Sep 19, 2026
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr announced the agency plans to issue guidance to broadcasters regarding polling practices and biased coverage, supporting President Trump's criticism of partisan television networks including NBC. The move comes ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
A federal judge declined to stop the Pentagon from terminating three Stars and Stripes journalists who claim they were illegally disciplined for speaking out about the military newspaper's editorial independence.
The Trump administration's Department of Homeland Security has been deploying an obscure legal maneuver to attempt to obtain private information on journalists, non-profit organizations, and labor unions, raising concerns about government overreach and surveillance.
Three Stars and Stripes journalists filed a lawsuit challenging their recent firings by the Pentagon, accusing the Trump administration of violating their First Amendment rights after the outlet reported on deteriorating conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln.
A private arbitrator ruled that The Washington Post must rehire opinion columnist Karen Attiah with full back pay and benefits after she was fired in September following posts about the Charlie Kirk shooting. The arbitrator found the paper lacked 'good and just cause' for termination.
President Donald Trump has asked a federal judge to deny the BBC's request to obtain testimony and documents from three members of his family as part of his $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the British broadcaster over a documentary. The BBC is seeking to subpoena Ivanka Trump and Donald Trump Jr., among other family members.
The Defense Department dismissed the editor-in-chief, publisher, and a reporter from the military newspaper Stars and Stripes, citing insubordination after they publicly opposed Pentagon interference in the publication's editorial independence.
A coalition of unions, including the United Auto Workers and American Federation of Teachers, along with higher education groups, filed lawsuits challenging new Department of Homeland Security rules that would impose fixed time limits on foreign students, scholars, and journalists. The regulations, set to take effect September 15, would end the current 'duration of status' policy and require international students to seek extensions after four years.
Palestinians and press freedom advocates held vigils and commemorations on the first anniversary of the death of Al Jazeera correspondent Anas al-Sharif, who was killed while reporting in Gaza and became one of the defining voices of the conflict.
ABC filed a formal complaint accusing the Trump administration's FCC of unfairly targeting ABC and ABC-owned stations in retaliation for news coverage, calling it attempted censorship meant to intimidate the entire media industry.
President Donald Trump threatened to revoke the broadcast licenses of ABC and NBC after the networks chose not to air his prime-time address on election security on July 16. During the speech, which was carried by some but not all major networks, Trump accused the networks that declined coverage of engaging in a "plot" and covering up election fraud.
The Trump administration announced new regulations limiting foreign student and exchange visitor visas to four years and journalist visas to 240 days, ending the previous system of open-ended stays and requiring visa extensions for longer programs.
Jay Clayton, President Trump's nominee for top U.S. intelligence chief, appeared at his delayed confirmation hearing where lawmakers questioned him about subpoenas he issued to New York Times journalists in his current role as U.S. attorney for Manhattan. Democrats expressed concerns about potential interference with midterm elections.
Federal prosecutors issued subpoenas to four New York Times journalists compelling them to reveal sources for stories about security shortcomings on the Qatari-gifted presidential jet being used as Air Force One. The unusually aggressive move has drawn criticism from press freedom advocates and even Fox News journalists.
Prince Harry and six other high-profile British figures lost their High Court privacy lawsuit against the publisher of the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday, with the judge dismissing allegations of widespread unlawful behavior. The defeat adds to mounting pressures on the Duke of Sussex, who continues to reside in California.
Turkish authorities detained more than 100 people, including protesters, journalists, academics and left-wing activists, in the days before Ankara hosts a major NATO summit. US President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet with Ukrainian and Syrian leaders on the sidelines of the alliance gathering.
Italian authorities arrested four people suspected of carrying out a bomb attack in October targeting Sigfrido Ranucci, an investigative journalist for the program Report who has faced threats from the Italian mafia. The attack occurred at his home.
The Trump administration's Justice Department issued then withdrew subpoenas compelling national security reporters from The Washington Post and Wall Street Journal to testify before a federal grand jury in a leak investigation. The subpoenas were withdrawn after legal challenges from the news organizations.
A French judge has opened an investigation into complaints filed against Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman over the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, marking a significant legal development in the case.
Pope Leo observed World Press Freedom Day on Sunday by condemning ongoing violations of media freedom worldwide and paying tribute to journalists who have been killed while reporting from war zones and conflict areas.
Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon killed journalist Amal Khalil and wounded photographer Zeinab Faraj in what Lebanese officials called a deliberate 'double-tap' attack. Lebanon's prime minister accused Israel of war crimes, with rescuers also targeted.
The U.S. Supreme Court denied Alan Dershowitz's request to revive his $300 million defamation lawsuit against CNN, while Justice Clarence Thomas issued a statement calling for the court to reconsider the landmark 1964 New York Times v. Sullivan ruling that makes it difficult for public figures to sue for libel.