One thing I'm interested in that they didn't cover in school, if there's 3 branches of government, then what branch were the independent agencies a part of before being moved into the executive?
Yes, the expanse of power is concerning. Historically, all three branches have substantially expanded their powers since inception. People in power always seem to take more of it.
...plus journalism, the fourth branch.
Of course they were and are part of the Executive Branch. But the precedent for many decades was they were independent. Because not everything that happens in this world is governed by an explicit law.
And what is happening is unprecedented and right to be concerned about it.