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Dear Friend of Press Freedom,

This week we examine how leaks are fueling reporting in spite of crackdowns on whistleblowers and journalists. And Rümeysa Öztürk may be out of jail ([link removed]) but her ordeal isn’t over. It’s now the 59th day that she’s facing deportation by the United States government for writing an op-ed it didn’t like. More press freedom news below.

Joe Kent, Tulsi Gabbard’s chief of staff, pictured at the House Select Intelligence Committee hearing titled “Worldwide Threats Assessment.”

Recent leaks show why source protection matters

Our Freedom of Information Act request ([link removed]) for an intelligence community memo and the reporting that’s followed have turned into “exhibit A” on why leaks to the press serve the public interest.

Journalists have written ([link removed]) about how the memo belies the Trump administration’s own rationale for mass deporting Venezuelans, and we’ve explained ([link removed]) how it confirms that Attorney General Pam Bondi’s basis for repealing her predecessor’s safeguards ([link removed]) against subpoenaing journalists was bunk.

But even more revelations have followed. This week the Times reported ([link removed]) that Director of National Intelligence official Joe Kent pressured intelligence agencies to rewrite their assessment on the Venezuelan government’s control of gang members to support Trump’s position and then supported the release of the rewritten memo because he didn’t understand what it actually said. We also learned that there is a major rift ([link removed]) between Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the intelligence community.

For more on leak investigations, catch us live on May 28 at 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT ([link removed]) with Telos.news founder Ryan Lizza and Pulitzer Prize winner James Risen.
READ MORE ([link removed])

Don’t empower Trump to define terrorism

Rümeysa Öztürk never supported terrorism. That’s not even debatable ([link removed]) now.

But lack of evidence isn’t stopping the Trump administration’s efforts to deport her and others. So when Congress contemplates further empowering the same administration to arbitrarily deem its opponents’ conduct “support of terrorism,” alarm bells should sound.

Well, ring-a-ling. Last year’s “nonprofit killer” bill, which would allow the administration to deem rights organizations and nonprofit news outlets terrorist supporters and revoke their tax-exempt status, is making a comeback.
READ MORE ([link removed])

An open letter to leaders of American institutions

Freedom of the Press Foundation (FPF) was proud to join a letter ([link removed]) led by the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University urging leaders of civic and other major institutions to defend free speech amid the Trump administration’s multifront assault on First Amendment freedoms.

As the letter says, “If our democracy is to survive, the freedoms of speech and the press need a vigorous, determined defense.”
READ THE LETTER ([link removed])

US press freedom groups launch Journalist Assistance Network

Five major U.S.-based press freedom organizations (including FPF) announced the launch of a network to provide legal and safety resources and training to journalists and newsrooms in the United States.
READ MORE ([link removed])

WHAT WE’RE READING


** STUDENT PRESS LAW CENTER
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** Coalition to Columbia, Barnard: ‘Do better’ for student journalists ([link removed])
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We joined a coalition demanding Columbia stop investigating student journalists and respect students’ free press rights.


** VARIETY
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** Paramount could violate anti-bribery law if it pays to settle Trump’s ‘60 Minutes’ lawsuit, senators claim ([link removed])
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Don’t just take our word for it ([link removed]) . Settling with Trump puts Paramount executives at risk of significant liability. It also puts CBS at risk of further shakedowns ([link removed]) .


** THE INTERCEPT
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** Why does GOP budget bill focus on punishing people who leak tax returns? ([link removed])
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“Lawmakers and judges should focus on stopping tax evasion by the rich and powerful, not on disproportionate punishments for whistleblowers,” explained FPF Advocacy Director Seth Stern.


** POLITICO
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** Trump administration asks Supreme Court to keep DOGE records secret ([link removed])
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Seems like it’d be more “efficient” to comply with basic transparency requests than waste government resources to keep your work secret.


** THE NEW YORK TIMES
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** Judge orders U.S. to keep custody of migrants amid claims they were sent to South Sudan ([link removed])
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The Trump administration says “that’s classified” any time it doesn’t want to answer difficult questions to the courts or to the public.


** WALL STREET JOURNAL
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** Disclose the Trump crypto dinner guests ([link removed])
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So much for the “most transparent administration in history.”


** THE DESK
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** FCC Chairman Carr seeks to designate NBC equal time issue for hearing ([link removed])
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Another week, another sham investigation by Brendan Carr in the news.


** INDYSTAR
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** Indiana hides executions. Firing squads would be more honest. ([link removed])
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“Indiana killed Ritchie under a veil of secrecy, with no media present. ... We don’t know if Ritchie suffered.”


** REASON
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** New Montana law blocks the state from buying private data to skirt the Fourth Amendment ([link removed])
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Montana is leading the way. Other states and the federal government should follow.
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