The Hound | May 14

Hi there,

It’s Thursday. The White House is hosting a massive Christian Nationalist Festival in DC this weekend partly funded by taxpayer dollars. Pete Hegseth revised the cost of the Iran War from $25 to $29 billion, an estimate most experts think is a lie. And the Trump Justice Department is attacking the freedom of the press yet again, this time subpoenaing a Wall Street Journal for coverage over the Iran War.

Using government power to investigate or intimidate journalists for reporting on matters of public importance undermines the core role of a free press in a democracy. When reporters face legal pressure for covering war and national security, the chilling effect extends far beyond a single story. Efforts to compel reporters, seize information, or pressure outlets over critical coverage are not routine government actions—they are attempts to discourage scrutiny and control public understanding of major events.

🖊️ Add your name to call on major news organizations to cover these subpoenas clearly and forcefully as threats to press freedom—examining their constitutional implications, the precedent they set, and the broader effort to intimidate journalists covering the Iran war.

The public deserves a press that can investigate power without fear of retaliation. Democracy depends on it.

Read about this, and more, with today’s stories:

‘Effort to Stifle and Intimidate’: Trump DOJ Subpoenas News Outlets Over Iran War Coverage (Common Dreams)

Hegseth Asks for More Money as Iran War Costs Skyrocket (The Intercept)

The White House Is Hosting a Massive Christian Nationalist Festival (The New Republic)

Alabama woman sues alleging she gave birth on prison floor as guards watched (The Guardian)

Despite Court Order, NYPD Failed to Properly Monitor Stop-and-Frisks by Aggressive Unit (ProPublica)

Online schools with statewide reach are growing in Colorado. School districts want their students back. (Chalkbeat)

Until next time,

Harry from The Hound

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