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Officials sought phone records of NYT journalists and their relatives in an effort to unmask sources
Summary by The San Antonio Editorial Desk · Based on reporting by Eric Tucker And Jocelyn Noveck, Associated Press , KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate)
· July 20, 2026
· 4 min read
President Donald Trump's administration sought phone records of several New York Times journalists and even those of some of their relatives, according to a motion unsealed Monday — an unusually aggressive attempt to unmask the confidential sources of reporters who wrote about Trump’s Qatari-gift...
Story provenance No corrections
Summary created by The San Antonio Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed Original reporting Eric Tucker And Jocelyn Noveck, Associated Press, KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) Original story Read at the source Source published Jul 20, 2026 Indexed here Jul 21, 2026 AI assistance Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text Prepublication human review No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples
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Key takeaway ” Government has said reporters aren't the target The phone records subpoenas are on top of grand jury subpoenas served July 10 on three journalists that sought to compel testimony from the reporters about the identify of their sources.
Why this matters in The San Antonio
The attempt to unmask sources of New York Times journalists has implications for San Antonio's own journalists and residents. In a city where transparency and accountability are crucial to holding public officials responsible, the actions of the Trump administration set a concerning precedent. San Antonio's own history of investigative reporting has led to significant changes in local government and public policy, and the ability of journalists to protect their sources is essential to this work. If the federal government is able to compel journalists to reveal their sources, it could have a chilling effect on the ability of local journalists to investigate and report on important stories. As the case makes its way through the courts, San Antonians should pay close attention to the potential consequences for local journalism and the importance of a free press in holding those in power accountable.
About this story
Original reporting by KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) . The San Antonio surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: July 20, 2026 ·
Source: KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) ·
Reading time: 4 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? President Donald Trump's administration sought phone records of several New York Times journalists and even those of some of their relatives, according to a motion unsealed Monday — an unusually aggressive attempt to unmask the confidential sources of reporters who wrote about Trump’s Qatari-gift...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 20, 2026 by KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) and curated for The San Antonio readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Eric Tucker And Jocelyn Noveck, Associated Press at KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate). To learn more about how The San Antonio selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The San Antonio, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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