Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• ICE agents assault and arrest independent photographer John Abernathy during Minneapolis immigration protest — During a Trump administration immigration crackdown in Minneapolis, ICE agents tackled independent photographer John Abernathy while he documented a protest. A photograph showed him on the ground with pepper spray running down his face. The incident exemplified ICE's aggressive tactics against both immigrants and US citizens defending them, and demonstrated that journalists were not immune to the agency's violence. Abernathy managed to toss his camera to another photographer to preserve his images.

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• DHS deployed 19 USC 1509 administrative summonses to obtain records on journalists, non-profits, and unions without judicial oversight — The Trump administration's Department of Homeland Security has systematically used an obscure customs law (19 USC 1509) to issue administrative summonses demanding records from social media companies and telecommunications providers targeting journalists (Georgia Fort, Don Lemon, Megyn Kelly, Brendan Gutenschwager, Democracy Now), unions (SEIU, Communications Workers of America), and left-leaning non-profits (Sunrise Movement, Voices for Racial Justice). The summonses bypass judicial review required for search warrants and include secrecy directives. Fort's six-month phone records from T-Mobile and YouTube account information were obtained after a federal judge had twice rejected similar warrant requests in February 2026, citing lack of probable cause.
• Trump administration uses customs law to obtain journalist records without judicial oversight — The Trump administration deployed an obscure legal maneuver to obtain private information on journalists, non-profits, and unions without judicial oversight. The Department of Homeland Security served Google with an administrative summons citing 19 USC 1509, a customs statute, to obtain YouTube account information for journalist Georgia Fort and Don Lemon. The summons bypassed judicial review required for search warrants, which a judge had twice rejected for lacking probable cause. DHS officials used the customs provision—designed to investigate import duties and taxes—to investigate a domestic protest at a Minneapolis church that the journalists were covering.

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• Conspiracy charges filed against anti-ICE protesters in multiple jurisdictions — Following the Spokane protest, federal prosecutors filed conspiracy charges against demonstrators in Chicago and investigated Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey for the same alleged crime. Journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort were also charged with conspiracy to violate religious freedom stemming from coverage of a protest inside a Minnesota church. Both journalists have pleaded not guilty and await trial. Governor Walz condemned the probe as an "authoritarian tactic."

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• Spanish-language journalist detained by ICE without warrant shown — Estefany Rodriguez Florez, a reporter for Nashville Noticias who has done stories critical of ICE, was arrested during a traffic stop without being shown a warrant, according to court documents filed by her attorney. Rodriguez, a Colombian citizen with a valid work permit who entered the U.S. lawfully, has been living in the country for five years and applied for political asylum through her U.S. citizen husband. She left Colombia after receiving death threats for her coverage of crime.

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• FBI investigated New York Times reporter Elizabeth Williamson over story on Kash Patel's girlfriend — The FBI opened an investigation into New York Times reporter Elizabeth Williamson in March 2026 following her February 28 article alleging that FBI Director Kash Patel used federal resources to provide protection and transportation for his girlfriend, country singer Alexis Wilkins. FBI agents searched databases for details about Williamson and suggested assessing whether her reporting violated federal stalking laws. Patel denied the investigation on Fox News, claiming the article posed a direct threat to his girlfriend. The Times' executive editor condemned the FBI's actions as unconstitutional and a violation of First Amendment rights.

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• Independent journalist Brixton Hughes arrested in connection with Minnesota church protest — Brixton Hughes, identified as an independent journalist, was arrested on Friday morning in connection with the January 18 protest at Cities Church in St. Paul. Hughes posted on Facebook "Feds at my door" following the arrest. Hughes was among 25 people arrested as part of the DOJ's expanded prosecution of protest participants. Two other journalists, Don Lemon and Georgia Fort, were previously charged over the same protest, though they maintained they were covering it as reporters rather than participating.

Supporting reports

• Don Lemon arraigned on federal civil rights charges related to Minnesota church protest coverage — Former CNN host and independent journalist Don Lemon pleaded not guilty in federal court in St. Paul, Minnesota, to charges of conspiracy and interfering with congregants' constitutional rights to freely exercise religion. Lemon was arrested while covering a January 18 anti-ICE protest at a Southern Baptist church. His attorney raised First Amendment issues and requested return of Lemon's phone, seized during arrest. Four other defendants, including civil rights attorney Nekima Levy Armstrong, also pleaded not guilty. Nine people total have been charged under the 1994 Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act.

