Federal Court Blocks FTC Investigation of Media Matters

A U.S. District Court judge in Washington, D.C., granted Media Matters a preliminary injunction in August 2025, halting the FTC's civil investigative demand on First Amendment grounds. The court found that Media Matters had demonstrated a likelihood of success on its claim that the FTC's investigation was retaliatory — targeting the nonprofit because of its reporting on X, not for any legitimate enforcement purpose. The D.C. Circuit Court declined to stay the injunction in October 2025.