Jack, we emailed you yesterday about Trump’s Justice Department's attack on
Daily Kos. At the time of the attack, we couldn’t tell you the full story
because we were under a gag order. The gag order has now been lifted, and we're
telling you everything:
When Trump's DOJ subpoenaed Daily Kos for user data last year, every legal
expert we consulted said the same thing: You probably can't win this.They
weren’t wrong—courts have given the Trump administration enormous deference in
these cases. The odds were against us.
They expected quiet compliance because that’s what they got from other
targets. Instead, they got us.
After we fought back, they dropped the case.
But they'll try again—with us, or with someone else. When they do, we need to
be ready before the crisis, not scrambling during it.
That's why we need your support today. Resistance costs money. That’s the
reality. Can you donate $10 today to support the legal fund hole Trump put us
in?
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Click Here to Donate
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P.S. Here's the email with more info about the gag order and DOJ attack:
Jack, last year, Trump's Department of Justice came after Daily Kos. At the
time, we couldn’t explain what was happening. A gag order prevented it.
Now we can:
Trump’s DOJ targeted one of our community members because they were critical
of Trump—and demanded that Daily Kos turn over user data.
How could Daily Kos remain a trusted space for political participation and
community engagement if we simply handed user data over every time Trump’s DOJ
demanded it without explanation?No way in hell were we going to normalize that.
This time last year we were staring at massive legal costs, possible search
warrants, growing staff anxiety, and a DOJ clearly trying to intimidate us into
submission.We were under attack.
They were counting on fear doing the work for them. They assumed most
organizations would comply quietly rather than endure the cost, pressure, and
uncertainty of a legal fight. Send a subpoena. Threaten search warrants and
public raids. Wrap everything in national security language. That’s how
authoritarian systems function—not through constant dramatic displays of force,
but by making examples out of a few targets so everyone else learns to
preemptively comply.
But with us, they picked the wrong target.
There was no way we were going to stay quiet, back down, and cave to Trump.
That's the power of independent media, and we definitely could not have done
this without community support. You rallied and helped raise money to
kick-start our legal fund. After they saw our willingness to fight, Trump's DOJ
quietly backed down and dropped the matter entirely.
Now, one year later, we can tell you all about it
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. We are no longer gagged, and we are still here!
But the costs of this fight didn’t disappear. This was an expensive battle.
Our fundraising to support general Daily Kos operations is already down and on
top of that, we haven't fully recovered from the cost of that battle. That's
why we need your help—urgently—today.
None of this happens without your financial support. Resistance costs money.
That’s the reality. Can you donate $10 today to support the legal fund hole
Trump put us in?
<[link removed]
On Record&addr1=&city=Cedar Knolls&state=District of Columbia&phone=>
Click Here to Donate
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This fight could not have been won without you.
Thank you, truly,
Daily Kos
If you wish to donate by mail instead, please send a check to Daily Kos, PO
Box 70036, Oakland, CA, 94612. Contributions to Daily Kos are not tax
deductible.
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