In this episode of Back in America, I sit down with Clayton Weimers, Executive Director of Reporters Without Borders (RSF) USA, to talk about the state of press freedom in America and beyond. From the decline of local journalism to the rise of AI in newsrooms, we explore the paradox of living in an age of information abundance while losing access to trustworthy reporting.

Clayton explains why the U.S. now ranks 57th out of 180 countries on the World Press Freedom Index, how economic pressures are creating “news deserts” across the nation, and why trust in journalism continues to erode. We also discuss the role of citizen journalism, podcasts, and independent newsletters in reshaping the media landscape.

The conversation touches on broader themes that Back in America often explores: the fight against disinformation, the legacy of democratic ideals, and the tension between freedom of expression and corporate or political power.

World Press Freedom Index 2025: over half the world's population in red zones
https://rsf.org/en/world-press-freedom-index-2025-over-half-worlds-population-red-zones

Americans remain concerned about press freedoms, but partisan views have flipped since 2024
https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2025/04/24/americans-remain-concerned-about-press-freedoms-but-partisan-views-have-flipped-since-2024/

Revitalizing America’s News Deserts
https://progressive.org/magazine/revitalizing-americas-news-deserts-pickard/

“Leave all your hope, family, and dreams behind.” That’s the banner Darryl Burton saw when he first walked into Missouri State Penitentiary—infamously known as the “bloodiest 47 acres in America.” He was 22. He was innocent.

In this episode of Back in America, Darryl shares his extraordinary story: how a false accusation, coached jailhouse informants, and prosecutorial misconduct stole nearly 25 years of his life. With no DNA, no weapon, no motive—and no justice—Darryl was sentenced to life without parole for a crime he didn’t commit.

Thanks to the relentless efforts of Princeton, NJ, based Centurion, the pioneering innocence organization, Darryl was finally exonerated. But his story didn’t end there.

He founded Miracle of Innocence, a nonprofit helping other wrongfully convicted individuals reclaim their lives—legally, emotionally, and spiritually. As Darryl says, “It’s a miracle to get out of prison. Now, we work to create more miracles.”

Contact & Support

• Learn more or donate: www.miracleofinnocence.org / Centurion
• Personal site: www.darrylburton.org

Books that Inspired Darryl in Prison

• Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl
• The Autobiography of Malcolm X
• Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela
• Stride Toward Freedom by Martin Luther King Jr.
• The Bible — especially Luke 23:34: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

In this episode, Stan speaks with Prof. Maurice Wallace of Rutgers University about the enduring impact of James Baldwin, the evolution of Black American vernacular, and the complex relationship America has with its history of slavery and race. Prof. Wallace explores Baldwin’s profound influence on his own academic journey, how language and sound shape Black cultural identity, and why America continues to struggle with the legacy of emancipation, mass incarceration, and systemic inequality.

Through insights into literature, photography, and the “Black modernist soundscape,” this conversation reveals deeper truths about America’s culture, values, and identity.

Recommended reading from Prof. Wallace:

The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin

The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander

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