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• Federal magistrate judge previously rejected arrest warrant for Don Lemon — A federal magistrate judge took the unusual step of declining to sign off on an arrest warrant for Don Lemon, finding there was "no evidence" of criminal behavior in his journalistic work at the Minnesota church protest. The decision reportedly enraged Attorney General Pam Bondi. Despite this judicial rejection, the DOJ proceeded to arrest and charge Lemon anyway.
• Don Lemon Arrested for Violating FACE Act — Federal agents arrested independent journalist Don Lemon in Minneapolis, charging him with violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act and conspiring to hurt the exercise of rights. The charges stem from Lemon's filming of a protest at a church service. Previous attempts by federal prosecutors to charge him were blocked by a magistrate judge and a federal judge. The administration's actions are seen as an attempt to intimidate independent journalists and suppress coverage of federal authority.
• Don Lemon arrested; Trump had made 10 posts attacking him — Don Lemon was arrested. Deputy AG Todd Blanche claimed the president had "never even thought of Don Lemon" when asked if the arrest was intended to make an example of someone the president had sparred with. However, a search of Trump's Truth Social account revealed Trump made 10 nasty posts about Lemon over the past three years, with several recent posts calling him a "sleazebag."

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• Georgia Fort Arrested Alongside Don Lemon — Federal agents also arrested independent journalist Georgia Fort and two protest participants, Trahern Jeen Crews and Jamael Lydell Lundy, during the same incident in Minneapolis. The arrests are part of a broader crackdown on independent journalism and dissent against the Trump administration's policies, particularly regarding ICE and federal authority.

