If They Can Target One of Us, They Can Target Any of Us: Here’s the Fix

How a single sleepless night turned into a blueprint to protect everyday Americans from government targeting...and how you can help build it.

If They Can Target One of Us, They Can Target Any of Us: Here’s the Fix

How a single sleepless night turned into a blueprint to protect everyday Americans from government targeting…and how you can help build it.

The Jack Hopkins Now Newsletter #563: Friday, September 26th, 2025.

I woke up at 2:13 a.m. with the taste of metal in my mouth and a sentence banging in my head like a hammer: If they can go after one of us, they can go after any of us.

For a long beat I lay there…staring at the dark ceiling…counting nothing. Then the sentence became a vision…a black-and-white snapshot of someone like James Comey… only someone without enough wealth to defend themselves….on the phone at 3 a.m., voice shaking, asking: “Can someone help me?”

And the answer should never be: “No.” It should be: “We’ve got a lawyer on the line. We’ll be there in the morning.”

I jumped out of bed. Slipped on a robe. My phone screen lit the hallway. I didn’t just think the thought…I acted on it.

I opened a blank document and started writing the skeleton of what you’re reading now:

An organized…funded…nonpartisan mechanism to pay for legal representation for Americans targeted by government action…the citizen’s safety net for due process and free speech.

Three or four paragraphs into that first draft…a rush hit me: this wasn’t academic. This wasn’t a pamphlet or a charity pitch. This was a lifeline.

A practical…muscle-and-bone solution that could be built quickly…transparently…and with real teeth.

I stayed up until dawn sketching structures…donor tiers…vetting protocols…intake hotlines…and a war-room rapid response plan.

When the sun came up…I’d already drafted a name: American Citizen Defense Fund …and it sounded like armor.

If you’ve ever had the fear…the quiet terror that the state could turn its weight on a neighbor…a teacher…an organizer…a journalist…you know why I bolted upright.

This isn’t theoretical. This is urgent. And if we’re going to stop the slow creep toward the kind of selective enforcement and intimidation that silences citizens…we need a tool that’s unambiguous…powerful…and unafraid. That tool is this fund.

This is likely the most important issue of JHN I’ve ever written.

What the American Citizen Defense Fund (ACDF) is…and what it is not

Let’s be brutally clear up front: the ACDF is not a political weapon.

It is not a partisan slush fund. It isn’t a mechanism to target political enemies.

It is a public-interest legal defense fund…modeled on the best parts of the ACLU, Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press…and the Innocence Project…designed to fund legal representation and due-process defense for any American who is targeted by government action for exercising constitutional rights or blowing whistles on illegal government behavior.

It is a shield.

It is a nonpartisan…legal-insurance pool for democracy. When the state uses subpoenas…baseless charges…administrative penalties…or harassment to silence dissent or make examples of people…the ACDF steps in with lawyers…money… logistics…and…crucially…public support.

It will defend:

• People targeted for lawful speech…protest…or journalism.

• Employees facing retaliatory firings or administrative punishment for refusing unlawful orders.

• Whistleblowers exposing illegal government action.

• Individuals subject to overbroad investigations that violate due process.

It will not defend criminal conduct that’s unrelated to protected civic action (you break the law, you face the law).

The Fund’s charter will contain strict eligibility criteria to prevent abuse. This is about law and rights…not about sheltering bad actors.

Why this matters right now

We are living in a moment when government power is being tested…in courts…in agencies…and in the courthouse of public opinion.

Officials who feel invulnerable will use every tool available: subpoenas…license threats…administrative fiat…public smear campaigns…and the blunt instrument of selective enforcement.

The goal is always the same: intimidation.

What are we doing about it? Waiting for institutions to hold when institutions are the ones under pressure? Hoping journalists will expose every instance when they are themselves harassed? Praying that the courts will move fast enough? That’s naive.

The only reliable safety is collective…pre-positioned defense: money, lawyers…and a plan in place before the first subpoena lands on a kitchen table.

This is not charity theater. It’s strategic infrastructure. You don’t build hospitals in the middle of a pandemic. You build them before. The ACDF is the hospital for legal emergencies…built in peacetime…deployed at the first sign of institutional collapse.

The legal & organizational architecture…plain… practical…battle-tested

To build something that lasts and actually works, we follow the real-world playbook. This is how it’s structured.

1) Dual organization model: 501(c)(3) + 501(c)(4)

• ACDF Foundation (501(c)(3)) accepts tax-deductible donations…funds public-interest litigation…legal education…and some direct defense for eligible cases. This arm runs the legal clinics…builds case law…and handles charitable donor funds. (Strict nonpartisanship required.)

• ACDF Action (501(c)(4)) can engage in issue advocacy…support policy change… lobby for stronger due-process protections…and run targeted legal defense campaigns when they overlap with advocacy. Contributions here are not tax-deductible.

This pairing gives us both credibility and flexibility.

