1. United States
2. Iowa
3. Letter

Your silence on blatant attacks on the First Amendment is unacceptable. Either you don’t care about press freedom, or you’re completely oblivious to what’s happening. Let me remind you. Here are just a few examples of this administration’s escalating war on the press: Lawsuit Against Des Moines Register – In December 2024, President Trump sued the Des Moines Register and its pollster, accusing them of "brazen election interference" simply because they published a poll showing him trailing his opponent. Threats to MSNBC and CNN – In January 2025, Trump publicly declared that MSNBC “shouldn’t have a right to broadcast” and labeled both MSNBC and CNN as “illegal” in a speech at the Department of Justice, escalating his open hostility toward independent media. Revocation of Press Credentials – This administration has a pattern of stripping press credentials from reporters who ask tough questions. The most infamous case was CNN’s Jim Acosta in 2018, but it’s still happening, happening, limiting journalists’ ability to report the truth. Legal Actions Against Media Outlets – Trump’s team has weaponized lawsuits to intimidate journalists, including a case against ABC News that resulted in a $15 million settlement. These legal threats are meant to silence critical coverage. Targeting of the Associated Press (AP) – The AP has been repeatedly singled out by this administration. Recently, an AP reporter was barred from an Oval Office event after refusing to comply with the White House’s demand to call the Gulf of Mexico the “Gulf of America.” This administration is now dictating which journalists can even be in the room, setting a dangerous precedent for government-controlled media access. If you’ve forgotten what your job entails, let me remind you: Congress has the power—and the duty—to protect the press from government overreach. You are not powerless. You can and must: 1. Hold hearings and investigations into these clear violations of press freedom. 2. Introduce and support legislation preventing any administration from using government power to punish journalists. 3. Use the power of the purse to cut funding for executive initiatives that undermine the free press. The First Amendment is not a suggestion—it’s the law. If you let this slide, you are complicit in the erosion of press freedom. The American people depend on an independent press to hold leaders accountable. It seems as though you might want to get your news from a larger variety of sources since you seem unaware of all of these attacks. If you cannot be bothered to take a stand on something as fundamental as the First Amendment, then maybe you should reconsider why you’re fit to hold the job to protect our Constitution.