Supporting reports

• FBI Director Kash Patel launches investigation into Signal group chats used by protesters — FBI Director Kash Patel announced on January 26 that he launched an investigation into Signal group chats used by protesters in Minnesota to share information about federal immigration agents, including their locations and license plate numbers. The move targets legally obtained information and the act of recording law enforcement officials, both protected by the First Amendment.
• Justice Department appeals to Eighth Circuit after judge declines to issue arrest warrants for CNN anchor and protesters — Federal prosecutors sought Chief Judge Schiltz's assistance in arresting former CNN anchor Don Lemon and others linked to an anti-ICE church protest. After Schiltz declined to overturn a magistrate's denial of arrest warrants, the Justice Department appealed directly to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. The circuit court rejected the government's request, prompting Schiltz to write letters criticizing the Justice Department's approach and highlighting the flood of "illegal" detention cases overwhelming Minnesota courts.
• FBI director announced investigation of Signal chats of Minneapolis observers — FBI Director Kash Patel told a right-wing podcaster that the FBI will investigate Signal chats of those organized in Minneapolis to observe and record federal agents, to determine if they endangered federal agents. Podcaster Benny Johnson suggested the chats were "coordinated infrastructure" and asked the FBI to "take a crack at trying to get rid of this infrastructure the way they approach the mob or cartels or other terrorist networks."
• TikTok suppresses anti-ICE videos following Oracle acquisition — Following TikTok's acquisition by an Oracle-led consortium in late January 2026, users reported inability to upload videos critical of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Law professor Stephen Vladeck reported his anti-ICE video remained "under review" for nine hours; comedian Megan Stalter and California State Sen. Scott Wiener also reported suppression. TikTok attributed the issue to a data center outage, but the timing coincided with Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison's known Trump loyalty, raising concerns about state influence over the platform's content moderation.
• Federal agents arrested journalist Don Lemon on FACE Act and civil rights conspiracy charges — More than two dozen federal agents arrested independent journalist Don Lemon late on January 29, charging him with violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act and conspiring to hurt the exercise of rights—a Reconstruction-era law originally used against the Ku Klux Klan. Lemon had filmed protesters disrupting a church service in St. Paul, Minnesota, on January 18 at a white nationalist church with ties to the Trump administration. A magistrate judge and federal judge had both refused to issue warrants; the administration then sought indictment via federal grand jury. Lemon stated he would plead not guilty and continue his journalism.
• Federal agents arrest Don Lemon and three journalists — On January 29, federal agents arrested Don Lemon and three other journalists in relation to their coverage of an anti-ICE protest inside a St. Paul, Minnesota church. Lemon has been charged with conspiring to deprive others of their civil rights and violating the FACE Act by allegedly obstructing access to a house of worship. The arrests come one week after a federal magistrate judge rejected the Justice Department's initial request to bring charges. Lemon's lawyer Abbe Lowell called the move an "unprecedented attack on the First Amendment" and a "transparent attempt to distract attention from the many crises facing this administration."
• Federal magistrate and district judge refused to issue arrest warrants for Don Lemon — A federal magistrate judge refused to issue a warrant for Don Lemon and his producer, stating prosecutors had not shown evidence justifying arrest. When the administration asked a federal judge to overturn that decision, the judge also refused, calling the request "unprecedented." The administration then escalated the case to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, which also refused to intervene.
• DOJ charges Don Lemon and three others with civil rights crimes related to Minnesota church protest — The Department of Justice charged former CNN anchor Don Lemon and three others with federal civil rights crimes, alleging they interfered with religious freedom at a church in Minnesota earlier in January. Lemon was arrested in Los Angeles on Thursday while covering the Grammy Awards and released Friday. The charges also invoked the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act. A federal magistrate judge had previously declined to sign an arrest warrant for Lemon, but the DOJ proceeded with charges anyway. The White House celebrated the arrest on social media.
• Don Lemon arrested on charges connected to Minnesota church protest — Ex-CNN anchor Don Lemon, 59, was arrested on charges related to a Minnesota church protest. Lemon, who was terminated by CNN in 2023 following allegations of problematic behavior toward female colleagues and controversial on-air remarks, has since worked as an independent journalist on YouTube. The arrest marks a significant development in his career trajectory following his departure from mainstream media.
• Federal agents arrest journalist Georgia Fort for covering ICE protest at Minnesota church — Georgia Fort, an independent Minnesota journalist, was arrested at her home on January 30 after covering a January 18 protest at St. Paul's Cities church, where a pastor reportedly works for ICE. Fort was charged alongside Don Lemon under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act (FACE Act) and conspiracy statutes—charges experts call unprecedented against journalists. The DOJ pursued the case aggressively after a federal judge and appeals court initially refused to charge the journalists; a grand jury eventually secured an indictment. Fort livestreamed her arrest and has since been unable to cover related stories due to legal and safety concerns.
• Federal agents conduct search of Fort's home and question her children — When federal agents arrested Georgia Fort at her home on January 30, approximately two dozen agents remained outside for hours after her arrest. As Fort's family attempted to leave, agents stopped them in the driveway and questioned her children about whether they possessed her laptop or cellphone. Fort's daughters, aged 17, 8, and 7, were terrified by the encounter. The youngest daughter now discusses ICE daily; the oldest has experienced nightmares. Fort stated agents could have waited until children left for school and questioned why so many agents were needed to arrest a journalist.
• Journalist Don Lemon arrested by Trump administration after covering anti-ICE protest — Former CNN anchor Don Lemon was arrested on January 30, 2026, by federal agents at a Los Angeles hotel while covering the Grammy Awards. The Trump administration obtained a federal grand jury indictment against Lemon, independent journalist Georgia Fort, and others on charges of conspiracy and interfering with worshippers' constitutional rights during an anti-immigration enforcement protest at a Minnesota church on January 18. A federal magistrate judge had previously refused to sign an arrest warrant for Lemon. On February 8, Lemon spoke publicly about the arrest, characterizing it as an attack on press freedom and warning that democracy becomes "hollow" when the First Amendment is threatened.
• Federal agents arrested journalist Georgia Fort and two protest participants — Federal agents arrested independent journalist Georgia Fort of Minnesota, along with two protest participants, Trahern Jeen Crews and Jamael Lydell Lundy, in connection with the January 18 church protest in St. Paul. All four people arrested in the past 24 hours are Black.
• Don Lemon arrested on federal civil rights charges — Former CNN anchor Don Lemon was arrested by federal authorities and charged with federal civil rights crimes in connection with a protest at a Minnesota church service earlier in January. The Department of Homeland Security stated Lemon was charged with conspiracy and interfering with the First Amendment rights of worshipers. His attorney Abbe Lowell stated Lemon's "constitutionally protected work in Minneapolis was no different than what he has always done" and characterized the arrest as "an unprecedented attack on the first amendment." Career DOJ prosecutors in Minnesota and Louisiana refused to be involved in charging Lemon and other journalists who covered the Minneapolis church protests, believing the evidence does not support the charges.