Many successful civil liberties orgs use it…and for good reason: c3 for mission…c4 for muscle.

2) Independent Legal Advisory Board & Case Review Panel

• A roster of pre-vetted law firms and civil-rights attorneys across the country. Not volunteers on paper…committed partners with negotiated fee structures for activation.

• A small Case Review Panel (retired judges, senior civil-rights attorneys, ethics experts) that reviews intake quickly and publicly certifies eligibility to avoid accusations of bias. Decisions and rationales should be published in redacted form for transparency.

3) Rapid Response Legal Operations (the war room)

• 24/7 intake hotline and secure submission portal.

• A “launch team” lawyers…PR…fund administrators…that can be activated within hours to provide counsel…emergency filings…and immediate financial grants to cover legal fees…bond…or travel.

• Pre-funded emergency pool to cover initial retainers…so help is immediate.

4) Eligibility & Guardrails

• Clear…public criteria: defendant’s activity must be connected to protected civic conduct, whistleblowing on government malfeasance, or administrative overreach threatening constitutional rights.

• Exclusion clause for unrelated violent crime…fraud…or clear criminal wrongdoing.

• Transparency: every case accepted (subject to privacy protections) has a public summary of the legal theory…scope of representation…and funding used…to maintain accountability and public trust.

5) Governance & Oversight

• A board with balanced representation: civil-liberties lawyers…media leaders…former public defenders…community leaders…and a strict conflict-of-interest policy. No single donor or corporate sponsor can hold veto power.

• Regular audits…independent review…and public annual reports.

6) Partnerships

• Local legal aid societies…public defender networks…veterans legal clinics…First Amendment clinics at law schools.

• Media partners to ensure cases are covered fairly and widely…because publicity is itself a protective lever.

The funding model: simple…scalable…relentless

You don’t fight the state on a shoestring. You build a fund with multiple revenue streams.

Seed & launch (first 90 days)

• Target: $5–10 million seed to build the emergency pool…pay lawyers…set up operations…and fund initial cases that set precedents.

• Sources: major philanthropic donors who back civil liberties…high-capacity individuals…foundations…and a “ Founders’ Circle” of high-dollar donors who get named stewardship but no editorial control.

Recurring revenue streams

1. Membership subscriptions: monthly supporters (from $5 to $500/month). Think of it as legal insurance for democracy.

2. Tiered donations: bronze/silver/gold patrons with public recognition and invitation to strategy briefings.

3. Corporate underwriting (careful): only from vetted ethical corporations with no government contract conflicts and no influence over case selection. Keep the list short and transparent.

4. Bequests and legacy gifts: major long-term capital.

5. Fee recovery from successful civil litigation: when permissible…case victories may yield fee awards that flow back to the fund.

How the money gets used (example allocation)

• 40% Immediate Defense Pool (emergency retainers, bonds)

• 25% Staff & Rapid Response Ops (lawyers on retainer, intake, case management)

• 15% Strategic Litigation (longer-term lawsuits to set precedent)

• 10% Education & Prevention (know-your-rights materials, training)

• 10% Reserve & Legal Contingency (unexpected costs, appeals)

The playbook: what happens when someone cries for help

Intake:

Person calls hotline or submits secure form. Nonprofit triage team logs the case and issues an initial grant to retain local counsel within 24 hours.

Rapid review:

Case Review Panel meets (virtually) within 48 hours to certify eligibility. If approved… ACDF funds representation and coordinates PR/advocacy.

Defense & strategy:

Lawyers mount defense…push for dismissal…file emergency relief…or seek injunctive relief. The c4 arm can simultaneously run issue campaigns if appropriate.

Public work:

ACDF coordinates media coverage to protect the individual from smear campaigns and to highlight systemic threats. Visibility reduces the chance of cruel overreach.

Follow-through:

Long-term litigation as needed; case outcomes are deposited back into public records and used to refine eligibility and strategy.

Risks, pushback, and how we answer them

Every bold thing invites pushback. Expect it. Anticipate it. Outmaneuver it.

“Red-squad” accusations / partisan claims:

We preempt this with full transparency…broad-based board composition…and strict… published criteria. We defend rights…not politics. Anyone who says otherwise is either misinformed or playing politics.

Legal pushback / suits alleging improper use:

We maintain ironclad documentation of intake and legal basis. We consult outside counsel on conflicts and keep our firewall between donors and case selection.

Funding vulnerability:

Donors hate surprise optics. That’s why we’re transparent about audits and build a diversified funding base so no single donor can blackmail the fund.

Mission creep:

The Board enforces a strict charter. The mission is narrow: defend rights and due process. Not to litigate generalized political fights.

The advantages: why this beats the ad-hoc model

Right now, when someone is targeted we tell them: “Go raise money.” Or “Find a lawyer.” Or “Good luck.” That’s chaos. That’s delay.

