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US reporter fighting back after border patrol seized his cellphones (www.theguardian.com)

submitted 2 weeks ago by MicroWave@lemmy.world to c/politics@lemmy.world

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Max Blumenthal says he was singled out at airport after Trump ally Laura Loomer targeted him in online posts

When reporter Max Blumenthal went to a cafe in Tehran one night a few weeks ago to upload videos from his reporting on the funeral of Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei, he began seeing social media posts from Trump ally Laura Loomer targeting him, including one that suggested he should be “taken off the plane by US Marshalls when he lands back in the US … [and] detained”.

“I began to prepare myself for being harassed on my return,” Blumenthal said.

Effectively, that’s what happened, sparking a legal fight that freedom-of-the-press advocates say shows the determination of the Trump administration to crack down on members of the media whose reporting it disagrees with.

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[-] wuffah@lemmy.world 42 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

THIS is why the FOURTH AMENDMENT and phone security systems like GrapheneOS are a RIGHT.

THIS is why everyone has something to hide, and why privacy matters. Privacy rights protect citizens against oppression.

[-] quick_snail@feddit.nl 18 points 2 weeks ago

The federal agency returned the cellphones a week later

If this ever happens to you, do NOT be tempted to use the phone. Immediacy smash it or donate it.

That shit is highly likely now infected with implants.

[-] Throbbing_banjo@lemmy.dbzer0.com 6 points 2 weeks ago

I really fucking hate the media's recent use of the phrase "crackdown." A crackdown is a forceful action used to stop or curtail bad or illegal activity.

You can't "crack down" on journalism, disagreeing with trump, or not being white.

this post was submitted on 01 Aug 2026

142 points (100.0% liked)

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