Reporting on spin and disinformation since 1993.

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  Center for Media & Democracy · [email protected]
November 12, 2024 at 7:50 PM

Climate Denialism Crosses the Atlantic, and More

  Dear John, There’s a lot to process after last week’s election results, both nationally and closer to home. With storm clouds gathering on the horizon, rest assured that CMD will continue to engage in hard-hitting independent journalism to ex…
  Center for Media & Democracy · [email protected]
October 10, 2024 at 1:41 PM

Project 2025, Koch-Funded Vaccine Skepticism, and More!

  Happy Thursday! A couple quick updates before diving into our most recent work: If you missed our webinar “Setting the Stacked Court in Stone?” last month, you can now stream the recording on CMD’s YouTube page. CMD’s Executive Director A…
  Center for Media & Democracy · [email protected]
September 19, 2024 at 1:54 PM

ICYMI: CMD's Online Event "Setting the Stacked Court in Stone?"

  Dear John, In case you missed it: CMD is co-hosting a webinar on Friday, September 27th about the rogue court and what we can do about it. Read the full details below; or get right to the good stuff by RSVPing at this link!   …
  Center for Media & Democracy · [email protected]
September 18, 2024 at 12:29 PM

Clean Energy Obstacles, Election Deniers, Project 2025, and More!

  Happy Wednesday! We’ve had a lot going on — apologies for the barrage of emails, but we have a lot to keep you updated on! Before getting to the usual roundup, here’s one thing we don’t want anyone in Madison to miss: Join us on Tuesday, …
  Center for Media & Democracy · [email protected]
September 16, 2024 at 3:17 PM

New Report: Swing State Deniers Pose Threat to Democracy

  Dear John, CMD has released a major new report highlighting the serious threat to the peaceful transition of power following this November’s national elections: more than 200 public and Republican Party officials in swing states who either de…
  Center for Media & Democracy · [email protected]
September 13, 2024 at 4:08 PM

CMD Online Event: Setting the Stacked Court in Stone?

  Dear John, Did you know that ALEC and far-right groups are pushing to cement a nine-member Supreme Court into the U.S. Constitution? More importantly, do you know what can be done about it? Heavy-handed partisan maneuvering and millions in …
  Center for Media & Democracy · [email protected]
September 12, 2024 at 7:44 PM

CMD Blows the Whistle On Right-Wing Group American Majority!

  Dear John, CMD filed complaints with the Internal Revenue Service and the Minnesota attorney general’s office yesterday requesting investigations into improper partisan and electoral activity by a group called American Majority. American Ma…
  Center for Media & Democracy · [email protected]
September 5, 2024 at 12:59 PM

The GOP’s Pro-Labor Posturing, Hype Around Noncitizen Voting, and More

  Happy Thursday! We have lots of great updates to report. Our project SFOF Exposed was instrumental in the SEC complaint filed by the progressive watchdog group Campaign for Accountability. See this report by Rolling Stone to read more about…
  Center for Media & Democracy · [email protected]
August 13, 2024 at 2:24 PM

Fake Union in Miami, Election Deniers in Today's Wisconsin Primaries, and More

  Happy Tuesday morning! Here's the latest we've been working on. Have someone who you think would like to get updates from CMD? Feel free to forward this newsletter or send them this link to sign-up: TinyURL.com/CMDEmails Enjoy! …
  Center for Media & Democracy · [email protected]
July 23, 2024 at 1:16 PM

Election Deniers Have Taken Over the RNC, and More

  Here’s the Latest From CMD Election Deniers Have Taken Over the RNC At least 16 delegates invited to this year’s convention signed fraudulent Electoral College documents in their states in the aftermath of the 2020 presidential el…
  Center for Media & Democracy · [email protected]
June 20, 2024 at 12:56 PM

RAGA’s Big Oil Funders, the GOP’s War with Itself, and More!

  Happy Thursday! We hope you’re staying cool and keeping hydrated during this nationwide heatwave. This week’s roundup of our work includes stories on how fossil fuel donors are behind the GOP efforts to shield their industry from climate li…
  Center for Media & Democracy · [email protected]
May 13, 2024 at 1:00 PM

The Koch Machine’s Skyrocketing Assets, RFK Jr.’s Polluting Megadonor, and More!

