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God Bless Jay Leno

Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.

LAist wants to thank Jay Leno.

Announced today in the papers and tonight on his very own show "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," Jay Leno made the announcement that he would be retiring from late night television in 2009 and giving his beloved spot to none other than Conan O'Brien.

And while LAist screamed giddily like a little girl upon hearing the O'Brien news, what we'd really like to know is why Leno must continue to torture America for another five long arduous years. His announcement today can be likened to having your doctor tell you that the bullet lodged in your skull, which causes you unbearable pain on a daily basis, will be removed in, oh I don't know, about three months.

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Why not leave the show now and work out some profit sharing business with O'Brien? Why not leave the show titled as is to retain some of your money (because we know that's what it's all about) and give America what they really want? Why tease us with an event that will not occur for (in case we already didn't say it) five long, painful, excruciating years?

In the end, LAist knows that something is better than nothing... But when something is nothing, it's really hard to see the forest from the trees.

As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.

Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.

We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.

No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.

Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.

Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.

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