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Friend,
This has been the longest week. Between Trump’s victory, an incoming Congress inclined to do his bidding and the news of his nominations — including a Fox News host who has described the political left as “domestic enemies,”1 the ethically challenged ex-congressman Matt Gaetz and Elon Musk himself — the last few days have felt endless.
Yet I write to you today with a glimmer of hope.
On Tuesday, a disastrous bill we’ve been tracking with our allies suddenly advanced to a vote in the House. The Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act (H.R. 9495) would have severely wounded nonprofit organizations fighting Trump’s dangerous agenda. H.R. 9495 was written to grant the Treasury Department the power to swiftly revoke a nonprofit’s tax-exempt status by asserting it is a “terrorist supporting organization” — without any due process.
This legislation would have given the incoming administration a tool to “curb free speech, censor nonprofit media outlets, target political opponents, and punish any group across the political spectrum that challenged Trump.”2 Free Press Action believes that the government should serve the people — not a revenge-seeking ruling class.
It looked like this bill was set to fly through Congress, but after a huge lobbying effort from Free Press Action and our allies — including lots of calls from supporters like you — the bill failed to pass the House.
This is the work we have to do to protect dissent and civil liberties as they increasingly come under threat. Will you support Free Press Action today so that we can be ready to stop similar measures in 2025 and throughout Trump’s second term?
Like most of you, we’ve spent the last week in varying states of grief, rage and determination. We’re realigning our strategy with the new reality and examining the unique threats facing our work in media and tech.
Also on Tuesday, Trump appointed Elon Musk to co-lead a new entity called the “Department of Government Efficiency.” Having the billionaire who turned Twitter into a white-supremacist breeding ground at the helm of a government commission is just one more horrible example of the challenges we’ll all face over the next four years.
The days and weeks ahead will likely be just as shocking. But we’re moving quickly and strategically to uphold our victories, defend our communities and build a better media system — one that serves the people instead of tech oligarchs and demagogues.
This has always been a long struggle, but it’s one that we remain determined to win.
In solidarity,
Jenna and all of us at Free Press Action
P.S. Free Press Action was founded to stand up to the unaccountable billionaires who control our media system, and we know our assignment. We will never stop fighting to ensure that people’s voices are heard in the decisions that shape our media. Donate today to ensure we have the resources to fight authoritarianism.
1. “What to Know About Pete Hegseth, Trump's Pick to Serve as Defense Secretary,” ABC, Nov. 12, 2024
2. “Civil Society Letter to House Opposing H.R. 9495,” ACLU, Sep. 20, 2024
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