Join Poynter in keeping a close eye on press freedom
A free press is a cornerstone of American democracy. It informs citizens, holds leaders to account and upholds democratic principles. But after decades of relative freedom, the U.S. press now faces a coordinated series of federal actions that is unmatched in recent decades.
President Donald Trump and his administration have taken concrete steps since January to limit press freedom. While government scrutiny of the media isn’t new, the scope and intensity of actions in Trump’s second term mark a sharp escalation. These measures include defunding outlets, detaining writers, investigating disfavored news companies and harassing journalists — actions that have limited journalists’ ability to report and the public’s access to information.
Some of these efforts appear tied to broader strategies, including the goals outlined in Project 2025, a 900-page conservative roadmap for reshaping government policy. Others focus on outlets that Trump has repeatedly singled out for criticism.
To document these developments, Poynter has launched Press Freedom Watch, a tracker cataloging federal government actions affecting journalists.
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