The War On News

How governments have limited journalists, 1900 to today.

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Incidents: lawsuits against the press in North America, national level

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.

5 incidents match this view.

Country: United States, RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180

Continent: North America

Tactic: Lawsuits against the press (5) Funding and ownership pressure (1)

Stage: Pressure (5)

Outcome: Ongoing (3) Sustained (2)

Level: National (5)

Head of government: Donald Trump

DateIncidentCountryTacticHead of governmentOutcome
September 15, 2025Trump files, then refiles, $15 billion defamation suit against the New York TimesUnited States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Lawsuits against the pressDonald TrumpOngoing (October 16, 2025)
July 18, 2025Trump sues Wall Street Journal and Rupert Murdoch over Epstein birthday letter storyUnited States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Lawsuits against the pressDonald TrumpOngoing
July 1, 2025United States: Paramount settlement of Donald Trump's lawsuit over a 60 Minutes interview, July 2025United States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Lawsuits against the pressDonald TrumpSustained (July 1, 2025)
April 22, 202560 Minutes executive producer resigns, citing lost editorial independenceUnited States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Funding and ownership pressureDonald TrumpSustained (April 22, 2025)
December 16, 2024Trump sues Des Moines Register and pollster Ann Selzer over final Iowa pollUnited States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Lawsuits against the pressDonald TrumpOngoing (July 10, 2026)
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