During his speech at the Department of Justice on Friday, American President Donald Trump told a crowd of Justice Department employees that his electoral victory gives a “mandate” for “far reaching investigations” into Democrats and news organizations. He also verbalized his intent to target nonprofit organizations who filed lawsuits against his administration.

In the main hall of the Robert F. Kennedy Building, Mr. Trump vowed to “expel the rogue actors and corrupt forces from our government” and “expose their egregious crimes and severe misconduct.”

“It’s going to be legendary,” he said, during a rare presidential speech at the Justice Department. Shortly after beginning his speech, he leveled an attack on America’s courts for allowing prosecutors to charge him with multiple crimes committed during and after his first term as President of the United States.

Mr. Trump then gave praise to two of his former defense attorneys, Todd Blanche and Emil Bove, who now serve in high-ranking roles in the department. According to the President, they both had to work “under some of the most corrupt judges” as they labored to keep him from facing any consequences for multiple felony charges by two federal grand juries and state grand juries in Georgia and New York.

The Need for Truth

Journalism is under threat.

On Wednesday, the Trump administration suffered a major loss in court, when a federal judge ordered unlawfully fired members of the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) to be reinstated. On Thursday, a federal court ordered the reinstatement of fired probationary federal employees.

Friday’s attacks on the media, during the presidential speech at the Justice Department, highlight how these court cases are beginning to get under Mr. Trump’s skin.

I plan to respond by joining the media’s efforts to highlight the illegal activities of Mr. Trump and Mr. Musk, including the reckless cuts to our federal government.

In her Nobel Peace Prize lecture on December 10, 2021 in Norway, Maria Ressa, an award-winning journalist who fought against fascism and authoritarianism in the Philippines, highlighted the critical need for fact-based journalism in today’s society.

Ressa described two sides of a coin that “shows everything wrong with our world today: an absence of law and democratic vision for the 21st century.” She believes journalists, the old gatekeepers, represent one side of the coin.

The other side of the coin, Ressa argues, is technology, with its “god-like power that has allowed a virus of lies to infect each of us, pitting us against each other, bringing out our fears, anger and hate, and setting the stage for the rise of authoritarians and dictators around the world.”

“We’re at a sliding door moment, where we can continue down the path we’re on and descend further into fascism, or we can each choose to fight for a better world,” Ressa told the audience. “To do that, you have to ask yourself: what are YOU willing to sacrifice for the truth?”

I choose to fight to keep the truth alive. What will you choose?

I Need Your Support

I created A Dream Reimagined, an independent, reader-supported, nonprofit newsroom, to educate the public about complex, yet important, issues in society. I want to ensure people of all ages stay informed on current events in society.

A Dream Reimagined’s mission is to deliver meaningful, relevant reporting to raise public awareness and enable our readers to make informed decisions in today’s dynamic society. Our newsroom will investigate stories that may be ignored or overlooked by other news outlets. Key topics will include racial justice, democracy and voting rights, reproductive rights, and food and agriculture.

Here is the most important part: as an independent news organization, we don’t answer to corporate owners. We are only accountable to YOU, the reader. Our news outlet is based in Illinois, and we intend to create bureaus in multiple locations across the United States.

Starting this upcoming week, I will start posting content on A Dream Reimagined’s Beehiiv website. Simultaneously, I will launch a daily podcast called “News, Reimagined” on Monday, March 17 to keep you up-to-date on current events.

I will continue to post content on Dylan’s Public Journal (this blog); in the future, these posts will feel more personal. I will write posts about mental health, nutrition, and physical fitness. I will write about what I’m watching and listening to. I hope you stick with me on this journey! Thank you for all your support.

A Dream Reimagined provides clear, accessible journalism to empower you to stay informed and engaged in shaping our world. We’re committed to covering the stories that matter most to you - threats to democracy, immigration, reproductive rights, the environment, and rising polarization. The best way to support us on our mission is by becoming an ADR member or by making a tax-deductible gift through PayPal or GoFundMe today.