The Hound | July 24

Hi there,

It’s Friday. The New York Times just won a significant battle for press freedom. After the DOJ subpoenaed four of its journalists — and then, in an act of stunning overreach, accidentally swept up the phone records of their spouses and a reporter's mother — the Times fought back in court. A federal judge grilled DOJ lawyers about their procedural failures. The Justice Department, caught having failed to follow its own regulations and potentially having given false testimony, was forced to withdraw the subpoenas entirely.

🖊️ Sign the petition to thank the New York Times for fighting back — in court, in public, and on the record. The road ahead is long: the judge has left the door open for the DOJ to reissue subpoenas if it follows proper procedures. We urge the Times, and every outlet watching, to keep holding the line.

This matters beyond one newspaper. The DOJ's conduct — subpoenas issued two days after an embarrassing story ran, a nominee for director of national intelligence who may have lied to Congress about it, and a non-disclosure order designed to keep journalists from even knowing their families' records were seized — was a coordinated attempt to make investigative journalism too costly and too dangerous to pursue.

In addition, RFK Jr. is now responsible for the highest measles outbreak in 35 years. And in Texas, James Talarico is accusing his Senate opponent, state Attorney General Ken Paxton, of committing voter fraud.

Read about these, and more, with today’s stories:

Jay Clayton’s Subpoena Slop Job (The American Prospect)

RFK Jr. Now Responsible for 35-Year Record High in Measles (The New Republic)

Trump’s Crypto Corruption Puts Centrist Democrats in Bind (The Intercept)

Instant Access to Trump’s Thoughts Now Costs $100,000 a Month (Mother Jones)

Ken Paxton Touts His Efforts to Fight Voter Fraud. His Senate Opponent Is Now Accusing Him of Committing It. (ProPublica)

Federal Judge Orders EPA to Administer Environmental Justice Grants (Inside Climate News)

Until next time,

Harry from The Hound

P.S. Do you know someone who would appreciate The Hound? If you can, forward this email and encourage them to subscribe! Let’s stay informed, together.