Hey, this is Al, and I'm sure it is no surprise to you that President Trump doesn't like us very much.

He called the press the enemy of the people.

Credential journalists have been banned from press briefings just for asking tough questions.

Trump personally sued news networks demanding billions.

And now, at his urging, Congress has voted to gut all federal funding for

public broadcasting. And I think I know why. I think we all do. It's because real journalism

brings sunlight, scrutiny, accountability. When power feels threatened, it lashes out. And that tells you

just how vital independent reporting is right now.

Here it reveal, we don't answer to billionaires, or politicians, or special interests.

We only answer to you, our listeners, but we can't do this alone.

Stand with us. Support fearless independent journalism that refuses to back down. Donate today.

Just visit revealnews.org slash fearless. Again, that's revealnews.org slash fearless.

Thanks.

From the Center for Investigative Reporting in PRX, this is Reveal.

I'm Al Leutzen.

Not long ago, I went back home to Florida.

I'd been there during the pandemic, but mostly I stayed away from people.

This time was different.

I walked into a restaurant, turned the corner, and saw some of my best friends, people

I'd only been seeing on a computer screen for close to a year, but now we're all vaccinated.

I wrapped my arms around each of them and held them as long as I could.

I didn't care if it got awkward.

...