That’s sometimes death by attrition. The state has money…subpoenas…and time…and they use them methodically. We need the mirror image: money ready…lawyers on call… and an engine that runs without begging in the dark.

An organized fund:

• Reduces time-to-defense from months to hours.

• Locks in legal expertise across jurisdictions.

• Creates precedent that protects future citizens.

• Makes intimidation costly for officials who want to weaponize the state.

The launch plan: 90 days to go live

This is a sprint with long-term legs. Here’s the concrete plan:

Days 0–14: Founders & Legal Design

• Recruit founding board (5–7 people).

• File c3 and c4 paperwork concurrently.

• Draft charter, eligibility criteria, and transparency policies.

• Engage seed donors for initial commitments.

Days 15–45: Operational Build

• Hire executive director…legal ops lead…and intake coordinator.

• Sign retainer agreements with regional law firms and public defenders.

• Build secure intake portal and hotline infrastructure.

• Launch branding…website…and donor portal.

Days 45–75: Soft Launch & Testing

• Run tabletop exercises with sample cases.

• Activate emergency pool with initial retainers and test logistics.

• Begin outreach to media partners and allied NGOs.

Days 75–90: Public Launch

• Launch with initial donor list…press conference…and a paid-membership drive.

• Release the first “Watch Cases” to demonstrate mission and transparency.

• Begin legal clinics and public education sessions.

How you…yes, you…plug in

This is not a spectator sport. You don’t sit back and hope the good guys win. You join.

First, let me make clear. A thought rattled me in the early morning hours.I’ve created the outline. But…I want to hand this off to someone with the background, relevant experience and leadership ability to take this…and run with it.

This won’t spring to life by itself.

It needs someone with the guts…the competence…and the get-it-done instinct…and I damn well believe that person is out there. If that’s you…don’t wait for a blessing from somebody else. Start it. Build it. Ship it.

You don’t need my permission. Do it.

All I ask…and you’re under no obligation…is this: tell me you’ve started.

I’ll use the one thing I can offer immediately: reach.

Over the last 30 days JHN hit 3 million+ readers. That audience can help you find the lawyers…funders…and organizers you’ll need. Tell me once you’ve launched, and I’ll amplify the hell out of it so you don’t have to do this alone.

How can you help me…help this undertaking? That’s really simple: become a paid subscriber. The more paid subscribers, the more Substack promotes the Jack Hopkins Now Newsletter. That’s their business model. That…is how it works.

The more they promote JHN, the more people read what I publish. The more people who read JHN, the more easily I can help this project along…for whomever decides, “I have to do this!” It’s really as simple as that.

Here’s how you help make this project work…for the person who decides to run with it:

• Donate: even $5/month turns into power when multiplied by thousands. ($5 a month x 20 million people = $100 million a month, or $1.2 Billion a year. Yes…I ONLY think BIG.)

• Join the Founders Circle: if you can…step up early to unlock seed money.

• Volunteer: legal professionals…paralegals…communications folks…and fundraisers are needed.

• Become a Local Partner: churches…unions…school boards…and neighborhood associations can host clinics.

• Spread the word: share this article…host a house salon…get your local paper to run the story.

A final…furious truth

People ask: “Can an idea stop the state?” No. A lone idea doesn’t.

But an organized people with money…lawyers…and speed can. The ACDF is the tool that turns righteous outrage into actionable defense. It stops the quiet terror of arbitrary power by making enforcement costly…visible…and litigated.

I started this at 2:13 a.m. because I could not sleep while the idea sat dormant in my head.

I jumped out of bed because I could not stand the thought of one more parent… teacher…or reporter left alone in the dark with a subpoena and no way to fight.

Now I’m writing to you because I know what works in the real world: lists…systems… donors…and a refusal to accept intimidation as “just politics.”

If you believe…even for a minute…that liberty is worth more than a talking point…then don’t wait.

Help build the American Citizen Defense Fund. Once it is up and running…and I am confident it WILL be…give five bucks…give five hundred…or recruit ten friends to chip in.

We will not save liberty with silence. We save it with readiness..lawyers…and the kind of unromantic infrastructure that actually shows up when the state knocks on your door.

Are You The Person To Bring This To Life?

If you’re the person who can take this from idea to iron…who has the grit to build teams…the chops to raise money…and the spine to stand in the storm…step up and be the CEO this needs.

Lead the American Citizen Defense Fund…not for headlines or applause…but to put lawyers on the line at 3 a.m….to make the state think twice before weaponizing its power…and to give ordinary Americans a fighting chance.

If that’s you…don’t wait for permission or polish…start now.

Tell me you’re doing it…and I’ll use everything JHN can bring to help you find the people…the money…and the platform to finish the job.

We will prevail.

Best,

-Jack

P.S. This is a blueprint…not a promise. Before launching the project leader/CEO will need to hire counsel to finalize legal structures and ensure compliance with tax and election law.

But the plan…is real…the need is urgent…and the time to start is now. May a leader for this project…come forth…now.