who Stand Too Close, Appeals Court Rules

Dissenter Headlines For August 4

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting Shutdown: A Grim Ending for Publicly Funded Media

The following article was made possible by paid subscribers of The Dissenter. Become a subscriber and support journalism on press freedom, whistleblowing, and government secrecy. The end of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) is a major victory for Republicans in their decades-long campaign to defund public media, particularly the

VIDEO: If Only More Media Had Spoken Up For Gaza Journalists

Host Kevin Gosztola discusses the role of Western prestige media organizations in the mass starvation and death that the world is witnessing now in Gaza. In particular, as with families and their children, the last remaining Palestinian and Arab journalists are at risk of dying due to lack of food,

Media Silence Helped Bring Starving Gaza Journalists To The Brink Of Death

The following article was made possible by paid subscribers of The Dissenter. Become a subscriber and support journalism on press freedom, whistleblowing, and government secrecy. No group of reporters in the modern era have demonstrated more of a courageous commitment to journalism than those living and working under siege in

FBI Spied On Journalists And Activists Who Organized 'Russiagate And WikiLeaks' Panel

The following article was originally published by Defending Rights and Dissent. On the weekend of June 1, 2018, activists, academics, and writers gathered at John Jay College of Criminal Justice for the annual Left Forum conference. With roots in the Socialists Scholars Conference, Left Forum was regularly one of the

Minnesota Supreme Court Rules Against DAPL Company's Anti-Press Subpoenas

The following article was made possible by paid subscribers of The Dissenter. Become a subscriber and support journalism on press freedom, whistleblowing, and government secrecy. The Minnesota Supreme Court ruled against Energy Transfer, a major fossil fuel pipeline company, and its efforts to force a grassroots-aligned media organization known as

ICE Is A Press Freedom Issue: Interview With Status Coup Reporter Tina-Desiree Berg

Host Kevin Gosztola talks with Tina-Desiree Berg, a Los Angeles-based reporter for Status Coup, about ICE and the threat this ultra-secretive police force poses to freedom of the press. Tina-Desiree and other journalists recently won an injunction in a lawsuit against the LAPD. A federal court ordered the police to

New Jersey Prosecutors Unconstitutionally Charge Two Journalists

Two reporters in New Jersey were unconstitutionally charged for refusing to unpublish information related to an expunged arrest.

A Model Anti-Doxing Law: Free Speech, Press Freedom Groups Oppose Effort

The following article was made possible by paid subscribers of The Dissenter. Become a subscriber and support journalism on press freedom, whistleblowing, and government secrecy. A coalition of free speech and press freedom organizations warns that model legislation intended to fight “doxing” could have “devastating consequences" for newsgathering and

Prosecution Against Journalist For Allegedly Violating Wiretapping Law Endangers Right To Gather News

The following article was made possible by paid subscribers of The Dissenter. Become a subscriber and support journalism that defends press freedom. The United States Justice Department is prosecuting a journalist for allegedly violating a federal wiretapping law. If their legal argument is successful, it will greatly impact a person’

Dissenter Update: Trump Administration's Reliance On Lie Detectors

Host Kevin Gosztola speaks with George Maschke, a former U.S. Army interrogator and reserve intelligence officer, about the Trump administration's reliance on lie detector tests to enforce secrecy. Maschke is the co-founder of AntiPolygraph.org, and he was falsely accused of being a spy after the FBI

'Giving Information To The Enemy': Israel's Ban On Al Jazeera Extends To Foreign Broadcasters

The following article was made possible by paid subscribers of The Dissenter. Become a subscriber and support journalism that defends press freedom. As the Israeli military bombs Iran, the country’s government has renewed its campaign against the Al Jazeera news network and any media organization in the world that

US Homeland Security's Escalating Attacks On International Journalists

Imprisoned For Exposing US-Israel's War Plans Against Iran

Chip Gibbons, policy director for Defending Rights and Dissent, joins host Kevin Gosztola to further discuss the case against CIA analyst Asif Rahman, who was convicted of violating the Espionage Act and sentenced to three years and a month in prison for releasing Israel's plans to strike Iran.

CIA Analyst Sentenced To Prison For Releasing Documents On Israel's Plans To Strike Iran

The following article was made possible by paid subscribers of The Dissenter. Become a subscriber with this discount offer and support journalism that covers whistleblowing, press freedom, and government secrecy. As United States embassies and military bases across the Middle East braced for a potential Israeli strike against Iran, friends

LASD, Federal Police Attack Press Covering ICE Protests

Police and federal agents fired crowd-control weapons at reporters covering protests against ICE raids in Los Angeles County

Dissenter Update: DIA Employee Arrested In FBI Sting

Host Kevin Gosztola discusses the FBI sting operation that led to the arrest of a Defense Intelligence Agency employee opposed to President Donald Trump's agenda, who allegedly agreed to trade state secrets for citizenship in Germany. Headlines for this edition include an Australia appeals court rejecting Australia war

