Australia’s coal and gas approvals are starting to stink ahead of Cop31 | Jess Harwood

For two years, Americans have witnessed a largely unchecked assault on the foundations of US democracy. Authoritarian leadership has enriched itself through corruption, spread lies and launched relentless attacks on press freedom, voting rights, due process and many fundamental civil rights.

Last night, America’s embattled democracy came roaring back to life: from Texas to Ohio to South Carolina, Americans surged to the polls to fight for a different path forward. The process worked, the people spoke, the candidates – and the president – accepted the results. Today, we’re on the cusp of a new chapter for America, where the people have claimed their right to hold power to account, and millions are looking at politics with a new and unfamiliar feeling of hope. 

The past two years have delivered a chilling lesson in just how fragile our fundamental freedoms are, when precious few powerful institutions are willing to stand up for the truth and defend our basic rights and freedoms. Major law firms and universities capitulated to a bullying president’s threats and intimidation. Some corporate news outlets bowed to his pressure, too.

In the face of these attacks, the independent press stood out as one of the only forces for accountability, dedicated to uncovering the truth – and making sure the public understood what was at stake in this election.

At its best, a truly free press can speak directly to the public, shedding light on hidden schemes and revealing the whole picture of our flawed world. Yet these are challenging times for press freedom: Trump’s crackdown on the press shows no signs of letting up; consolidated ownership means fewer options and less diversity of perspective; and the advent of AI has threatened the entire business model of journalism, resulting in extreme staff layoffs that have gutted newsrooms.

We will need a free press in 2027 as much as we relied on one in 2025 and 2026. The Guardian is fortunate to have no billionaire owner, no corporate bosses who put profit over mission. We’re accountable to the facts and to our readers. And the Guardian is fortunate to have our readers who are willing to support – and commit month after month – to help sustain our independence.

From reporting on the ground to fending off legal risks to keeping our reporters safe, journalism is incredibly expensive to do well. To help fund our work in 2027, we are looking to raise $2,000,000 by the end of the year. If you can contribute any amount, please do so. If you can contribute monthly, even better – I need to know we have the resources to report on the final throes of Trump’s presidency in what may be a tumultuous year ahead.