Supporting reports

• DOJ Civil Rights Division opened investigation into church protest for potential FACE Act violations. — DOJ Civil Rights Division Chief Harmeet Dhillon announced an investigation into potential violations of the federal FACE Act (Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act) by protesters who disrupted a Sunday service at Cities Church in Minneapolis to protest a pastor they claimed works for ICE. Dhillon stated that houses of worship are protected spaces and that the First Amendment does not protect disrupting a prayer service. She indicated the investigation will determine how many people were involved and how many charges will be brought.
• Harmeet Dhillon announced potential prosecution under Ku Klux Klan Act. — DOJ Civil Rights Division Chief Harmeet Dhillon stated on Benny Johnson's podcast that she is looking at prosecuting Don Lemon and the church protesters under the Ku Klux Klan Act, which makes it illegal to terrorize and violate citizens' civil rights. She warned that "the fullest force of the federal govt is going to come down and prevent this from happening and put people away for a long time." She also characterized protesters as "godless people" unfamiliar with houses of worship.
• DOJ Assistant Attorney General threatens Black journalist with KKK Act prosecution — On MLK Day, Justice Department Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon threatened to invoke the Ku Klux Klan Act to bring conspiracy charges against Black journalist Don Lemon after he covered an anti-ICE protest inside a St. Paul, Minnesota church. Later in the week, a federal magistrate judge rejected the DOJ's initial attempt to bring charges against Lemon.
• Justice Department threatens Black journalist with KKK Act conspiracy charge on MLK Day — Harmeet Dhillon, the Justice Department's Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, threatened to invoke the Ku Klux Klan Act to bring a conspiracy charge against Black journalist Don Lemon after he covered an anti-ICE protest inside a St. Paul church on MLK Day. A federal magistrate judge later rejected the Justice Department's initial attempt to bring charges against Lemon.

Supporting reports

• Raven Geary struck by pepper ball during ICE detention facility protest — Chicago journalist Raven Geary was struck in the face by a pepper ball fired by an ICE officer on September 2025 while covering a protest outside the Broadview, Illinois detention facility. Geary was wearing a press pass and stated that ICE agents had been observing journalists for weeks, indicating they knew they were targeting press. Geary, fellow reporters, journalism organizations, and protesters filed a class-action lawsuit against ICE and the Department of Homeland Security, alleging violations of First and Fourth Amendment rights.

Supporting reports

• Freedom of the Press Foundation reports surge in journalist assaults during Trump administration — The Freedom of the Press Foundation released a report documenting 170 assaults against journalists in 2025 (through December 16), nearly matching the 175 assaults recorded across 2022–2024 combined. Most attacks occurred at protests against the Trump administration's immigration enforcement policies. Law enforcement officials allegedly used batons and fired projectiles at journalists covering these events, despite visible press credentials. The foundation attributes the rise partly to anti-media rhetoric from Trump and other officials that delegitimizes journalists as targets.

Supporting reports

• British Muslim journalist Sami Hamdi released from ICE detention — British Muslim journalist Sami Hamdi returned to the UK on November 13 after being released from ICE detention. Hamdi was detained by ICE at an airport two weeks ago. Zeteo reported that Hamdi's legal team said the legal documents in the case only alleged that he overstayed his visa, which was revoked by the Trump administration, and did not include any other criminal conduct or security concerns.
• Detention of UK Commentator Sami Hamdi by US Immigration Authorities — Sami Hamdi, a British political commentator, was detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents at San Francisco International Airport while on a speaking tour in the US. His detention followed the release of a video by a pro-Israel group, which purportedly showed him praising the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel. Hamdi was accused of overstaying his visa, which was canceled without his knowledge. He agreed to leave the US voluntarily, with the right to apply for a new visa. The US Department of Homeland Security labeled him a "terrorist sympathizer," though no formal charges were made.