Journalist Sues LA County, Ex-LA County Sheriff For Criminally Investigating Her

The following article was made possible by paid subscribers of The Dissenter. Become a subscriber with this discount offer and support journalism that stands up to attacks on freedom of the press. Former Los Angeles Times reporter Maya Lau, who faced retaliation from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department,

Police Raid Against Journalist Asa Winstanley Was Unlawful, UK Court Rules

A British court ruled that a counter-terrorism police raid against London-based journalist Asa Winstanley was unlawful, as the search warrants were not properly obtained. Asa Winstanley, an associate editor for the Electronic Intifada, was targeted by the authorities in the United Kingdom on October 17, 2024. Police knew they were

Australia Tax Whistleblower Pleads Guilty To Four Charges

Navigating Our Algo-Controlled Media Landscape

Host Kevin Gosztola is joined by Andy Lee Roth, a Project Censored editor at large, for a conversation about Big Tech algorithms and how they determine what content we see. Andy goes on to share the work he has been doing on algorithmic literacy for the Reynolds Journalism Institute at

Indiana State Officials Sued For Blocking Media Access To Executions

Media organizations that cover executions in Indiana sue the state for blocking media access and violating their First Amendment rights

Palestinian American Journalist Recounts Detention And Interrogation At Newark Airport

Chief US Intel Agency Declassifies Information That It Claimed 'Deep State Actors' Leaked To Attack Trump

The following article was made possible by paid subscribers of The Dissenter. Become a subscriber with this discount offer and support journalism that stands up to attacks on freedom of the press. An intelligence memo on the prison gang Tren de Aragua’s supposed ties to the Venezuelan government was

100 Days Of Attacks on Transparency And The Press

Host Kevin Gosztola marks President Donald Trump's first 100 days in his second term with this discussion of his administration's attacks on transparency and press freedom. He is joined by two guests from the Freedom of the Press Foundation —Seth Stern, the advocacy director, and Lauren

Trump DOJ Adopts Policy Permitting Journalist Arrests

The following article was made possible by paid subscribers of The Dissenter. Become a subscriber with this discount offer and support journalism that stands up to attacks on freedom of the press. United States Attorney General Pam Bondi ended a Justice Department (DOJ) policy that explicitly discouraged federal prosecutors from

The Trump Administration's Lie Detector Dragnet

The use of lie detector tests to root out alleged leakers has added to the climate of fear under Trump.

Tesla Whistleblower Wins Legal Victory, Calls Musk A 'Vindictive Monster'

Host Kevin Gosztola highlights the case of Tesla whistleblower Cristina Balan. She recently won an appeal against Tesla and the company's CEO Elon Musk. This victory in her legal battle could lead to a trial where Musk testifies in court.  Headlines include Israeli military strike killing Palestinian photojournalist

Hiding Corruption: NOAA Agencies Claim They Have Too Many Records On Musk And DOGE To Produce Them

Musk and DOGE operatives involved in restructuring and downsizing the agency present a “direct and dangerous conflict of interest," according to PEER.

Dismantling Freedom Of Information

While Freedom of Information Act reform is necessary, even worse is the fact that US agencies under Trump are dismantling FOIA offices.

Boeing Says Attacks On Whistleblowers All Part Of The Past

This edition of "The Dissenter Weekly" focuses on the unbelievable claim put forward by Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg that whistleblower retaliation at the corporation is entirely a thing of the past. Ortberg was on Capitol Hill for a Senate committee hearing, where senators questioned him about what he

Elon Musk's DOGE Reportedly Installed AI To Root Out 'Disloyal' Government Employees

The following article was made possible by paid subscribers of The Dissenter. Become a subscriber and support independent journalism on whistleblowers and freedom of the press. Two people familiar with the use of technology by Elon Musk’s DOGE team told Reuters that the team has setup artificial intelligence to

'News Graveyards': The Impact On Reporters And Media Coverage Of Wars

Abducted For Writing An Op-Ed

In this edition of "The Dissenter Weekly," host Kevin Gosztola focuses on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents abducting Tufts University PhD student Rumeysa Ozturk in Massachusetts and how standing up for Ozturk is important to freedom of the press. Headlines include several positive developments, like the state

Trump Administration Is Using The 'State Secrets Privilege' Just As It Was Intended

The following article was made possible by paid subscribers of The Dissenter. Become a subscriber and support independent journalism on government secrecy and freedom of the press. President Donald Trump’s administration invoked the “state secrets privilege” to prevent a United States court from reviewing the abduction of immigrants, mostly

'If You're Reading This, It Means I Have Been Killed': Israeli Forces Massacre Two More Journalists

Israeli military forces reportedly targeted and killed two Palestinian journalists based in Gaza—Mohammad Mansour and Hossam Shabat

The Chaotic Release Of Long Sought After JFK Files

Jefferson Morley, known for his reporting on the JFK assassination, called the publication of files a "breakthrough"

Trump Ramps Up Government Secrecy

Lauren Harper, Daniel Ellsberg Chair on Government Secrecy for Freedom of the Press Foundation, discusses Trump administration's secrecy abuses

Gabbard Singles Out Media That Allegedly Published 'Politically-Motivated Leaks'

More On The Brewing Crackdown On Reporters And Media Sources For ICE Leaks

In this edition of the "Dissenter Weekly," host Kevin Gosztola focuses on the Fox News network's push for leak prosecutions against media sources at Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Homeland Security Department (DHS). The network is furious that details about ICE raids are being

ICE Leaks: Trump Officials Push For Criminal Charges Against Whistleblowers And Press

If the Trump administration pursues such charges, it will represent a concerted attack on potential whistleblowers or media sources.

