We have big news this week! We have an important story coming out tomorrow in partnership with OptOut member outlet The New Republic by our own Alex Kotch, an award-winning money-in-politics reporter and co-founder of OptOut.

I don’t want to spoil too much now, but the article highlights a problem that has flown under the radar for too long: sources of funding for groups identified by the Southern Poverty Law Center as hate groups. This project has been in the works for months now, and is based on extensive research. What we found may surprise you.

As always, the highest ambition of good investigative journalism is to not only inform the public about problems, but to provide the information necessary to inspire change. I believe that our story tomorrow embodies this goal.

You definitely will not want to miss it!

With that, please enjoy this week’s selection of last week’s best articles from OptOut participating outlets!

Money In Politics

Leading off: An Illinois billionaire is single-handedly funding an astroturf campaign to make changes to the Ohio constitution harder. Richard Uihlein has spent more than $5 million in support of a Republican-led effort to pass Issue 1, which would raise the threshold needed for such changes to 60 percent. More Perfect Union had the story.

Then, The Intercept reports an embattled private equity billionaire tied to Jeffrey Epstein backed Sen. Kyrsten Sinema in 2018. Leon Black, who is facing accusations that he raped a 16-year-old girl, was a key supporter of the controversial senator.

Labor

The surge of organized labor activity is one of the more hopeful developments of this political moment. Last week, for example, the United Auto Workers union presented a series of bold proposals to the so-called Big Three auto manufacturers that included pay increases and a right to strike over plant closures. Jacobin reported on the fight.

Meanwhile, Metro North workers are on the verge of a strike. Ct Mirror wrote that the 600+ member Transport Workers Union, representing “car inspectors, coach cleaners, and mechanics,” is ready to take action as it has been without a contract since 2019—and blames MTA management.

The American Prospect published a piece about the growing number of doctors who are joining unions. While the number is still very small compared to other industries, the growth signifies real changes that have been happening in the medical world.

Capital & Main had a story about the legal challenges faced by workers today. The story focuses on weak labor laws that hamstring workers who try to hold their employers to account.

Changing Politics

The New Republic had a strong piece worth reading about the state of the American left and the future of socialism in the U.S. The picture it paints is one of disarray while the old, corporate-friendly establishment remains strong.

In These Times, on the other hand, wrote about how Democratic Socialists are helping to fuel labor organizing today.

The OptOut Media Foundation (EIN: 85-2348079) is a nonprofit charity with a mission to educate the public about current events and help sustain a diverse media ecosystem by promoting and assisting independent news outlets and, in doing so, advance democracy and social justice.

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