Government workers, green card holders, teachers, and student journalists across the US are asking editors to remove their names from old news stories, fearing backlash from President Donald Trump’s administration for views or identities now considered “politically risky.”
According to Poynter’s Kelly McBride, some government employees and others have asked journalists to remove their names from old news stories. These individuals are concerned that documented evidence of their sexual identity or positions opposing Trump’s policies could make them vulnerable to employment termination.
Kevin Naff, who serves as the editor of the Washington Blade, told the outlet that taking down stories “is not something I’ve ever done before with the exception of foreign sources who are facing life and death situations.”
The Washington Blade has a long history of reporting on governmental discrimination against gay employees. Currently, the publication continues its role in recording instances of intimidation and discrimination. “We’re going backwards,” he stated.
“The fear is really intense. People are scared. They’re scared to lose their pensions and, you know, all of that,” he added.
This wave of anxiety is not limited to career professionals, student journalists, especially those with ties to pro-Palestinian activism, are also asking for their bylines to be removed, fearing legal consequences, deportation, or professional retaliation, the Guardian reported.
The case of Rumeysa Ozturk, a Tufts University graduate student currently in ICE detention, has intensified fears. Ozturk had written a pro-Palestinian op-ed in her campus paper and is now fighting deportation despite no official evidence tying her writing to the visa revocation.
Ozturk joins approximately ten other academics and students detained by immigration officials since March 8, when Columbia graduate student and permanent resident Mahmoud Khalil faced arrest and deportation proceedings for participating in pro-Palestinian demonstrations.
Editors note particular concern among international student contributors, though requests for content removal due to fear of consequences now extend to American citizens as well.

Pakistan’s Gold medallist Arshad Nadeem.
| Photo Credit: Reuters

Pakistan’s Olympic gold-winning javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem’s Instagram account has been blocked in India owing to a “legal request” in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack.

Users attempting to access Nadeem’s Instagram page from India are met with the message: “Account not available in India. This is because we complied with a legal request to restrict this content.”

Twenty-six people, mostly tourists, were killed and several were injured when terrorists opened fire at a meadow near the popular tourist town of Pahalgam in south Kashmir on April 22. The government has since cracked down on Pakistani social media accounts that have large following in India.

Earlier this week, several Pakistani YouTube channels were also restricted in India for “disseminating provocative and communally sensitive content, false and misleading narratives and misinformation against India, its Army and security agencies”.

Also Read | Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem declines Neeraj Chopra’s invite to compete in NC Classic javelin event

Former cricketers Shoaib Akhtar, Basit Ali, and Shahid Afridi were among those whose YouTube accounts were withheld. Interestingly, while their YouTube content is no longer accessible, their Instagram accounts remain available, unlike Nadeem’s.

The Instagram accounts of current Pakistan cricketers, including Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheed Afridi are also accessible.

Other prominent Pakistani celebrities, including actors Mahira Khan and Ali Zafar, have also seen their Instagram accounts blocked in India.

Nadeem, who won gold at the Paris Olympics after upstaging Indian superstar Neeraj Chopra, had been invited by the latter to participate in the inaugural NC Classic javelin event scheduled for May 24 in Bengaluru.

However, he declined the invitation, citing prior commitments.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, whose Liberal Party won Canada’s federal election, though the outright majority is still in question.
| Photo Credit: DAVID KAWAI

It is rare for the results of an elections in one country to be swayed by the leader of a neighbouring country. Yet that was the case in Canada’s 2025 federal election, where U.S. President Donald Trump’s statements and actions dramatically shifted the national mood within days.

While the Conservative Party was expected to win decisively, Mr. Trump’s tariffs and his provocative suggestion of annexing Canada helped rescue the Liberal Party from a crushing defeat.

Chart 1 shows the voting intentions of Canadians based on opinion polls conducted during the campaign period.

The lines represent the average of 30 polls conducted between 2021 and 2025. As the chart illustrates, towards the end of 2022 and the beginning of 2023, support for the Conservatives began rising, while support for the Liberal Party started declining.

This marked shift can be attributed to the unpopularity of former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, whose fiscal policies and generous immigration stance faced heavy criticism.

Just before Mr. Trudeau resigned in January this year, popular support for the Liberal Party had fallen to 20% — the lowest level for the party in years. In contrast, support for Pierre Poilievre’s Conservative Party had surged to 45%. Barring any dramatic shifts, the Conservatives appeared poised for victory.

However, shortly after Mr. Trudeau’s exit and more significantly after Mr. Trump’s return to the White House was confirmed in February, there was a dramatic rise in support for the Liberals, as seen in Chart 1.

From last December, Mr. Trump repeatedly reiterated his claims about annexing Canada.

In March, he announced tariffs of 25% targeting Canada and Mexico. Canadians did not take these threats to their economy and sovereignty lightly.

More importantly, sensing the shift in public mood, the Liberals centred their election campaign around the theme of ‘American betrayal’. In contrast, Mr. Poilievre’s slogan ‘Canada First’ and promises appeared uncomfortably close to Mr. Trump’s promises in the eyes of many voters.

While the Liberal Party has started celebrating, the party is still short of the majority mark and may need help from smaller parties to form the government.

The party’s former ally — the New Democratic Party (NDP) — suffered a massive setback this election, possibly because most of its voters backed the Liberals this time.

Chart 2 | The change in vote share (in % points) in the 2025 elections when compared with 2021

As shown in Chart 2, the NDP recorded a 11.6% point drop in vote share compared to the 2021 elections. While the vote share of the Liberal Party rose by nearly 11% points, the Conservative Party also managed a 7.7% point increase. But this was not enough to derail the resurgence of the Liberals.

The Liberals are projected to win 69 seats in Ontario — fewer than the 78 they had secured in 2021 — a minor setback amid the national victory. In this province, the Conservatives have improved their performance and are projected to win 53 seats, up from 37.

In Quebec, the Liberals appear to have eaten into the vote share of the Bloc Québécois. This party’s main plank is Quebec’s secession from Canada. The Liberals are projected to win 43 seats in the province, up from 35 in the last election, while the Bloc Québécois seat share is set to fall to 11 from 32.

In British Columbia, the New Democrats, who had won 13 seats last time, are expected to secure only three. Meanwhile, the Liberals are projected to increase their tally from 15 to 20 seats, and the Conservatives from 13 to 19. 

Chart 3 shows the province-wise seats secured by parties in the 2025 election.

The data for chart 1 is an average of 30 opinion polls. The data for charts 2 and 3 were taken from Elections Canada.

With inputs from Raida N.M. and R.P. Josmani Joan, who are interning with the data team