More and more Americans get their news exclusively from social media. But as Sonali Kolhatkar notes this week, social media is increasingly a pay-to-play business. “It’s hard to tell if your favorite social media source is a citizen journalist or a paid promoter,” she warns.
At the same time, more and more communities lose real journalists and newspapers every year. “If our views are shaped by paid content creators, and there are fewer than ever journalists to investigate issues of concern, we face a future where opinions are bought and paid for by those with the deepest pockets,” Sonali observes.
That’s pretty bad for democracy! But what if the government could fund locally controlled journalism? Zohran Mamdani is doing it for grocery stories in New York, Sonali argues. Why can’t we imagine something similar for journalism?
Also this week, Jordan Liz unpacks the Trump administration’s self-serving motives for attacking the International Criminal Court. And Jim Hightower highlights some extreme examples of the Trump administration intervening on behalf of data centers.
New This Week…
Want to Save Democracy? Save Journalism. | Sonali Kolhatkar
Real journalists are losing their job while money flows into pay for play social media. We need a publicly funded alternative.
Helping the Powerful Escape Accountability | Jordan Liz
Trump is dismantling the International Criminal Court to protect himself, his allies, and Israel. We shouldn’t let him.
People Are Fighting Data Centers. The Government is Fighting People. | Jim Hightower
Trump’s EPA wants to let Big Tech build data centers without notifying local communities — and to start before their permits are even approved.
In Case You Missed It…
Corporations Keep Finding New Ways to Gouge Us. Our Laws Must Catch Up. | Lindsay Owens
As companies trap us in subscriptions, bury us in fees, and use algorithms to fix prices, we need a new Shoppers’ Bill of Rights.
Democracy Works — When We Defend It | Nicholas Martinez
I spent years as a local elections official. More attacks on this year’s elections are coming — defeat them by making a plan to vote today.
Preparing for a Constitutional Crisis | Ben Manski, Michael Shank, and April Doner
The administration may attempt to thwart the midterm election results. How can communities prepare to defend the vote?
Want to Keep Marijuana Away from Teens? Legalize It | Paul Armentano
Licensed retailers check IDs and deny service to underage patrons. Drug dealers don’t.
The post In OtherWords: October 14, 2026 appeared first on OtherWords.
