John Leguizamo dropped a bomb on Instagram recently, vocalizing a viral post by Dr. Pru Lee – and not the comedic kind. This raw and urgent call to action said what so many of us have been thinking: we need an independent, civilian-powered investigative coalition. One that tracks, archives, and exposes corruption, executive overreach, and abuses of power in real time. One that exists outside of party lines, because let’s be honest – most of us are tired of both sides playing hot potato with our rights.
And they’re not wrong. In fact, they’re painfully, urgently right.
Imagine a national alliance made up of whistleblowers, journalists, watchdog organizations, veterans, legal experts, scholars, and artists. A network that doesn’t wait for the next congressional hearing to document wrongdoing. A coalition that responds to threats to democracy like a rapid-response team – with transparency, documentation, infographics, and maybe even a few memes to help average folks understand what’s going on.
Because here’s the thing: if you don’t have a law degree, paid subscriptions to multiple news outlets, or hours of time to dig through red tape and FOIA requests, you’re left in the dark. And a populace in the dark can’t fight back.
The big question is: who could build this? Where would it be housed? How do we keep it from being co-opted by political agendas or buried in institutional bureaucracy? And perhaps most importantly: who funds it?
The truth is, we’re not starting from scratch. Organizations like the ACLU, Factchequeado, and the State Democracy Defenders Network are already out here doing the work, defending civil liberties, fact-checking disinformation in Spanish and English, and building legal firewalls around state-level democratic infrastructure. These folks are in the trenches. But they’re siloed, often underfunded, and working with teams stretched thinner than the last slice of flan at the family party.
What we need is not to replace them, but to connect them.
We need philanthropic dollars to support these organizations and to underwrite a broader coalition. We need a digital hub where everyday people can access clear, visualized, translated information on what’s happening in our government – and what they can do about it. I’m not talking about a watchdog. I’m talking about a multimedia powerhouse. Think data journalists sitting next to graphic designers, working with lawyers and policy nerds, all funneling digestible, verified information into the hands of people who need it now.
Because, let’s face it: if you’re reading this, you’re probably one of the “tuned-in” ones. You follow the news, understand the stakes, maybe even volunteer or donate when you can. But most people don’t know where to start, let alone who to trust. The information gap is massive, and the disinformation machine? It’s working overtime.
That’s where people like John Leguizamo come in. Not just as cultural figures, but as amplifiers. Celebrities have a platform – and when they use it to call for infrastructure instead of vibes, we should listen. And then we should take that momentum to start building.
But building takes resources. Funding. Organization. Cross-sector collaboration. We need artists who can translate court documents into TikTok. Designers who can turn 100-page rulings into a one-swipe explainer. Translators, community organizers, archivists, and educators. We need a team that looks like America, not just politically, but racially, linguistically, and generationally.
So let’s get building.
The movement needs funding – not just a few one-off grants or grassroots donations, but serious investment from people who understand the media and the power of narrative. People like John Leguizamo. Philanthropic funders, artists, actors, producers – if you have a platform and a paycheck, this is your moment to put your money where your mouth is. Don’t just post about democracy – underwrite the tools that protect it. The same goes for foundations, corporations, and philanthropists. We need you now.
This isn’t just about calling out corruption. It’s about building the infrastructure to outlast it.
I’m not just writing this as someone watching from the sidelines. I’m a neurodivergent artist, journalist, cultural strategist, and scholar of Puerto Rican and Cuban descent who has spent years studying systems of power, colonialism, and the psychological damage of living under structures designed to erase us. I’ve worked with newsrooms, curated exhibitions on injustice, written about corruption, and seen firsthand how easy it is for the truth to get buried when no one is watching – and how hard it is to keep fighting when you feel like no one is listening.
But I still believe in us. I still believe we can build something better. Not tomorrow. Not someday. Now.
We need a coalition that doesn’t just respond to injustice but anticipates it. We need a home for truth that isn’t owned by corporations or controlled by politicians. We need bold funders, like John Leguizamo, to step up, not just with words, but with resources. Because those of us on the ground are tired. We are stretched thin. And we are begging for something more than hope.
