Yesterday Changed Me Forever

Yesterday was one of those rare days that I’ll never forget.

The kind of day that reaches deep into your soul and reminds you of why you’re still standing. The kind of day that humbles you—because it isn’t just about what you’ve been through, it’s about who you’ve become because of it.

I was in Washington, D.C., standing inside the hallowed halls of the National Press Club—the beating heart of free speech in this country—where I was presented with the 13th Annual Whistleblower Pillar Award.

Now, I know how strange that may sound. Me, a kid from Brooklyn, standing in front of a room full of journalists, federal officials, and freedom fighters, being honored as a whistleblower. It still doesn’t fully register. Because where I come from, being a whistleblower wasn’t seen as courageous. It was seen as betrayal. As weakness. As turning your back.

But I’ve lived long enough to learn that’s one of the biggest lies ever told.

The truth is, whistleblowers are some of the most courageous and selfless individuals in American history. They’re not traitors—they’re truth tellers. They’re the ones who risk it all to stop the machine. And in that room yesterday, I was reminded that when you speak truth to power, even if it costs you everything, you stand taller in the end. Because you stood for something bigger than yourself.

Walking through the Press Club before the ceremony, I found myself slowly absorbing the history embedded in its walls. Photos of reporters who changed the world. Articles that exposed corruption. Headlines that saved lives. It’s a place that’s seen the best and the worst of our democracy—wars, cover-ups, scandal, triumph. But something was different this time.

It wasn’t just the memory of the old press that filled those rooms—it was the presence of a new one. And I saw it clearly in my son, Aaron Parnas.

When I looked out and saw him sitting there as I received my award, something happened in me. Yes, I was proud to be honored. But more than anything, I was proud to be his father.

Aaron is one of the most committed and fearless independent journalists of his generation. At a time when democracy is on life support—when lies are trending and truth is buried—he chose the hard path. He chose to fight. To dig. To publish. To tell it straight, without fear, without apology.

And yesterday, in that room, it felt like the baton was being passed—not in ceremony, but in spirit.

The National Press Club once echoed with the voices of newspaper giants. Today, it echoes with the courage of independent journalists like Aaron. The ones who don’t have corporate machines behind them. Who aren’t protected by PR firms or billionaire donors. Just a laptop, a Wi-Fi connection, and a promise to tell the truth no matter what.

It was surreal to witness. The walls once filled with Pulitzer-winning editors now watched as a new generation stepped in. The old guard may have built the foundation, but it’s the independent press that’s carrying the torch now. And I couldn’t be more proud that my son is at the front of that line.

But I also need to say this, and say it clearly: that award wasn’t just for me.

I accepted it on behalf of every single one of you. My readers. My supporters. My subscribers. My community. You’ve been with me through the fire. You’ve supported me when the doors were slammed shut. You’ve kept my voice alive when Trump and his cronies tried to bury it.

This award belongs to us. To this movement. To this fight.

Because make no mistake: we are living through one of the most dangerous times in American history. Donald Trump and his allies are not just campaigning—they are executing a slow, strategic, deliberate assault on our democracy. They are silencing whistleblowers. Shuttering the truth. Weaponizing fear. They want to rewrite history while intimidating anyone who dares to challenge their lies.

And that’s exactly why what we’re doing here matters.

This is a resistance.

Yesterday reminded me why I keep going. Why I write. Why I speak. Why I fight. Because we can’t afford to lose. Because I don’t want my children—or yours—to grow up in a country where telling the truth is considered a crime. Because history doesn’t change unless we force it to.

I also had some promising meetings in D.C.—real conversations with people ready to act. And I’ll be sharing those details soon. But this next chapter? I can’t do it alone.

If you haven’t yet subscribed, now is the time. Become a paid subscriber today. It makes all the difference. Share this message. Re-stack it. Tell your friends. Because what’s coming will require all of us.

And if you believe in this work, please consider contributing directly at Venmo: @lev-parnas.

Also, if you haven’t yet, go to LevRemembers.com and pick up your copy of Shadow Diplomacy. That book lays out everything they tried to hide. The backchannels. The real deals. The playbook of how Trump operates behind the scenes—and how it all connects to what’s unfolding today.

This movement is not funded by corporations or political parties. It’s fueled by truth, and powered by you.

They may mock us. They may try to silence us. But we will not forget. We will not look away. And with your help, we will not be ignored.

Now more than ever, I need you to be my megaphone. Share this message far and wide. Subscribe. Contribute. Spread the word. Because what we’re fighting for is bigger than me. It’s bigger than you. It’s our democracy. It’s our future.

With gratitude, truth, and fire,

Lev