Steal This Story, Please! 2026

Overview

Steal This Story, Please! is a 2026 documentary film directed by Tia Lessin and Carl Deal. The film provides an intimate portrait of Amy Goodman, a New York-based independent investigative journalist known for her work reporting from global hotspots including East Timor, Morocco, Nigeria, and Gaza, as well as domestic events such as the Iraq War and 9/11. The documentary highlights the production of Democracy Now!, a daily news program that has operated since 1996 without government funding, relying instead on contributions from donors, foundations, and news consumers. By examining the career of Goodman and her colleagues, the film explores the role of independent media amid challenges such as media monopolization, shrinking newsrooms, and the erosion of public trust. The project underscores the necessity of independent journalism for a functioning democracy. The film has a runtime of 98 minutes and features appearances by Goodman and directors Lessin and Deal during various screenings and question-and-answer sessions. It serves as a commentary on the power and peril of journalism in the current political climate.