  Happy Monday morning! We’ve been keeping busy and have a lot of great reporting to share with you, from exposing the Koch influence network’s soaring assets and RFK Jr.’s polluting megadonor to co-publishing an article with Drilled on the sim…
  Arn Pearson · [email protected]
May 9, 2024 at 1:44 PM

CMD Video on Far-Right Constitutional Convention Threat Goes Viral!

  Dear John, We are thrilled to announce that we have launched a video sounding the alarm about the little-known, but highly-consequential, movement by far-right groups to radically rewrite the Constitution. And it's made quite a sp…
  Center for Media & Democracy · [email protected]
April 24, 2024 at 7:39 PM

CMD launches new video that highlights highly-consequential movement by far-right groups to radically rewrite the Constitution, and more!

    This week, we launched a new video that highlights the little-known but highly-consequential movement by far-right groups to radically rewrite the Constitution. Groups on the far right – bankrolled by Big Oil, Koch Industri…
  Center for Media & Democracy · [email protected]
March 21, 2024 at 1:00 PM

ALEC Works with Industry to Muzzle Charitable Bail Funds, and More

    Here’s the Latest From CMD For-Profit Bail Industry Teams Up with ALEC to Target Charitable Bail Funds The commercial bail industry sees the growth of charitable bail funds as a threat. That’s why they’ve teamed up with A…
  Center for Media & Democracy · [email protected]
February 23, 2024 at 6:49 PM

Koch Funding for Higher Education, and More

    Here’s the Latest From CMD Koch Injected Nearly Half a Billion Dollars into Higher Ed Institutions Nonprofits controlled by Charles Koch funneled nearly $500 million to over 300 colleges and universities between 2018 and …
  Center for Media & Democracy · [email protected]
February 20, 2024 at 2:20 PM

Radical Constitutional Convention Plot Poses Grave Threat

  Dear John, I strongly encourage you to read the latest article from Duke University historian and CMD board member Nancy MacLean in The New Republic, “Warn Voters About the Radicalism Beyond Trump.”  MacLean sounds the alarm about the unacceptable ris…
  Center for Media & Democracy · [email protected]
February 6, 2024 at 2:01 PM

ALEC Recruits Gen Z Candidates for Office, and More

    Happy Tuesday! Last week, we broke the story of how the right-wing bill-mill ALEC is working with an organization called Run GenZ to recruit and train young “conservative” candidates for office — even though it is barred from engagin…
  Center for Media & Democracy · [email protected]
January 23, 2024 at 4:30 PM

A Manufactured Crisis in Iowa — and More

    Happy New Year! As we look to the year ahead — a critical election year — we know that the Right will only escalate its disinformation campaigns and attacks on democracy in order to undermine urgent, necessary action on the climate c…
  Lisa Graves · [email protected]
December 31, 2023 at 7:00 PM

Help Us Celebrate CMD’s 30th and Ring in the New Year!

  Dear John: Like you, I am deeply concerned about the millions that Charles Koch, Leonard Leo, and other right-wing mega-donors have spent to bankroll this year’s assaults on our reproductive freedoms, efforts to mitigate the climate crisis, an…
  Arn Pearson · [email protected]
December 31, 2023 at 1:00 PM

Time is Running Out—Support CMD Before Midnight!

Dear John: With 2023 and our 30th anniversary year drawing to a close, I want to thank you — on behalf of all of our researchers and writers — for your continued support of the Center for Media and Democracy (CMD). It’s people like you who make CMD’s work to expose…
  ALEC Exposed · [email protected]
December 30, 2023 at 1:00 PM

ICYMI: A Special Message from Bill Moyers

  This year marks CMD’s 30th anniversary! We could not have succeeded in exposing corruption and disinformation for three decades without the loyal support of people like you. Thank you!   Donate Here! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! …
  Arn Pearson · [email protected]
December 29, 2023 at 1:00 PM

ICYMI: CMD Exposes ALEC’s Efforts to Ban Abortion!

  Dear John: ALEC claims it’s for “free markets,” but it certainly is NOT for free choice. When the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last summer, ALEC (the American Legislative Exchange Council) celebrated. Its CEO, Lisa Nelson, proudly proc…
  Robert Reich · [email protected]
December 28, 2023 at 1:00 PM

My Year-End Message About CMD

Dear John: This year has seen constant attacks on our democracy, disturbing disinformation campaigns designed to stoke fear and violence, and cynical manipulations of racial and social tension to distract voters from the real crises facing our…
  Arn Pearson · [email protected]
December 27, 2023 at 1:00 PM

Help Us Keep the Heat on ALEC!

