Dear John, There is a lot to process since last week’s election results, both in Washington, D.C., and closer to home. I suspect that many of you, like the team at CMD, are still struggling to come to terms with the weight of this moment and what lies ahead for our nation and the world. A second Trump presidency poses the greatest threat in our lifetimes to American democracy, the rule of law, and a century of progress toward economic, social, and environmental justice. Barely a week has passed since the election results became clear, and already Trump has moved to stack his administration with the architects of Project 2025, MAGA loyalists, white nationalists, and climate deniers. With sweeping immunity from prosecution — courtesy of a stacked Supreme Court — and a pandering GOP that has turned its back on democracy, there is little left to stop Trump from acting on his campaign promises to persecute his enemies, attack the press and academic freedom, entrench corporate power in Washington, and pursue his radical and racist agenda. Except for we the people. If ever there was a need for a mass pro-democracy movement in the U.S., that time is now. Despite the shocking outcome, the election does not signal a sudden shift in what most Americans think and want. In fact, a majority of voters in states across the country voted last week for reproductive freedom, an increased minimum wage, paid family leave, and renewable energy. Four out of five people want the government to do more to address the climate crisis. Seven out of 10 see skyrocketing wealth inequality as a serious national problem. Those fights won’t just happen in D.C. Many will play out at the state and local levels. Knowing who the players are, who's pulling their strings, and what they're after is key to effective resistance. That's where we come in. Here at CMD, our role as independent investigative journalists and as a watchdog on corporate influence and extremism has never been more important. Over the past 30-plus years, CMD has been ahead of the pack exposing threats posed by corporate influence, political plutocrats, climate deniers, anti-“woke” culture warriors, and insurrectionists. As a nonpartisan group of researchers and lawyers, we provide the vital information you need to fight for a just and democratic America, and we take legal action when we uncover violations of law. Our websites (ExposedbyCMD, SourceWatch, ALEC Exposed, Insurrection Exposed, SFOF Exposed, and Anti-Protest Lobby Tracker) provide extensive resources for reporters, academics, public officials, and grassroots activists alike, and our investigations and reports connect the dots between corporations, megadonors, and right-wing groups. In the months ahead, CMD will shine a light on the plutocrats bankrolling autocracy in Washington and the plans of far-right and corporate pay-to-play groups to assault our freedoms here in our own communities. And we will continue to sound the alarm over a growing campaign backed by ALEC (the American Legislative Exchange Council), Heritage Action, and billionaires to radically rewrite the U.S. Constitution and lock in their power for generations to come. Everything is at stake. In solidarity, |
