Our friends, maybe that includes you, have risen to the occasion — of our seeking assistance. For some weeks now (fear not: This is wrapping up in a couple of days) we have asked NRO regular readers to pitch in and help us bankroll a major forthcoming website rebuild, and to earmark sufficient funds for our summer intern program. That has been done. But while your kind donations (from over 2500 good souls) were arriving, so was a terrible long-delayed ruling from the District of Columbia Court of Appeals in the infamous Mann v. National Review case. It’s a defamation suit, but we rightly see it is a critical battle for free speech. Please read our editorial. So, we continue to seek support for the legal bills that we now face from yet another round of appeals and delayed / denied justice. It’s our fight, yes, but it’s yours too. Please stand with and alongside NR in this battle to protect free speech by contributing to NR directly here. If you prefer to donate PayPal, you can do that right here. Or you can mail a check, payable to “National Review,” to 215 Lexington Avenue, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10016. And now, on to the donor comments!

‐ My man Jack sends along a C Note and wows with the attending praise: “National Review — the best thing ever offered since the Founders’ writings to advance principled conservatism and thus the best interests of our constitutional-republic. I thank you. May you continue to fight the good fight even to this last Mann!” Yuck yuck, and will do!

‐ Sweet Sherry sends us $25 and a hint at a crush: “I depend on you guys for intelligent, informed, truthful commentary. You are the BEST! Thanks so much for everyone — especially Victor Davis Hanson!” If we had a buck for every VDH fan, we’d be millionaires!

‐ Of course, we hear from the Jonah chorus, as Nancy mails in a kindly 50 bucks and even kindlier words: “Need to have National Review in my life. It was very sad losing a Thomas Sowell this year. At 86, the man deserves a retirement from weekly columns. I was surprised at how the prospect saddened me. So, must ensure that I keep you guys and gals at NRO. Thank you for keeping us informed and thoughtful in a hard year. Amaze us with 2017. Please encourage Jonah Goldberg to keep Cosmo the Wonder Dog. Just because.” Consider him encouraged.

‐ From north of the border Graham spots us $25 and laments: “Liberals and progressives used to value freedom of thought, of the press and of religion, etc. Now we have to fight tooth and nail for basic and fundamental freedoms. I wish I could help you more. If you think the USA is in trouble, which it is, Canada is more further down the current progressivist, Marxist, nihilistic slope.” And yet we shall not despair good friend. Many thanks.

‐ And finally, from Gail, who found and sent $50, comes too this basketful of praise: “Thank you all at NRO. I am a mother of 4 and a high-school math teacher. I don’t have a lot of time to peruse the Internet, but I do make time to read your articles. I appreciate that you all write clearly, logically, and with witty use of the rich variety in the English language. I also am glad that you do not all see each issue or politician in the same way. I generally do not read comments because many times I have been entirely disgusted by some of the vicious and disturbing posts. For every jerk out in cyberspace, know that you have many more grateful fans. I’m sure that some of the more personal and evil gibes cannot be sloughed off quite as quickly. Thank you for bearing up.” With you alongside us in the foxhole, we’re born up indeed.