Trump’s War on Journalists

The smear campaign has begun, and our newsletter is ground zero for the truth they fear.

Today was supposed to be a celebration. Three years since I hit “send” on the very first edition of our newsletter. Our birthday! Three years of building this space with you—our little rebellion against fascism, sexism, and corruption. But instead of cake and balloons, I woke up to a Google Alert that made one thing crystal clear: the smear campaign has already started.

As Brittney Cooper put it, “the intimidation tactics have begun.”

This time, it hit close. I was singled out in an article in The Federalist—a piece that combed through hours of cable news to find journalists they could target with lawsuits already weaponized to silence dissent. Why? Because I had the audacity to call Donald Trump what he is: liable for rape. Not “sexual abuse,” not “sexual assault”—a distinction so absurdly pedantic that only rapists and their apologists cling to it. They want us scared. They want us silent.

This all started when ABC News bowed to pressure, shelling out millions to avoid a court battle over using the word “rape” instead of “sexual abuse”—two terms even the judge admitted were interchangeable. The message was clear: corporate profits now outweigh journalistic integrity. This frivolous lawsuit would never have held up in court, but corporations fear retaliation—and, let’s face it, losing their fortunes. So they chose cowardice over courage. Empowered by their capitulation, Trump wasted no time weaponizing this playbook further, suing The Des Moines Register, one of our most sacred political institutions, simply because they published a poll that bruised his ego.

But the message from the new regime is unmistakable: say the wrong word, and you’ll pay for it. Even if the words you use are true—or especially if they are, and they threaten those in power.

And this isn’t even the first time I’ve been a target of the new regime’s propaganda machine. During the election, as Trump’s legal troubles mounted and his poll numbers lagged, they needed a distraction. So they weaponized a lighthearted interview and TikTok and turned into a month-long smear campaign accusing me of mocking the Eucharist and much worse. I was dragged on Fox News, and every other conservative outlet for weeks on end. I still get Google Alerts about how I’m the Antichrist. These fabrications weren’t just baseless; they were deliberately calculated. Catholic Vote, a conservative super PAC, even orchestrated a rosary rally outside Governor Whitmer’s home, turning faith into a weapon for political theater. Their goal was to divert attention, degrade two powerful women, and silence the collective voice we’ve built together.

a glimpse into my mentions

Well, here’s what I have to say to that: Good luck shutting me up.

Every time I write to you or go on cable news, I’ve made a point of saying the truth: Trump is an abuser. I’ve known the risks, but I refuse to stop. Now that he’s the most powerful man on Earth, the stakes are higher, the costs are greater, and the consequences more dangerous.

feministabulous

A post shared by @feministabulous

But here’s the thing: When I appear on MSNBC, I don’t get paid. If I get sued, I don’t get their corporate lawyers. I have to fight my battles alone.

I don’t have an employer backing me. I have you. You’re my power. My strength. My defense. Because I don’t work for a corporation—I work for you.

I’m not backing down. But I need you to stand with me.

And that’s what makes this newsletter so special. It’s not just words on a screen. It’s a fight club. A space where we fight back together. Subscribing isn’t just about supporting me—it’s about joining the rebellion. It’s about saying no to silence. No to fear. No to those who think they can make us disappear.

And by the way I’m not scared because I’ve been here before. In 2017, Trump tried to silence me by blocking me on Twitter. A sitting president blocking journalists because we dared to ask questions. But we sued, and we won—because we knew the stakes were too high to let him win. Now, the stakes are even higher. Speaking truth to power comes with real costs: legal fees, insurance, even physical protection. Your subscription helps me keep speaking truth to power.

But this isn’t a one-way relationship. In exchange for your subscription, I’m showing up every week to give you tools to survive the next four years:
✨ Advice on how to become an insufferable bitch (trust me, it’s a survival skill).
✨ Strategies on how to stop doom scrolling and start doing something instead.
✨ Guidance on how to start a feminist revolution with your body.

✨ Analysis on why the left is losing and how we can win.

And when you subscribe, you get more than words—you get us. Paid subscribers unlock:
🌀 Access to our magical sharing circles, where we gather with special guests to tackle the mental health challenges of staying engaged in a broken world. Cheaper than therapy, more restorative than scrolling!
✨ Exclusive essays about how to improve your mental health, communication and behind-the-scenes content I can’t share anywhere else.

You’ll also commenting privileges that allow you to be contributing to every story.

the case for emotional exfoliation

This is your space as much as it’s mine. You’re not just subscribing—you’re helping fund independent journalism when it matters most. You’re ensuring I can keep writing. Keep truth-telling. Keep holding the powerful accountable.

I CANNOT STRESS ENOUGH HOW I CANNOT DO THIS WORK WITHOUT YOU!!

So today, as we celebrate three years of fierce truth-telling and defiance, I’m offering 50% off new subscriptions. Yes, that’s half off!!! Forever!! For just $2.50 a month—the price of a coffee in 1999—you’re joining something bigger. You’re saying, “I’m in. I’ve got your back.” The offer will end on Christmas Day so you only have a few days to redeem this discount!!

If you’ve been waiting to subscribe, now is the time. Or, if you need a last-minute gift for the warrior in your life, this is a way to say: “I see you. I believe in you. Let’s fight back together.”

Because Goliath has his lawyers. His money. His smear campaigns. But I have you.

And together? We’re unstoppable.

I love you so much!!

x

Liz