Freedom of the Press Faces Grave Threat Under Trump, And You Can Help Now

Trump’s looming presidency grows more and more ominous to all minority communities by the day, with the rise of hate crimes upon his election; his public commentary on overturning Roe vs. Wade; his plans for mass and unprecedented deportation; his appointment of fearful, hatemongering, and unapologetic scumbag racists, white supremacists, misogynists, and homophobes to his cabinet. One (out of the many) alarming features of an America under Trump? The lack of a free press to expose his corruption and wrongdoings, keep the public informed, and hold him accountable.

The loss of freedom of the press is one of the most tell-tale signs of descent into fascist autocracy. And less than a week into his election, Trump’s made his commitment to destroying the press blatantly apparent. Sean Hannity, Donald Trump’s informal advisor, has suggested that The New York Times, Washington Post, and CNN should lose their White House press credentials. Newt Gingrich, nominated for Secretary of State under Trump, has supported a censorious, McCarthyist “House For Un-American Activities.” Steve Bannon, Trump’s newly appointed chief strategist, runs Breitbart News, which is, for those of you who are fortunate enough not to know it, basically the alt-right and the KKK’s go-to news source, and plans to make Breitbart the central hub for all White House news. Peter Thiel, notorious Silicon Valley billionaire, most infamous for destroying freedom of speech with his lawsuits that bankrupted news website Gawker, now forms part of Trump’s transition team. Trump himself is a notorious and well acknowledged libel bully, unafraid of comprehensively shutting down any news source that offends his fragile ego.

Here’s the thing: we’ve already talked about how there’s no point in getting outraged without accompanying it with productive action, especially if you’re white and/or middle income or well-off. We’ve given you a list of non-profit organizations that can you use your support. Now here’s another avenue to put your money, time, and effort where your mouth and liberal outrage is: subscribe to a leftist or liberal news source now, so when the time comes, these news organizations have the financial support to investigate and expose every single fucking crime and constitutional violation the new GOP empire will commit. Subscribing to the magazines, newspapers, and news sources listed below however will not just be a small outcry against the ongoing dystopia, but also important ways to keep yourself informed, committed and never blinded to the horrors to come.

The New York Times and The Washington Post are obvious and immediate news choices. However, I’d also encourage you to look into quality liberal and left journalism found in magazines and online sources, who’ve published especially game changing investigative reports and demonstrated a fearless commitment to speaking truth to power over the past many years. Here is a non-exhaustive list of some important recommendations: The Nation, Jacobin Magazine, Intercept, Mother Jones, Democracy Now, Alternet, Current Affairs, The New Inquiry, Truth-Out, and of course, a humble mention to our own site here at Feministing, where we will strive to continually keep the fight ongoing.

If you’re serious about doing something to fight in this election, do this. Get a subscription for Christmas. Get your friends subscriptions for Christmas. Use the money your racist relatives give you for Christmas. Set up recurring donations at nonprofits, and subscribe or donate to an investigative left leaning news source now, unless you want to be logging on to Breitbart.com a year from now — because it’ll be the only news site we’ll have left.