Dismal Freedom Press Podcast

Episode: The Second Generation — Episode 5, Dismal Freedom Press Investigative Podcast Host/Narrator: Torie Cortez, Founding Editor & Publisher Runtime: Approximately 16 minutes Cases & Records Referenced People v. Millbrook , 222 Cal. App .4th 1122 (2014) — imperfect self-defense, jury instruction standard, anti-gatekeeper rule People v. Beltran — heat of passion; frequently paired with Millbrook...

Listen to the episode above. Full transcript available below. When the Department of Justice settled with Live Nation on March 9, 2026, the headlines were enormous. A $280 million fine. Divestiture of 13 venues. Ticketmaster forced open to competitors. And then, just five weeks later on April 15th, a jury officially found the company liable for monopolization. The tectonic plates of the live event...

Imagine witnessing a life-threatening emergency. You dial 911, expecting immediate help, but the dispatcher simply says, “Understood, please hold”. You wait for weeks. When they finally return, they inform you that their internal procedures were followed perfectly—and then they hang up while the emergency is still happening right in front of you. To the system, the ticket is closed. To the victim,...

On March 9, 2026, the Department of Justice shattered the lock on the monopoly’s gate—then they marched away and left the fans in the wilderness. The “historic” settlement with Live Nation and Ticketmaster sounded bold in the headlines: a $280 million fine and capped service fees. But when you look at the math, the fine represents roughly 1.1% of their annual revenue . That isn’t a penalty; it’s a...

LESC Front Row Certified: Post-Monopoly Strategy The Context: The 2026 DOJ settlement with Live Nation/Ticketmaster ($280M fine) was effectively a "cost of doing business." It opened the market legally but left independent venues vulnerable to shadow retaliation (e.g., losing tour routing). The Solution: The Live Events Standards Council (LESC) launched the Front Row Certified seal—a market-driven...

LAUGHING AT THE GAP? 🎭 WPUSD’s Emoji Scandal & The EL Achievement CrisisWe’re exposing the “smoking gun” emails and the devastating data the district tried to hide. #WPUSD #EducationReform #CivilRightsTHE STORY:Is student success a joke to WPUSD leadership? In this report, Dismal Freedom Press reveals a disturbing disconnect between district administration and the students they are sworn to prote...

The Architecture of Autonomy In this episode, we pull back the curtain on the technical requirements that keep our reporting secure and our partners connected. The 5 Core Certification Pillars To be part of the Dismal Freedom ecosystem, a venue isn't just a room—it’s a fortified node. We detail the five pillars every location must meet: Network Integrity: Beyond simple Wi-Fi; we’re talking encrypt...

This episode continues our examination of how justice unfolds over time — not just in verdicts, but in process. Change of venue decisions are often treated as neutral procedure. This episode asks what those decisions mean for families, communities, and public oversight — especially when the record offers little explanation. As always, we’re documenting what the record shows, what it doesn’t, and w...

After the murders, the court files didn’t close. They split. While the criminal case moved forward, a separate decision was made in family court — largely out of public view. Two children were left behind. Michael Jr. And Marcus. Custody was awarded to Kimberly’s family. Michael’s family was not. There was no public explanation. No accessible record laying out how the decision was reached. Only an...

n Episode 2 of the Dismal Freedom Press Podcast , we examine what is publicly documented about the night Michael and Kimberly Millbrook were killed — and what remains unclear decades later. This episode focuses on: What contemporaneous reporting establishes about February 1 How early investigative narratives take shape The limits of police reports and court summaries Why fear, pressure, and commun...

In this episode of Dismal Freedom Press, we examine how a single letter connects three generations of one family’s experience with violence and the justice system. What begins with the 1980s murder of Michael and Kimberly Millbrook in Modesto, California, extends into questions about custody, access to justice, trial relocation, and the long-term consequences families carry long after court cases...