City Of Portland Pays Nearly $1 Million For Arresting Journalists At Protests

Dissenter Weekly: Trump And The Weaponization Of Distrust Toward US Media

In this special edition of the "Dissenter Weekly," host Kevin Gosztola talks with Mickey Huff and Andy Lee Roth of Project Censored about how President Donald Trump's administration has weaponized distrust toward the news media establishment to further attacks on the press. Mickey is the director

No Other Film As Deserving Of An Oscar

“No Other Land” filmmakers demonstrate great courage in the face of industry censorship, pervasive hopelessness, and risks to their freedom

Trump White House Builds Its Own Lapdog Press Corps

The Fight Against Elon Musk and DOGE's Secrecy

The following article was made possible by paid subscribers of The Dissenter. Become a subscriber and support independent journalism on government secrecy, press freedom, and whistleblowing. Over a half dozen lawsuits have been filed by nonprofit groups seeking to challenge the intense secrecy surrounding billionaire Elon Musk’s “Department of

Dissenter Weekly: Trump Vs. US Whistleblower Agency

This edition of "The Dissenter Weekly" was sent to paid subscribers on February 21. For this edition of "The Dissenter Weekly," host Kevin Gosztola outlines the battle that President Donald Trump is waging over the head of the Office of Special Counsel (OSC). Trump fired OSC

Burying The CIA's Assange Secrets

The CIA won the dismissal of a lawsuit brought by four Americans who claimed they had their privacy rights violated when they visited Julian Assange in Ecuador's London embassy.

Dissenter Weekly: A Star Chamber For Journalists?

The following edition of the "Dissenter Weekly" was sent out to paid subscribers on February 14. Support The Dissenter Newsletter and receive the show every Friday. In this edition of "The Dissenter Weekly," host Kevin Gosztola focuses on a proposed bill [PDF] in the state of

Judge: Presidents May Be Immune From Prosecution But Not Transparency

Trump Megadonor Escalates Campaign Against Freedom of The Press

If billionaire Steve Wynn prevails, it would potentially open the floodgates to libel lawsuits against reporters, editors, producers, and news media

Dissenter Weekly: More On The Case Of Asif Rahman

CIA Analyst's Plea Deal Adds Further Intrigue To Espionage Act Prosecution

Like most Espionage Act cases, Rahman’s ended in a plea agreement. But there are several unusual aspects to his case.

US Judge Upholds First Amendment, Dismisses Lawsuit Against Palestine Chronicle

The lawsuit was brought by a former Israeli hostage.

Dissenter Weekly: Tulsi Gabbard's National Security Sin, Kash Patel's 'Enemies List'

Gabbard's Confirmation Hearing: Snowden Blasts Senators For Obsessing Over Him

"Courts have been ruling for ten years that NSA broke the law, guys. Move on," Snowden declared.

Deported Palestinian American Journalist Says Swiss Ministry Of Defense Agents Tried To Interrogate Him

"And that’s the moment I thought, does anyone know I’m here? I had no idea what was going on outside.”

Police In Switzerland Ban Then Detain Palestinian American Journalist

In an act of repression, Zurich police detained Palestinian American journalist and author Ali Abunimah to block him from delivering a lecture

Dissenter Weekly: Tracking Trump's Threats From Day One

Leak Once Again Disrupts Trump’s Plans For Massive Immigration Raids

Biden's Legacy: The World Is More Unsafe For Journalists

Despite pronouncements, President Joe Biden's administration helped make the state of the free press more fragile

Making A Mockery Of Freedom Of The Press

Destroyed Assange Files: Why Judge's Rebuke Against Crown Prosecution Service Was So Significant

A British judge issued an unusually critical rebuke against the Crown Prosecution Service of England and Wales

Incarcerated Journalist, Now At Texas Supermax Facility, Remains In Solitary

Incarcerated journalist Jeremy Busby says Texas state prison staff are inappropriately denying him access to members of the press and refusing to restore his phone privileges

Biden's Legacy: Fundamentally Changing Nothing For Whistleblowers

Editor's Note: The following is the third in a series of articles on President Joe Biden's legacy when it comes to press freedom, whistleblowing, and government secrecy. The series began in November, and the final article in the series will be published next week. When Joe