U.S. Press Freedom Ranking Falls to 64th Under Trump's Media Crackdown
Updated
Updated · AlterNet · Sep 12
U.S. Press Freedom Ranking Falls to 64th Under Trump's Media Crackdown
3 articles · Updated · AlterNet · Sep 12
Summary
Reporters Without Borders now ranks the United States 64th out of 180 countries on press freedom—its lowest position since the index began in 2002.
The drop follows what critics describe as a sustained Trump campaign to curb reporting, using federal regulators, White House access controls and lawsuits to punish outlets that cross him.
The White House barred the Associated Press from the Oval Office and Air Force One after it refused to adopt Trump's preferred “Gulf of America” name, and aides also linked the ban to a disputed photo-rights fight.
The FCC under Chairman Brendan Carr has also moved against broadcasters, including an early license review of ABC stations after Trump and the first lady demanded Jimmy Kimmel be fired.
Judges have often rejected these efforts on First Amendment grounds, but media analysts say the legal and financial pressure is still eroding press norms and could outlast Trump's presidency.
When federal agencies control press access and funding, can independent journalism truly survive the pressure?
The Trump Administration’s War on Universities: Funding Freezes, DEI Bans, and the Erosion of Academic Autonomy (2025–2027)
Overview
The report details how the Trump administration used its financial and regulatory power to reshape American higher education. It began by canceling over $400 million in federal grants to Columbia University, forcing the school into a costly settlement that required ending DEI programs and changing campus policies. Harvard University resisted similar demands, leading to a freeze of $2.2 billion in research funding and a major legal battle, which Harvard won in court. The administration then escalated its campaign nationwide, proposing to strip tax-exempt status from private schools with race-conscious policies, threatening deep cuts to financial aid and research. These actions created a climate of fear, especially for international students, and forced universities to choose between compliance and resistance, with lasting impacts on academic freedom and U.S. competitiveness.