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New tally from Washington Post fact-checkers shows 7,546 false or misleading claims over 700 days of Trump presidency. Federal judge rejects defamation suit against BuzzFeed for publishing dossier on alleged connections between Trump presidential campaign and the Russian government. Former Senate Intelligence Committee security director is sentenced to two months in prison for lying to the FBI about interactions with journalists. -Dru Menaker, Chief Operating Officer

The most pressing threats and notable goings-on in free expression today

U.S.

President Trump Has Made 7,546 False or Misleading Claims over 700 Days
More than a quarter of Trump’s claims, 2,032, came during campaign rallies. An additional 1,921 came during remarks during press events, and 1,266 were the result of the president’s tweeting. In terms of subjects, false or misleading claims about immigration top the list, totaling 1,076.
WASHINGTON POST

BuzzFeed Wins Defamation Lawsuit Filed by Executive Named in Trump Dossier
Judge Ursula Ungaro of the United States District Court in Miami said that BuzzFeed was protected in its publication of the dossier by the fair report privilege, which gives news organizations latitude in reporting on official government proceedings.
NEW YORK TIMES

Ex-Senate Aide Gets 2 Months in Prison for Lying to FBI
The FBI was talking to James Wolfe as part of a broader attempt to find out who was leaking details about surveillance targets in the government’s investigation of potential coordination between the Trump campaign and Russia.
POLITICO

Facebook Will Pause Political Ad Sales for Washington State Elections
The announcement comes on the heels of a settlement with Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson over political ad disclosures. The AG pursued Facebook and Google after it was revealed that the tech companies were not complying with the state’s political ad disclosure requirements.
GEEKWIRE

 
Global

U.K. to Press for Release of Reuters Journalists Jailed in Myanmar *PEN Case List: Learn More
The foreign secretary, Jeremy Hunt, has pledged to make the fight for the release of Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo—two Reuters journalists imprisoned by the Burmese government—a top priority for the coming year.
THE GUARDIAN

Artwork Interrogating the Ethics of Technology Pulled from China’s Guangzhou Triennial
Artists tackling global social issues have been banned by cultural censors from China’s upcoming Guangzhou Triennial. The 49 participating artists were given no official reason why their artworks were abruptly pulled.
HYPERALLERGIC

After Release from Cuban Jail, Tania Bruguera Files Defamation Case Against Government
Cuban artist Tania Bruguera has dedicated her life and career to freedom of expression, and has now launched a legal case against the government of Cuba, accusing the Republic of defamation.
HYPERALLERGIC

Der Spiegel to Run 23-Page Special on Reporter Who Faked Stories
The German news weekly Der Spiegel is to publish a 23-page special report on how one of its award-winning reporters, Claas Relotius, faked stories for years and dealt a blow to media credibility.
THE GUARDIAN

Outside Hungary’s State Television: A Protest. On Air: Pigeon Talk.
Hungarians who consume only state media, or the private outlets owned by Orban loyalists, will likely be either unaware of the scale of the protests, or consider them the work of foreign provocateurs.
NEW YORK TIMES

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