On July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress formally adopted the Declaration of Independence. Though the colonies had voted to declare independence from Great Britain days earlier, it was on July 4 that the 13 colonies listed their grievances and became independent states.

The delegates at that gathering declared it "self-evident, that all men are created equal" and that the government derives its "just powers from the consent of the governed."

It took weeks for this news to spread throughout the land. The media of the time — broadsides, pamphlets and newspapers — was how the word reached the masses.

In the decades that followed, small independent media outlets were instrumental to the growing nation. During the Revolutionary War, independent pamphleteers kept citizens informed and motivated. Later, during the fight over ratification of the Constitution, they were critical to shaping public opinion.

In the centuries since, the media has grown and consolidated. In recent years, corporate ownership has made these legacy outlets more timid and sensitive to the political winds. Since Trump retook office, we've watched one after another bow down.

But in their place has emerged a vibrant pro-democracy media ecosystem of small, independent outlets — much like the pamphleteers of 1776. The newsletters and podcasts they create and distribute are doing the same work, just with a modern twist: Giving people the facts they need to act.

Today, Independence Day has become infused with consumerism. The red, white, and blue and fireworks are now accompanied by a 4th of July sale.

But here's the thing: We can't afford to cheap out on democracy. It's not for sale. And if we do, we risk losing it.

So this 4th of July, I have one ask for you: Invest in our democracy by becoming a Democracy Docket premium member.

Your support helps power a growing team of 30 committed to defending democracy and exposing Trump's efforts to send us right back to where we started 250 years ago. Your support will help expand the Democracy Docket newsroom and strengthen its coverage across social media, YouTube and daily newsletters.

As Trump grows more and more desperate to cling to power, it is vital that Democracy Docket reach and inspire more people to get involved in defending our country.

Democracy Docket is fearlessly independent and unapologetically pro-democracy. Unlike legacy media, it has no corporate shareholders or private equity investors. It answers to its readers, not to boardrooms.

If you can't become a member right now, I understand. Thank you for being a subscriber and reader. Please continue to share our work — it helps more than you know.

But if you can join as a premium member, I deeply appreciate it. Your support drives our mission forward, and we couldn't do this without you.

Once, our nation's leaders saw the flaws in a tyrannical government and led a revolution. They found ways to empower the people through democracy. The founders overthrew a king to found a new nation — a republic, if we can keep it.

The media played a proud role in that effort and can again today.