So, bit of an update:
I tried using Cisco’s opendns ip’s in my router’s DNS settings and the Librem’s ipv4 settings, both still didn’t allow aljazeera.com to load on the Librem, however other websites loaded just fine. So I scrubbed them and went back to automatic DNS on both.
My other computers on the same wireless network and even my phone (also on the same wireless network, 4g network disabled) load aljazeera.com just fine without a VPN, so now I’m looking back toward the Librem as the cause somehow?