When we set about designing Lift Up Democracy, we knew 2026 would be a year of vicious politics. We just had to look at the grievance culture and lawsuits the Trump regime laid on existing legacy media outlets as the example, followed by the insane call to get "Antifa" as if it's a terrorist organization, not just an idea.

The Time Dictates the Need

Independent journalism depends on more than access to information. It depends on the ability to publish without fear of retaliation.

Writers who report on political power, corruption, and public accountability are often targeted through legal threats that are designed less to win in court than to intimidate, drain resources, and discourage further work. For individual writers, even unfounded claims can create serious financial and emotional pressure.

The Legal Defense Fund exists to address that reality practically.

Lift Up Democracy maintains a dedicated reserve to support writers affiliated with the publication when they face bad-faith legal threats connected to their reporting. This allows the organization to respond quickly, retain qualified legal counsel when appropriate, and prevent intimidation from succeeding simply because it is expensive to resist.

Clear standards govern the fund. Support is reserved for fact-based reporting that meets our editorial requirements and is published through the organization. It does not exist to defend reckless behavior, knowingly false claims, or actions taken outside the scope of our work. These boundaries protect the integrity of the fund and the credibility of the journalism it supports.

Maintaining a legal reserve is a matter of preparedness. Legal defense cannot be assembled after an attack has already begun. Having resources in place allows measured, lawful responses that reduce risk rather than escalate conflict.

For donors, this fund represents a commitment to independence. It ensures that editorial decisions are guided by evidence and public interest, not by concern over personal financial exposure. Writers are evaluated on the quality of their work, not on their ability to absorb legal pressure on their own.

Your contribution supports the infrastructure that allows truthful reporting to continue when it is challenged. It helps ensure that intimidation does not determine what the public is allowed to know.

Donate Today to Lift Up Democracy