This afternoon, I read a piece by Miles Taylor, a former national security official in Trump’s first administration, that struck a nerve with me. The article, titled “EXCLUSIVE: Reporters brace for federal raids against news media,” describes how journalists across the country are preparing for the possibility of government subpoenas, surveillance, and even raids. It outlines a frightening picture of an administration that seems determined to go after reporters and their sources in ways that push the limits of the law and threaten the First Amendment.
This is deeply concerning, but I want to be clear about where I stand. I am not afraid. I am not a corporate media personality whose fate depends on the decisions of executives or the financial health of a multinational conglomerate. I rely on you. I know it’s repetitive, but I have to ask (so please bare with me). That’s why this is the number one news Substack—and why it must stay that way. If you’re already subscribed, thank you and keep scrolling for more. If not, subscribe today.
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That independence gives me freedom — the freedom to resist, to speak plainly, and to refuse to capitulate to political intimidation.
According to Taylor, many national security and political reporters believe Trump and his allies are gearing up to unmask whistleblowers, punishing both those who speak out and the journalists who publish their stories.
The Justice Department has shifted its policies to make such pursuits easier, and Trump’s new “weaponization” chief, Ed Martin, has gone on national television promising to use “all the tools” of government against so-called leakers.
Given Trump’s past demands to wiretap even his own White House staff, “all the tools” could mean anything — even steps that officials once refused to carry out because they were clearly illegal.
Unlike many of the traditional outlets that have been weakened by layoffs, collapsing ad revenues, or ownership changes, I do not have to look over my shoulder wondering if my boss will decide it’s safer to bow to power.
I have no interest in being a journalist who caves. I will protect my sources, no matter the cost, because without them the truth disappears. And if it comes to it — if the administration tries to drag me into court or force me to betray those who trusted me — then I will fight in the courts. I will not do Trump’s bidding, and I will not allow his administration to turn the press into an arm of government surveillance.
This matters not just for me, but for every American. A free press is not a luxury; it is the backbone of accountability in a democracy. Right now, many of the traditional strongholds of journalism are under financial siege, with CNN, MSNBC, BuzzFeed, HuffPost, and Vice all struggling to survive.
Meanwhile, Fox News — the network most aligned with Trump — is thriving. That imbalance makes it even more important for independent journalists to hold the line.
There is a choice here. Some will bow to pressure. Some will look for ways to survive by staying quiet or playing along. But others — myself included — will not. Trump’s war on the press is real, and it is backed by people who appear willing to use every lever of power to silence critics. But I will not bend to that pressure.
I will continue to report, to protect those who risk everything to speak the truth, and to resist intimidation with every tool available — including the courts.
No president, no administration, and no threat will ever make me surrender the principles of a free press.