Brandi Gerkink, the Director of the Coalition for Independent Tech Research, discusses the profound impact of CrowdTangle's shutdown on journalists and researchers. She highlights the emotional toll of losing a key tool for social media insights. The conversation reveals frustrations over accessing data from social media companies, stifling research and journalistic efforts. Gerkink also addresses algorithmic transparency, exploring how recent regulations may offer a glimmer of hope. Ultimately, the discussion underscores the pressing need for collective action to advocate for data accessibility.