Supporting reports

• ICE detains British journalist Sami Hamdi for pro-Palestinian speech during US tour — British journalist Sami Hamdi was detained by ICE at San Francisco International Airport on Sunday morning while on a speaking tour in the US. The Council on American-Islamic Relations characterized the detention as retaliation for Hamdi's criticism of Israel's military campaign in Gaza. DHS Press Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated Hamdi's visa was revoked and he faces removal. Trump ally Laura Loomer publicly claimed credit for pressuring federal agencies to take action against Hamdi's visa status. A federal judge had ruled days earlier that the administration's policy of detaining and deporting foreign scholars over pro-Palestinian views violates the Constitution.
• ICE detention and deportation of British commentator Sami Hamdi for pro-Palestinian speech — Sami Hamdi, a British political commentator, was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents at San Francisco International Airport on 26 October 2025 while on a US speaking tour. The Trump administration justified his detention by labeling him a "terrorist sympathizer" based on an edited video montage released by pro-Israel group Memri, without providing evidence or alleging specific crimes. Hamdi's visa was abruptly cancelled without notification. After three weeks in detention, he agreed to voluntary departure and returned to the UK on 14 November, though he retains the right to apply for a new visa.
• UK commentator Sami Hamdi's visa revoked and detained by ICE; agreed to voluntary departure — British political commentator Sami Hamdi was detained by ICE on 26 October at San Francisco International Airport while on a US speaking tour. The Department of Homeland Security revoked his visa without prior notice, citing alleged support for terrorism. CAIR stated the detention appeared retaliatory for Hamdi's criticism of Israel. On 10 November, Hamdi accepted an offer of voluntary departure. The charging document alleged only visa overstay; CAIR noted the government identified no criminal conduct or security grounds, and the agreement implicitly establishes he poses no danger to national security.
• ICE detained British Muslim journalist Sami Hamdi at San Francisco airport — British Muslim journalist Sami Hamdi was detained by ICE agents at San Francisco International Airport, apparently at the urging of pro-Israel, anti-Muslim extremists Laura Loomer and Amy Mekelburg. The detention raised concerns about the use of immigration enforcement for political and religious targeting.
• ICE detention of British commentator Sami Hamdi over pro-Palestinian advocacy — Sami Hamdi, a British political commentator and editor-in-chief of International Interest, was detained by ICE at San Francisco International Airport while on a US speaking tour. He was taken to an immigration detention center in McFarland, California, pending deportation proceedings scheduled for November. The detention followed his public remarks about the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks, which the Trump administration characterized as support for terrorism. His wife reported minimal contact since his arrest and stated the family was "being kept in the dark" about his status.

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• Chicago TV journalist arrested and released during ICE raid — Debbie Brockman, a video editor and US citizen employed by WGN television in Chicago, was forcibly arrested by masked federal agents during an ICE enforcement operation in the Lincoln Square neighborhood on Friday morning. Videos show agents pushing her to the ground and handcuffing her; she was accused of throwing objects at a federal vehicle. She was released by 3 p.m. with no charges filed. The incident occurred amid heightened immigration enforcement in Chicago and sparked public outcry.

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• ICE agents arrest Chicago TV producer Debbie Brockman during immigration enforcement operation — Federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested Debbie Brockman, a U.S. citizen and WGN television producer, on October 10 in Chicago's Lincoln Square neighborhood during an ICE operation. Agents forced her to the ground, handcuffed her, and detained her for approximately seven hours. A Homeland Security official claimed she threw objects at a Border Patrol vehicle and assaulted a federal officer. Brockman was released without charges. Her attorneys dispute the government account, stating she was violently assaulted while walking to a bus stop and was not acting in any professional capacity at the time.
• Border Patrol agents arrest WGN-TV producer Debbie Brockman while recording detention — Masked Border Patrol agents arrested WGN-TV producer Debbie Brockman in Chicago after she recorded agents detaining a Latino man. Agents claimed she obstructed their work; Homeland Security later accused her of throwing objects and assaulting a federal officer. Brockman was released without charges. The arrest occurred one day after a federal judge issued a restraining order protecting journalists from such federal agent conduct.

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• ICE deploys tear gas, pepper balls, and body slams against protesters and journalists in Broadview, Illinois — ICE agents, alongside Illinois state police and Cook County sheriff's office, deployed tear gas and pepper balls against protesters gathered at an ICE processing facility in Broadview, Illinois on Friday. Videos show agents body-slamming protesters to the ground. Journalists covering the protests were also attacked—a CBS Chicago reporter was hit with a pepper ball from 50 feet away; a Chicago Sun-Times reporter was tear-gassed; and an Unraveled Press reporter was detained. Legal observers were similarly targeted. The facility, not designed as a detention center, holds nearly 5,000 detainees statewide under "Operation Midway Blitz."
• ICE agents deploy tear gas against protesters in multiple U.S. cities — Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents used tear gas and other force against peaceful protesters in Portland, Washington DC, and Chicago during enforcement operations. The article references unspecified brutality by the Administration and an unwarranted raid on a Chicago apartment building, indicating escalating use of force against civilian demonstrators opposing immigration enforcement actions.

