The Freedom of the Press Foundation (FPF) recently partnered with the Ellsberg Initiative on Peace and Democracy to host a critical discussion on the Trump administration’s escalating attacks on the First Amendment.
Moderated by Lauren Harper, FPF’s Daniel Ellsberg chair on government secrecy, the March 25, 2026, panel featured a powerhouse lineup of advocates: the ACLU’s Ben Wizner, the Knight First Amendment Institute’s Jameel Jaffer, and Free Press’ Nora Benavidez.
The conversation came at a pivotal moment, covering a wide range of threats, from the increasing criminalization of whistleblowing and the vulnerability of noncitizen speakers to the chilling effect of a partisan Federal Communications Commission.
Key takeaways from the panel include:
The necessity of leaks: Wizner emphasized that without whistleblowers willing to risk decades in prison, the public would remain in the dark about the most significant government actions of the last 25 years, including the CIA’s torture program and warrantless wiretapping.
The fragility of institutions: Jaffer noted that while the First Amendment was designed for exactly this moment, elite institutions have grown increasingly quick to settle frivolous lawsuits. He pointed out the striking irony that the most courage is currently being shown not by those with power, but by the most vulnerable, such as noncitizen journalists.
The path to authoritarianism: Benavidez warned that the consolidation of power, including media power, into fewer hands creates a dangerous inequality. She noted that this environment “sets the stage for broader muzzling” of any voice seen as even tentatively oppositional to those in power, which is a classic hallmark of rising authoritarianism.
Watch the entire panel here.
