The War On News

How governments have limited journalists, 1900 to today.

Search, stage: pressure, national level, outcome ongoing

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

8 incidents match this view.

Country: Egypt, RSF 2026 rank: 169th of 180 Kazakhstan Russia, RSF 2026 rank: 172nd of 180 United States, RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180

Continent: Africa Asia Europe North America

Tactic: Lawsuits against the press (5) Funding and ownership pressure (2) Official labels (1) Prior restraint (1)

Stage: Pressure (8)

Outcome: Ongoing (8)

Level: National (8)

Head of government: Abdel Fattah el-Sisi Donald Trump Kassym-Jomart Tokayev Vladimir Putin

DateIncidentCountryTacticHead of governmentOutcome
August 20, 2026Kazakhstan: fabricated copyright complaints used against journalistsKazakhstan (RSF rank: not recorded)Lawsuits against the pressKassym-Jomart TokayevOngoing (August 20, 2026)
April 28, 2026Appeals court orders FCC to respond to challenge over 'news distortion' policyUnited States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Funding and ownership pressureDonald TrumpOngoing (April 28, 2026)
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
January 22, 2025FCC chair reopens 'news distortion' complaints against CBS and NBCUnited States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Funding and ownership pressureDonald TrumpOngoing
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)
October 26, 2018Russia: outlet fined $338,000 under the foreign agents lawRussia (RSF 2026 rank: 172nd of 180)Lawsuits against the pressVladimir PutinOngoing (October 26, 2018)
October 2018Egypt: a license requirement leaves an independent news site unable to operate legally for yearsEgypt (RSF 2026 rank: 169th of 180)Prior restraintAbdel Fattah el-SisiOngoing (October 26, 2020)
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