Tell the FTC to drop its investigation into Media Matters now

Media Matters just won a major legal victory — but even as we celebrate, the broader assault on independent journalism continues, and we must act now to protect it.

Elon Musk, Donald Trump, and their allies have launched a coordinated effort to dismantle Media Matters for America. After the watchdog exposed that X (formerly Twitter) was placing ads alongside neo-Nazi content, Musk retaliated with a lawsuit. Soon after, the Trump administration’s Federal Trade Commission opened a sweeping investigation. Republican attorneys general in Texas and Missouri piled on with additional probes.

But in a new legal development, a federal court in D.C. has now issued a preliminary injunction blocking the FTC’s investigation. This marks the third time courts have stepped in to halt government retaliation against Media Matters — following similar rulings in cases involving Texas and Missouri. The court recognized the investigation as a likely violation of Media Matters’ First Amendment rights and confirmed what we’ve known all along: these actions are politically motivated and legally unjustified.

This victory proves that resistance works. It shows that the judicial system, when pushed, can uphold constitutional protections even in the face of coordinated political pressure. But this fight is far from over. Musk is still appealing court decisions, and legal threats continue to drain Media Matters financially and operationally. Without strong public opposition and organized action, these attacks could resume — and succeed.

This is no ordinary legal fight. It’s a blueprint for authoritarian control, designed to intimidate any group that dares to speak truth to power. Experts are calling it “the Orbán playbook on steroids” — and if they succeed in crushing Media Matters, no press watchdog will be safe.

We’ve seen this before in authoritarian regimes: crush the press, then consolidate power. If we wait until the final newsroom goes dark, it will be too late.

We must act immediately.

Add your name to demand the FTC end these retaliatory investigations. 

Protect Media Matters. Protect truth. Protect democracy.

Thanks,
Mary