“Let me state what should not need to be stated: the Pulitzer Prizes support the First Amendment of the Constitution.” With these grave words, Marjorie Miller made it clear from the first minute that the country is living in a time of exceptionality. The administrator of the most prestigious awards in American journalism recalled that this protection for the press adhering to the Magna Carta implies the ability to scrutinize political power and institutions, but that in recent times “the access to the White House and the Pentagon has been restricted.” With this assessment, it is not surprising that the verdict has leaned towards journalistic pieces that challenge Trump's opacity and scrutinize him in a time when the hunger to expand his power seems endless.

He has just arrived in the Llémena Valley, between the Gironès and La Garrotxa mountains, after a long journey from Germany by van. He hasn't even parked for ten minutes. It's the journey he makes accompanied by two bicycles and his dog Omali—which in Swahili means "treasure" or "something valuable"—every time he seeks a few days of rest between weeks of work travel. "Llémena is my refuge between wars," he admits. This year he has been to Lebanon, Syria, Acapulco (Mexico), and will soon return to Mosul (Iraq). He barely remembers it; he has to check his phone to list it all. "And 2025 has been peaceful compared to before," he says.

The centenary Pulitzer Prizes have an editorial focus, and their list of winners often conveys a message about the current state of journalism. Following this tradition, this year's list of nominees can be clearly interpreted as a warning to Donald Trump, as most of the winners have either suffered the current American president's hostility or can relate to his victory.