For Immediate Release: January 15, 2026   President Julie Kent, Florida NOW, president@flnow.org

Orlando— The Florida National Organization for Women (FL NOW) is sounding the alarm about the accelerating impact of authoritarianism on public media in the United States and around the world. As authoritarian tactics spread — including censorship, propaganda, and digital surveillance — public media systems are increasingly targeted because they serve as essential watchdogs, truth‑tellers, and platforms for civic participation.

Authoritarian governments have long used media control to consolidate power, but new digital tools have dramatically expanded their reach. Research shows that modern authoritarian regimes now rely on digital censorship, surveillance, and manipulation to shape public opinion and suppress dissent. These tactics are no longer confined to foreign governments; they are influencing political behavior, media ecosystems, and public trust in the United States and globally.

“Public media is one of the last remaining institutions dedicated to truth, transparency, and the public good,” said Julie Kent, President FL NOW. “Authoritarianism thrives when people are misinformed, intimidated, or silenced. Undermining public media is a direct attack on democracy — and on the rights of women, LGBTQ+ people, and marginalized communities who rely on factual reporting to hold power accountable.”

Authoritarian Tactics Are Reshaping Public Media

1. Censorship and Information Control

Authoritarian regimes increasingly deploy digital firewalls, content blocking, and algorithmic suppression to restrict access to independent journalism. These tactics limit citizens’ ability to access diverse viewpoints and weaken public media’s role as a democratic safeguard.

2. Propaganda and Manipulation

New research shows that authoritarian propaganda spreads most effectively in societies where information networks are either highly fragmented or tightly controlled. This allows regimes to flood the public sphere with biased narratives while drowning out independent reporting.

3. Attacks on Journalists and Newsrooms

Around the world and here in the U.S., journalists face harassment, intimidation, silencing, and violence for reporting on government abuses. Public media outlets — which often investigate corruption, human rights violations, and state misconduct — are frequent targets.

4. Erosion of Trust in Independent Media.     Authoritarian leaders often label public media as “biased,” “fake,” or “enemies of the people” to delegitimize critical reporting. This coordinated discrediting campaign weakens public confidence in factual journalism and fuels polarization.

5. Exporting Authoritarian Media Models

Countries like China now export surveillance and censorship technologies to other governments, accelerating the global spread of digital authoritarianism. This threatens press freedom worldwide and emboldens leaders who seek to control information.

Why This Matters for Women and Marginalized Communities

Authoritarianism disproportionately harms women, LGBTQ+ people, and communities of color. Public media plays a critical role in:

• Exposing gender‑based violence
• Reporting on reproductive rights
• Amplifying marginalized voices
• Investigating abuses of power
• Providing fact‑based civic education

“When public media is weakened, the most vulnerable communities lose one of their strongest defenders,” said Debbie Deland, VP FL NOW. “Authoritarianism is not just a political threat — it is a direct threat to gender justice and human rights. In the U.S., we are seeing all media being intimidated with some caving to the pressure. This is not free speech which America has always prided itself on. The U.S. leadership at all levels is violating our rights under the First Amendment. We won’t allow this fascism to take away our rights.”

FL NOW Calls for Action

FL NOW urges policymakers, civic organizations, and the public to:

1. Protect funding for public media at the federal and state levels.
2. Defend press freedom and oppose efforts to censor or intimidate journalists.
3. Strengthen digital rights and privacy protections to prevent surveillance abuses.
4. Promote media literacy to counter propaganda and disinformation.
5. Financially support independent journalism, especially outlets serving marginalized communities.

About Florida NOW

The Florida National Organization for Women (FL NOW) is the state’s largest feminist advocacy organization, dedicated to advancing gender justice, racial equity, reproductive freedom, LGBTQ+ rights, and the protection of democratic institutions.

Media Contact: Debbie Deland, VP FL NOW, 407 234-6408, vp@flnow.org

For Immediate Release: January 15, 2026   President Julie Kent, Florida NOW, president@flnow.or

Orlando, FL — Jan 15, 2026 — The Florida National Organization for Women (Florida NOW) condemns Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem for her premature, misleading, and politically charged public statements after the killing of 37-year-old Minnesota mother and U.S. citizen Renee Nicole Good, who was fatally shot by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer in Minneapolis.

Video evidence and statements from local officials have not supported Noem’s claim that the incident was an act of “domestic terrorism” or that Good intentionally used her vehicle as a weapon against ICE officers — claims the Homeland Security Secretary made before basic facts were verified.

Renee Good was a devoted mother of three whose life was taken during an encounter with federal agents in her own neighborhood. Initial reporting and video analysis indicate that Good was not engaged in organized violence and had no known political motive; instead, she was attempting to leave the scene when an ICE officer fired into her vehicle.

“Making definitive claims about motive or intent before facts are established is reckless and undermines public trust in the responsible leadership the public expects,” said Julie Kent, President of Florida NOW. “Kristi Noem’s statements have instead fueled misinformation and shifted attention away from both the loss of Renee Good and the very real need for accountability in law enforcement conduct.”

Florida NOW emphasizes that irresponsible rhetoric from public officials can:

• Erode public trust in legitimate investigations by conflating unrelated concepts like terrorism with undetermined incidents.
  • Distract from serious issues, including oversight of ICE conduct, excessive use of force, and failures in accountability.
  • Divert attention from the urgent need for gun safety reforms and responsible firearm use policies.
  • Deepen fear and division at a time when clarity and compassion should guide public dialogue.

“Renee Good’s death reflects broader issues of unaccountable force by federal law enforcement and the normalization of lethal outcomes in situations that demand restraint,” said Debbie Deland, Vice President of Florida NOW. “Attempts to frame this tragedy as ‘terrorism’ without verified evidence make it harder to address the institutional problems that put families and communities at risk.”

Florida NOW calls on elected officials and DHS leadership to:

• Clear the public record of unverified claims and ground public statements in verified facts.
  • Support a transparent, independent investigation into the actions of the ICE officer involved.
  • Review and reform ICE’s use-of-force policies and accountability mechanisms.
  • Refrain from politicizing an individual’s death for narratives that the evidence does not support.
  • Prioritize evidence-based policies that reduce gun violence and protect communities, including reform of federal law enforcement practices.

Florida NOW remains committed to advocating for truthful public communication, meaningful reform, and justice for women harmed by preventable violence.

### Media Contact:
Debbie Deland
vp@flnow.org
407-234-6408