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• Journalist Mario Guevara deported to El Salvador after 100 days in ICE custody — Emmy-winning journalist Mario Guevara, who has lived in the Atlanta area for 20 years and holds a work permit, was arrested on June 2025 while livestreaming "No Kings Day" protests on petty charges that were immediately dismissed. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reopened his dormant deportation case following the arrest and held him for 100 days. On Friday, October 3, 2025, immigration officials deported him to El Salvador at 4 a.m., separating him from his two American citizen children and family.

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• Federal officers deploy chemical agents and rubber bullets against protesters at Broadview ICE facility — On Saturday night, 26 September, federal officers including US Border Patrol deployed pepper spray, rubber bullets, and teargas against protesters outside the Broadview ICE detention facility in Illinois. Officers arrested multiple protesters. A CBS Chicago reporter was also targeted with gas deployed into her vehicle while she was documenting the scene, causing her to become ill for hours.

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• US appeals court orders deportation of Atlanta journalist Mario Guevara — An immigration appeals court closed the case of Mario Guevara, an Atlanta-based journalist detained by ICE, and ordered his removal from the United States. Guevara, an El Salvador native who has lived in the US for over 20 years, was arrested at a protest in June on charges that were dropped. Despite an immigration judge's initial bond order and his pending green card application and work permit, ICE pursued deportation. The ACLU filed an emergency petition and habeas corpus appeal seeking relief.

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• Secretary of State Rubio threatens visa revocation for Kirk critics — Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking from Jerusalem on Monday, reiterated threats to revoke visas for foreign nationals who "celebrate" Charlie Kirk's killing or engage in "negative and destructive behavior." Rubio's deputy, Chris Landau, previously instructed consular officers to undertake "appropriate action" when assessing visas for anyone "praising, rationalizing, or making light of" Kirk's death.

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• Deputy Secretary of State suggested stripping visas from Kirk death celebrants — Christopher Landau, deputy secretary of state, suggested the administration would strip visas from individuals who celebrated Charlie Kirk's death, signaling use of immigration enforcement as a tool for political retaliation.
• Secretary of State Rubio threatens visa revocation for Kirk critics — Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking from Jerusalem on Monday, reiterated threats to revoke visas for foreign nationals who "celebrate" Charlie Kirk's killing or engage in "negative and destructive behavior." Rubio's deputy, Chris Landau, previously instructed consular officers to undertake "appropriate action" when assessing visas for anyone "praising, rationalizing, or making light of" Kirk's death.

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• Larry Bushart sues Tennessee county over arrest and 37-day jailing for Facebook meme — Larry Bushart, a former law enforcement officer, filed a lawsuit against Perry County, Tennessee, Sheriff Nick Weems, and investigator Jason Morrow after being arrested and jailed for 37 days in September 2025 for posting a Facebook meme. The meme, shared in comments on a vigil post for assassinated activist Charlie Kirk, showed Trump with a quote from a 2024 Iowa school shooting ("We have to get over it"), captioned "This seems relevant today." Police arrested Bushart the next day, charging him with "threatening mass violence at a school," though the meme referenced a shooting in Iowa, not the local Tennessee school. The criminal charge was dropped in late October. Bushart alleges violations of his First and Fourth Amendment rights and seeks compensatory and punitive damages.

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• Atlanta reporter detained by ICE — A reporter from Atlanta remains in detention by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The article cites this as an example of ICE's "immoral and unconstitutional" actions and notes ongoing detention of individuals in for-profit detention centers.
• ICE continues detention of journalist Guevara despite dropped charges — Mario Guevara remains detained by ICE in a south Georgia immigration detention center despite all criminal charges being dropped. First Amendment rights groups, including the Committee to Protect Journalists, stated at a press conference that Guevara is being "punished for his journalism." Guevara, a Salvadoran native with 20+ years in the US, has a work permit and pending green card application. He is now held in isolation at the Folkston immigration center. His family was forced to make an extortion payment after another inmate threatened him while briefly in general population at a federal Atlanta prison.