@taylorlorenz I think major independent journalists need to essentially join forces and manage an independent Mastodon instance.
Most users are terribly risk averse, but news seekers are desperate for a tool where they can get news and information w/out an algo.
People like you, Mehdi Hasan (etc.) could create the critical mass for it to work.
Create a non-profit, govern it with a board, charge other journalists nominal membership fees to manage it and keep it running.