Rania Khalek is our special guest for Episode 288, in which we discuss her own experience facing a subpoena from Trump as a reporter at BreakThrough News. As we survey the sorry state of free speech and independent media in a country supposedly founded on those values, we’re also inclined to think about the Democratic Establishment’s lack of support for courageous left-wing independent outlets Trump is now trying to intimidate and silence. It would seem obvious that independent left journalism is the antidote to mainstream media outlets over which — regardless of their political affiliations! — Trump has increasingly asserted control. (Remember Jimmy Kimmel?) Yet Dems are sitting back and watching it happen while reporters like Rania have the courage to call out the bullshit that Dems lack the spines to challenge.
It’s part of a bigger picture in which Trump controls the political landscape, tampering (not strong enough a word) with free elections, funneling cash and institutional support from the highest office in the country to get his lackeys into office. We also see how these fascist attacks spread through the world in America’s vast network of imperialist projects, looking at the role our country has played in sustaining political instability in Latin America and the Middle East, supporting authoritarian regimes sympathetic to Trump’s agenda basically wherever it can. So it’s time for the Democrats to stand up! It’s long been time for the Democrats to stand up, but we’re coming pretty close to the actual last chance.
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