You can kill a watchdog in two ways: defund it, or discredit it. The Trump administration is doing both.

The defunding of NPR and PBS—blocked for now by the courts—isn’t about saving money. It’s about silencing voices. Pair that with visa threats to foreign journalists, and it’s clear the administration is trying to shrink the lens through which America is seen.

Meanwhile, MAGA-aligned media creates an echo chamber so tight that even truth can’t get in. And when facts become partisan, the only thing left is propaganda.

A free press isn’t a luxury. It’s the first line of defense.