  Dear John: For over a decade, the Center for Media and Democracy (CMD) has been exposing the Koch-backed American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) as it peddles hundreds of anti-labor, anti-teacher, anti-democracy, pro-corporate, and climate …
  Nancy MacLean · [email protected]
December 26, 2023 at 2:00 PM

The Far Right’s Stealth Plan to Rewrite Our Constitution

Dear John: As if we don’t have enough to worry about, ALEC (the American Legislative Exchange Council) and the far Right are waging a dark money campaign to force the first constitutional convention since 1787. Their billionaire backers’ …
  Arn Pearson · [email protected]
December 22, 2023 at 1:00 PM

The Kochs Have Deep Pockets—We have You!

  Dear John: For over a decade, the Center for Media and Democracy (CMD) has been exposing how the Koch political network has been influencing elections and bankrolling dark-money groups responsible for anti-labor, anti-teacher, pro-corporate, a…
  Arn Pearson · [email protected]
December 21, 2023 at 1:00 PM

Shining a Light on the Right’s Fight Against Climate Action

Dear John: As the climate crisis accelerates and millions face climate-linked disasters, the right wing in America has doubled down on its support for fossil fuels. Front groups backed by Big Oil and Leonard Leo — like the American Legislative Exchange …
  ALEC Exposed · [email protected]
December 20, 2023 at 1:00 PM

A Special Message from Bill Moyers

  This year marks CMD’s 30th anniversary! We could not have succeeded in exposing corruption and disinformation for three decades without the loyal support of people like you. Thank you!   Donate Here! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! …
  Center for Media & Democracy · [email protected]
December 19, 2023 at 3:21 PM

ALEC’s Ploy to Force a Constitutional Convention and More

    Here’s the Latest From CMD CMD’s Arn Pearson teamed up with Duke professor and CMD board member Nancy MacLean to sound the alarm about the ambitious campaign by ALEC and the far right to radically rewrite the U.S. Constitut…
  Lisa Graves · [email protected]
December 18, 2023 at 1:00 PM

Don’t Let Them Ditch Democracy!

Dear John: It’s 1973. The U.S. Supreme Court recognizes that access to abortion, like contraception, is fundamental to Americans’ constitutional right to privacy. The Vietnam War officially ends and the military draft is abolished. The Go…
  ALEC Exposed · [email protected]
December 15, 2023 at 1:00 PM

Don’t Let Deniers Destroy Our Democracy!

  Dear John: This January will mark three years since Trump and his enablers tried to overturn the 2020 election and incited a violent mob to storm the U.S. Capitol. But it’s hardly history. The threats to American democracy are greater now than…
  Arn Pearson · [email protected]
December 14, 2023 at 1:00 PM

CMD Exposes ALEC’s Efforts to Ban Abortion!

  Dear John: ALEC claims it’s for “free markets,” but it certainly is NOT for free choice. When the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last summer, ALEC (the American Legislative Exchange Council) celebrated. Its CEO, Lisa Nelson, proudly proc…
  Robert Reich · [email protected]
December 13, 2023 at 1:00 PM

Please Join Me in Celebrating 30 Years of CMD!

Dear John: This year has seen constant attacks on our democracy, disturbing disinformation campaigns designed to stoke fear and violence, and cynical manipulations of racial and social tension to distract voters from the real crises facing our…
  Center for Media & Democracy · [email protected]
December 8, 2023 at 5:29 PM

ALEC is Trying to Force Congress to Call a Constitutional Convention

    Here’s the Latest From CMD Exposed: ALEC's Plan to Force a Constitutional Convention At last week’s 2023 States and Nation Policy Summit, ALEC doubled down on its novel legal strategy for strong-arming a constitutional co…
  Lisa Graves · [email protected]
November 28, 2023 at 9:00 PM

There's Still Time to Support CMD This Giving Tuesday!

  Dear John: Before #GivingTuesday draws to a close, I wanted to reach out to you personally and ask that you please take a minute to show your support for the award-winning independent journalism of the Center for Media and Democracy (CMD…
  Arn Pearson · [email protected]
November 28, 2023 at 2:01 PM

It's Giving Tuesday: Please Support CMD's Award-Winning Investigations!

