Introducing The SLAPP Back Initiative

First Amendment Watch is building the first national database of alleged SLAPPs — strategic lawsuits against public participation — potentially meritless or malicious legal actions that can financially cripple and ultimately silence critical voices.

Journalists Turn in Access Badges, Exit Pentagon Rather Than Agree to New Reporting Rules

It is unclear what practical impact the new rules will have, though news organizations vowed they’d continue robust coverage of the military no matter the vantage point.

New York Times, AP, Newsmax Among News Outlets Who Say They Won’t Sign New Pentagon Rules

Those outlets say the policy threatens to punish them for routine news gathering protected by the First Amendment.

Associated Press Disputes Trump’s False Characterization of Its Legal Fight Over Access

The AP won its case against Trump, but the president successfully earned a delay in getting the ruling enforced before the U.S. Court of Appeals considers the issue.

Appeals Court Won’t Reinstate AP Access To Presidential Events

Since the start of the case, the White House has instituted new rules for access to the limited-space events.

Picture an Execution: The First Amendment and the Spring 2025 Push for Death Chamber Access

Journalism’s fight for access has ramped up because, as the Louisiana and Indiana executions show, the death penalty itself could be ramping up. The escalation is happening on the federal level too.

Appeals Court Hands AP an Incremental Loss in Its Attempt To Regain Its Access to Trump Events

The news outlet’s access to events in the Oval Office and Air Force One was cut back starting in February after the AP said it would continue referring to the Gulf of Mexico in its copy.

White House Correspondents Protest Lack of Wire Reporters on Air Force One

No reporters from The AP, Bloomberg or Reuters were on the plane, where presidents often take questions from traveling members of the press.