The War On News

How governments have limited journalists, 1900 to today.

Search: credential control, national level

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

9 incidents match this view.

Country: China, RSF 2026 rank: 178th of 180 Germany, RSF 2026 rank: 14th of 180 Spain, RSF 2026 rank: 29th of 180 United States, RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180

Continent: Asia Europe North America

Tactic: Credential control (9) Access bans (6) Prior restraint (2) Expulsion and visa denial (1) Insult and defamation laws (1) Licensing and closure of outlets (1)

Stage: Restrict (6) Punish (1) Silence (2)

Outcome: Reversed (4) Ongoing (3) Sustained (2)

Level: National (9)

Head of government: Adolf Hitler Donald Trump Francisco Franco Xi Jinping

DateIncidentCountryTacticHead of governmentOutcome
September 18, 2026United States: White House hard-pass deactivations for CNN, MS NOW and Politico reporters, September 2026United States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Access bansDonald TrumpOngoing (September 21, 2026)
October 15, 2025United States: News organizations turn in their Pentagon press credentials, October 2025United States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Credential controlDonald TrumpOngoing (April 9, 2026)
September 19, 2025United States: Department of Defense press credential rules requiring approval before release of information, September 2025United States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Credential controlDonald TrumpOngoing (April 9, 2026)
February 25, 2025United States: White House takes over selection of the presidential press pool, February 2025United States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Access bansDonald TrumpSustained (September 22, 2026)
March 17, 2020China expels American journalists from three major U.S. newspapersChina (RSF 2026 rank: 178th of 180)Expulsion and visa denialXi JinpingSustained
November 7, 2018White House revokes CNN correspondent Jim Acosta's press credential after a news conference exchange with President TrumpUnited States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Credential controlDonald TrumpReversed (November 19, 2018)
November 7, 2018United States: White House suspension of CNN correspondent Jim Acosta's hard pass, November 2018United States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Credential controlDonald TrumpReversed (November 19, 2018)
April 1938Franco's Spain requires state permission to be a journalist under a wartime Press LawSpain (RSF 2026 rank: 29th of 180)Credential controlFrancisco FrancoReversed (April 1, 1977)
October 4, 1933Nazi Germany's Editors Law bars Jewish journalists from the press and puts editors under state directionGermany (RSF 2026 rank: 14th of 180)Credential controlAdolf HitlerReversed (May 8, 1945)
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