  Dear John: TODAY IS #GIVINGTUESDAY!—the unofficial start of the year-end giving season, and the day when good people across the globe unleash a wave of generosity designed to transform our communities and improve our planet. Despite th…
  Arn Pearson · [email protected]
November 27, 2023 at 2:00 PM

Tomorrow is Giving Tuesday: Please Support CMD!

Dear John: Tomorrow is #GivingTuesday, a day when people across the globe unleash a wave of radical generosity to transform our communities and improve our planet. Despite this year’s constant attacks on fair elections, free media, and civil righ…
  Center for Media & Democracy · [email protected]
November 21, 2023 at 8:47 PM

Koch Tax Breaks, Dark Money ATM Funding, and More

Here’s the Latest From CMD ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ …
  Center for Media & Democracy · [email protected]
October 27, 2023 at 1:22 PM

ALEC’s Stand Your Ground Laws, Koch Lies, and More

This Week at CMD ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ …
  Center for Media & Democracy · [email protected]
October 26, 2023 at 6:53 PM

Sign the Petition Demanding that Corporations Ditch ALEC!

Here at CMD, we’ve been exposing the insidious right-wing and corporate pay-to-play activities of ALEC for more than a decade. Now, we need your help. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌…
  Center for Media & Democracy · [email protected]
October 20, 2023 at 12:30 PM

CMD Reveals ALEC’s Price List for Buying Access to Lawmakers, and More

This week, we reported on how a key Trump ally who worked to overturn the 2020 election results and has deep ties to a dark-money MAGA group is still in the running for the next speaker of the House, a position third in line for the presidency. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌…
  Center for Media & Democracy · [email protected]
October 13, 2023 at 11:30 AM

This Week’s Roundup: MAGA Makes Its Move to Capture Speaker Spot

This week, we reported on how a key Trump ally who worked to overturn the 2020 election results and has deep ties to a dark-money MAGA group is still in the running for the next speaker of the House, a position third in line for the presidency. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌…
  Center for Media & Democracy · [email protected]
October 6, 2023 at 2:54 PM

ALEC’s #50YearsofHarm and This Week’s Roundup

  What Happened This Week   CMD in The American Prospect The American Prospect featured a story by CMD's Arn Pearson and David Armiak about the destructive agenda ALEC has been pushing for the last 50 years. If there’s one story…
  Center for Media & Democracy · [email protected]
September 29, 2023 at 4:28 PM

ConCon Webinar Recap and ALEC’s #50YearsofHarm

  What Happened This Week   CMD’s Executive Director Arn Pearson moderated a discussion with Russ Feingold of the American Constitution Society; Nancy MacLean, Professor of History and Public Policy at Duke University; and Jonatha…
  Center for Media & Democracy · [email protected]
September 27, 2023 at 8:00 PM

OUR DEMOCRACY IS NOT FOR SALE: ALEC (slow) Extinction Watch Party and Rally

Join us on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm for the “ALEC (slow) Extinction Watch Party and Rally” in DC in front of the entrance to ALEC’s 50th anniversary gala at DC’s National Portrait Gallery. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌…
  Center for Media & Democracy · [email protected]
September 27, 2023 at 2:04 PM

Defending the Right to Protest: Anti-Boycott Bills & The Role of the American Legislative Exchange Council

Join us for a special event to learn more about anti-boycott laws, ALEC’s role in undermining our ability to organize and voice dissent, and why it’s imperative that we work across issue areas. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ …
  Center for Media & Democracy · [email protected]
September 25, 2023 at 6:05 PM

Happening Tomorrow: Webinar on the Imminent Threat of a Constitutional Convention

Join us tomorrow — Tuesday, Sept. 26 at 2:30 ET — for a webinar on the imminent threat of a far right constitutional convention, which CMD is co-hosting with the American Constitution Society and Common Cause. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ …
  Center for Media & Democracy · [email protected]
September 22, 2023 at 3:20 PM

Defending the Right to Protest: Anti-Boycott Bills & The Role of the American Legislative Exchange Council

Join us for a special event to learn more about anti-boycott laws, ALEC’s role in undermining our ability to organize and voice dissent, and why it’s imperative that we work across issue areas. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ …
  Center for Media & Democracy · [email protected]
September 22, 2023 at 1:10 PM

CMD in Newsweek: WI Impeachment Threats From a GOP in Panic Mode

Newsweek featured an op-ed from the Center for Media and Democracy’s Executive Director Arn Pearson and True North Research’s Evan Vorpahl that highlighted the growing crisis of democracy in Wisconsin. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ …