The summer of 2023 presents a peculiar, exhausting paradox. We wake up each morning to a barrage of headlines that feel less like news and more like a forecast of impending storm—a storm of calculated lies, brazen corruption, and the kind of political violence that once belonged to distant history books, not our nightly broadcasts. The cost of eggs and gas becomes a national referendum on our collective security, while the right to exist, to love, to choose, and to vote is relentlessly chipped away in statehouses and courtrooms. Meanwhile, on Capitol Hill, a faction of Senate Republicans has elevated obstruction to a high art form, refusing to move on even the most universally popular measures of President Biden’s agenda, not because they lack merit, but purely to deny the administration a win. In this climate, it feels incredibly lonely for the average American, stuck between despair and indignation, wondering if the foundational principle of representation—that our voices matter—has been quietly traded for a permanent state of gridlock and performative outrage. It is precisely in this fog that the fight for democracy, for the very soul of the nation, shifts from the abstract to the deeply personal, landing squarely on the shoulders of ordinary people who refuse to accept a government built on lies. We feel that weight, this heaviness of the historical moment, with an intimacy that makes even the act of reading the news feel like a form of resistance, a tiny rebellion against the corrosive tide of disinformation threatening to swallow our republic whole.
Standing resilient against this backdrop is the unglamorous, often thankless work of independent journalism. The industry itself is gasping for air, battered by shifting algorithms, the monopolization of corporate media, and the cynical weaponization of the term “fake news.” Newspapers are shrinking, newsrooms are shuttering, and seasoned reporters are being replaced by syndicated content or outright propaganda. Yet, amidst this collapse, we at Raw Story have been granted an extraordinary gift: a loyal, steadfast readership that numbers over five thousand dedicated subscribers, a number that feels like a lifeline when the currents are this rough. We have navigated these choppy waters thus far, not just because of our own tenacity, but because we hold true to a mission that transcends clicks and ad revenue. We are tasked not merely with reporting what is said, but with digging beneath the surface—connecting the dots between dark money, political handouts, and the erosion of civil liberties. When senators parrot talking points that are pure fabrication, we are supposed to show you the receipts. When fascism drapes itself in patriotic rhetoric, we are supposed to rip off the facade. This job is a sacred trust, but maintaining the sanctitude of our newsroom to perform this task requires resources—and at a time when our nation needs us most, we are facing the stark reality that without direct support, the voice we provide could be silenced.
Let me speak plainly and from the heart: we are profoundly grateful for you. Not just for the financial donations that keep the lights on, but for the simple, radical act of your readership. In a world that pushes passive scrolling and viral sensationalism, choosing to spend your limited time with a source that prioritizes integrity over outrage is an act of cognitive rebellion. Thank you for trusting us to be your eyes in the hallways of power. Thank you for challenging us, for reading us, and for caring. To the five thousand who have already chosen to formally subscribe, we offer our deepest, most humbled thanks—you have invested in the abstract concept of truth, and that means more than a spreadsheet can possibly convey. To the broader community of readers who haven’t yet become subscribers, please know that your presence here, your willingness to read a long, investigative piece rather than a 280-character spin, is not lost on us. You are part of this ecosystem of hope. But we must be honest with you about the economics of truth-telling. The infrastructure required to keep a firewall between our newsroom and the corporate interests we frequently cover is expensive. Every fact-check, every FOIA request, every courtroom battle for public records, every hour a reporter spends chasing a lead down a dark alley—it all costs money. We cannot fight this war for transparency with only good intentions; we need ammunition, and that ammunition is the combined financial backing of the community we serve.
Behind every byline is a human being making sacrifices. We have staff who, like you, are watching their grocery bills climb and their rent payments rise, yet they choose to work for a mission-driven outlet because they believe in the cause. They are not getting rich; they are getting by, fueled by coffee and conviction. They are the unsung heroes who stay late to verify a quote, who brave hostile press conferences, and who risk the wrath of powerful figures to bring you the sliver of truth they have unearthed. We don’t want to reduce our newsroom to a boilerplate operation churning out generic press releases. We want to maintain the sanctitude of our newsroom—a space where investigative rigor is celebrated, where nuance is respected, and where the pursuit of justice overrides the pursuit of clicks. This is not just a job for us; it is a public service. And just as a public library requires funding to keep its doors open, or a fire station needs equipment to answer the call, we need your partnership to keep our servers running and our reporters on the ground. We are asking you to consider this not as a purchase, but as a pledge of mutual defense in this democratic experiment. In this landscape, journalism is the connective tissue that holds the body politic together, and you have the power to ensure that this tissue does not tear.
So, we are reaching out with a straightforward, heartfelt request. If you are able to contribute financially, whether through a recurring subscription or a one-time donation, it would truly mean the world to us. We have structured our membership to be as inclusive and rewarding as possible. A donation of just ten dollars a month—the equivalent of a couple of cups of coffee—or a single annual contribution of ninety-five dollars allows us to plan our editorial calendar with stability. As a token of our gratitude, subscribers at this level gain advanced, entirely ad-free access to our original reporting from Raw Story and our sibling outlet, AlterNet. You will receive exclusive investigative deep-dives that never make it to the free feed, along with special content that peels back the layers of how political power actually operates. This membership is our way of bringing you closer to the story, allowing us to communicate with you without the filter of intrusive advertising algorithms. For those who prefer not to set up a recurring billing, we welcome one-time donations through our website or via PayPal—every single dollar, whether five or five hundred, is a vote for independent media. We want to be completely transparent with you: because of our current non-profit structure, donations to Raw Story are not tax-deductible. We know that this is a hurdle, but we ask you to consider the contribution not as a charitable tax write-off, but as an investment in your own civic health, a direct sponsorship of the relentless pursuit of the facts you deserve.
As we navigate the turbulent waters of the second half of 2023, we do so with the knowledge that we are not alone. The fight against lies, corruption, and violence is not a spectator sport; it is a collective, living struggle. When you support Raw Story, you are drawing a line in the sand, declaring that a free press is not a partisan luxury but a fundamental pillar of a functioning democracy. We know the path ahead is steep. We know that the forces of authoritarianism are cunning and well-funded. But we also know the power of a dedicated community. Your readership is enough if that is all you can offer—we do not want to burden anyone who is struggling themselves. But if you have the means to give, please consider doing so today. Make a monthly pledge of ten dollars, or a one-time gift of any size. Together, we will ensure that the beacon of independent journalism remains lit, illuminating the dark corners of power so that the American people can see what is truly happening behind closed doors. We refuse to give in to cynicism, and we hope you refuse with us. We will continue to report, to investigate, and to fight, but we need your shoulder to lean on. In this collective endeavor, our shared hope is not just surviving the storm, but emerging on the other side with a nation that has been held together by the truth. Thank you for being here. Thank you for fighting with us. Let’s keep going, together.