I think it's important to recognize that this is a scary time to be a journalist, right?

And I think there's a feeling that, you know, we collectively as civil society don't always have their back.

At the same time, I do think that, that, you know, that has led to a to a feeling of fear on the part of a lot of journalists and a desire to be as careful and as restrained as

possible. In my view, a lot of that has been overreaction, right? When you have an autocrat in the

White House, obviously you need to be really careful, right? You need to be, you know, all good

journalists are very careful about what they say all the time. It is extra true when you face that threat of retaliation.

At the same time, as with any form of anticipatory obedience,

obeying in advance, when the media does it, it just gets worse.

I'm Kimberly Atkins Store, and this is Justice by Design, where we talk to the people

doing the work, the hard work of making sure that justice happens because it doesn't happen

on its own, especially right now when our democracy is at stake.

I just want to take a moment at the top to thank everyone for the well-wishes.

As you know, I was taken out by the flu for two solid weeks. I'm loath to miss an episode,

but this really was bad. I had to go to urgent care twice. It is no joke. So please, please,

mask up. Get your flu shot if you haven't.

This year's strain is terrible.

And especially given where the federal government is headed on public health, you really

need to take it in your own hands right now.

And please do that.

But thank you again for all the well wishes.

So during the time that I've been gone and before that, and even now, the number one

question that I have been asked by my listeners of this podcast, by people who see me on MSNBC,

...