The Russian journalists fighting for democracy have some urgent advice for Americans under Trump.

Key Points:

• Julia Loktev’s documentary "My Undesirable Friends: Part II—Exile" follows Russian journalists who fled their country after Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, highlighting their struggles to continue independent reporting from exile in Latvia and beyond.
• The film illustrates the challenges faced by the journalists, including political pressure from host countries like Latvia, which questioned their terminology to justify restricting their broadcasts, reflecting the broader hostility toward Russians abroad.
• Despite their displacement and the impossibility of stopping Putin’s regime, the journalists demonstrate resilience and ordinary heroism, continuing their work and adapting to new lives while grappling with feelings of guilt and responsibility.
• The documentary offers intimate insights into the personal lives and backgrounds of the exiled journalists, revealing disparities in their circumstances and the emotional toll of exile and political repression.
• "My Undesirable Friends" serves as a cautionary tale about the fragility of democracy and the importance of vigilance, with journalists urging audiences to remain alert and alarmed to prevent the loss of their own freedoms.