The War On News

How governments have limited journalists, 1900 to today.

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Incidents: access bans in North America

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.

20 incidents match this view.

Country: United States (19) Canada (1)

Continent: North America (20)

Tactic: Access bans (20) Credential control (6) Detention and violence (4) Prior restraint (2)

Outcome: Reversed (7) Ongoing (6) Sustained (6) Unknown (1)

Level: National (14) State or province (6)

Head of government: Donald Trump (11) Jeff Landry (2) Ron DeSantis (1) Doug Ducey (1) John Horgan (1) Tim Walz (1) George W. Bush (1) George H. W. Bush (1) Ronald Reagan (1)

DateIncidentCountryTacticHead of governmentOutcome
September 18, 2026United States: White House hard-pass deactivations for CNN, MS NOW and Politico reporters, September 2026United StatesAccess bansDonald TrumpOngoing (September 21, 2026)
October 31, 2025White House closes 'Upper Press' section of West Wing to reportersUnited StatesAccess bansDonald TrumpSustained
October 15, 2025United States: News organizations turn in their Pentagon press credentials, October 2025United StatesCredential controlDonald TrumpOngoing (April 9, 2026)
September 19, 2025United States: Department of Defense press credential rules requiring approval before release of information, September 2025United StatesCredential controlDonald TrumpOngoing (April 9, 2026)
April 15, 2025White House ends wire services' guaranteed seat in the press poolUnited StatesAccess bansDonald TrumpSustained
February 25, 2025United States: White House takes over selection of the presidential press pool, February 2025United StatesAccess bansDonald TrumpSustained (September 22, 2026)
February 11, 2025United States: White House exclusion of the Associated Press from the Oval Office and Air Force One, February 2025United StatesAccess bansDonald TrumpOngoing (July 22, 2025)
February 6, 2025Border czar Tom Homan says ICE media ride-alongs may end over leaksUnited StatesAccess bansDonald TrumpUnknown
January 31, 2025United States (Louisiana): Federal court order blocking enforcement of the police buffer zone law, January 2025United StatesAccess bansJeff LandryOngoing (January 31, 2025)
January 1, 2025United States (Florida): Halo Law buffer zone around first responders, January 2025United StatesAccess bansRon DeSantisSustained (January 1, 2025)
May 24, 2024United States (Louisiana): 25-foot buffer zone law around police officers, May 2024United StatesAccess bansJeff LandryOngoing (January 31, 2025)
July 21, 2023Federal court strikes down Arizona's law banning recording police within 8 feetUnited StatesAccess bansDoug DuceyReversed (July 21, 2023)
July 20, 2021Court orders RCMP to stop restricting press access at Fairy Creek logging blockadesCanadaAccess bansJohn HorganReversed (July 20, 2021)
July 16, 2020Federal officers restrict press access to Portland protests; judge orders them to stopUnited StatesAccess bansDonald TrumpReversed (July 16, 2020)
May 29, 2020Minnesota State Patrol arrests CNN crew live on air in MinneapolisUnited StatesDetention and violenceTim WalzReversed (May 29, 2020)
November 7, 2018White House revokes CNN correspondent Jim Acosta's press credential after a news conference exchange with President TrumpUnited StatesCredential controlDonald TrumpReversed (November 19, 2018)
November 7, 2018United States: White House suspension of CNN correspondent Jim Acosta's hard pass, November 2018United StatesCredential controlDonald TrumpReversed (November 19, 2018)
February 10, 2003Pentagon sets ground rules for journalists embedded with United States forces in IraqUnited StatesAccess bansGeorge W. BushSustained (April 14, 2003)
January 17, 1991United States military restricts reporters to escorted press pools during the Gulf WarUnited StatesAccess bansGeorge H. W. BushSustained (February 28, 1991)
October 25, 1983United States military bars journalists from the invasion of GrenadaUnited StatesAccess bansRonald ReaganReversed (April 1, 1985)
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