The War On News

A record of government actions against journalism and fact-based reporting, from the first press laws to today

The record

Incidents in North America, national level, outcome unknown

Each incident is a dated action by a government, an official, a regulator, a court or a legislature that limited journalists' ability to gather or publish news.

The number of entries reflects the depth of this record, not the severity of a country's conduct.

All filters: country, dates, head of government, sort
CountryMexicoUnited States, RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180
ContinentNorth America
TacticSurveillance and subpoenas 5Funding and ownership pressure 1Access bans 1Detention and violence 1Prior restraint 1Secrets and espionage laws 1
StageRestrict 2Pressure 3Punish 3
OutcomeUnknown 8
LevelNational 8
Head of governmentBarack ObamaDonald TrumpDwight D. EisenhowerEnrique Pena NietoJoe BidenRichard Nixon

8 incidents match this view.

TableCardsCSVJSONMarkdown
DateIncidentCountryTacticHead of governmentOutcome
1 May 2025United States: Executive Order 14290 directing an end to federal funding for NPR and PBS, May 2025United States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Funding and ownership pressureDonald TrumpUnknown
6 February 2025Border czar Tom Homan says ICE media ride-alongs may end over leaksUnited States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Access bansDonald TrumpUnknown
6 November 2021FBI raids Project Veritas founder's home over Ashley Biden diary investigationUnited States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Surveillance and subpoenasJoe BidenUnknown
12 September 2020Political appointees alter CDC coronavirus guidance before public releaseUnited States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Prior restraintDonald TrumpUnknown
19 June 2017Mexico: journalist Carmen Aristegui receives Pegasus spyware through phishing textsMexico (RSF rank: not recorded)Surveillance and subpoenasEnrique Pena NietoUnknown (20 June 2017)
10 October 2013United States: Espionage Act prosecutions of sources for leaks to the press, 2009 to 2013United States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Secrets and espionage lawsBarack ObamaUnknown
9 September 1971United States: Nixon White House "enemies list" naming journalists, September 1971United States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Surveillance and subpoenasRichard NixonUnknown
1953United States: Senator Joseph McCarthy's subcommittee questions New York Post editor James Wechsler, 1953United States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Surveillance and subpoenasDwight D. EisenhowerUnknown
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