Trump Ramps Up Government Secrecy

While we're only 50 days into President Donald Trump's second term, we've already seen how the administration is expanding secrecy beyond what was observed under Biden—and even Trump's first term.

Lauren Harper, the Freedom of the Press Foundation's Daniel Ellsberg Chair on Government Secrecy, joined the "Dissenter Weekly" to discuss this topic with the show's host Kevin Gosztola.

In our conversation, Harper highlights developments related to the "Department of Government Efficiency," or DOGE, and reports that USAID employees were instructed to shred or burn documents. We also talk more generally about secrecy abuses and whether Trump officials will comply with the Freedom of Information Act.

Headlines for the week include Miami Beach mayor Steven Meiner threatening to shut down a movie theatre over a screening of the Oscar-winning film "No Other Land" and a tribute to AT&T whistleblower Mark Klein, who died at 79.

Audio version available at The Dissenter.