Malcolm X's Family Suing CIA, FBI, Jackson Water Crisis, Confidentiality Clauses Banished, Elon Elon'ing, and What I'm Up to
Things are a' changing
Important News Round-Up
Malcolm X’s family is suing the CIA, FBI, and NYPD in a wrongful death lawsuit. “We just want justice for our father.” — Ilyasah Shabazz, daughter.
People are traumatized by a false-alarm warning of mass shooting at Boulder High School.
Jackson, Mississippi, is experiencing a water crisis. With a population that is 83% Black, residents have had to deal with 7,300 water-line breaks and ~ 300 boil water notices over two years. Two-thirds of water samples contain lead. One mother wonders, "How much lead have I put in my children within those years? Each one of my children has eczema. Have I been bathing my children in lead-based water? Have I been putting bacteria in my children from this water?”
@HadasThier has done exceptional reporting here and you should read about what's going on.
The new Mississippi Maternal Mortality Report found that the state's maternal mortality rate increased by 25% for Black women between 2013‐2016 and 2017‐2019--but fell by 14% for White women. 87.5% of the deaths were determined to be preventable (Ibram X. Kendi tweet)
NYC police, child services, and others are using AI — including in facial recognition — but a new report points to a “lack of ethical and legal guardrails” for its use. Huge concerns about racial bias.
The NLRB has determined that workers who are laid-off CANNOT be made to sign agreements requiring confidentiality clauses in order to get severance. “It’s long been understood by the Board and the courts that employers cannot ask individual employees to choose between receiving benefits and exercising their rights under the National Labor Relations Act. Today’s decision upholds this important principle and restores longstanding precedent,” – Chairman Lauren McFerran
NPR is laying off 100 workers due to declining ad dollars. Media heads need to really dig deep and understand why this is happening, as the need for journalism is more important than ever.
Actor John Cusack, who is outspoken on many issues as an activist, says on Instagram that he's been locked out of his Twitter account and wants answers from @elonmusk: "Looks like Mr. free speech absolutist banned my twitter account – Totally frozen out – no warning no notice – was it the Ukranian children action fund I work with? Which he has now blocked me from publicizing? The shitty battery comments? Or my pointing out his spreading disinformation propaganda and fascist sympathies? No access to my account no warning notice – or reason given – if you care to ask him why – I'll try to make it an issue he has to deal with. Best J c"
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is finally visiting East Palestine, Ohio, tomorrow, after a lot of backlash from both sides of the aisle.
Courage News Updates
It has been a very interesting year! My career as a journalist is taking me places professionally that I never saw coming and that I’m extremely proud of.
Right now, I’m working on a really important project and have been for months, and all the hard work I’ve done is paying off in the form of important opportunities to take my reporting to the next level, in an added format with an extended audience. I can’t get into specifics right now, but I promise you’ll be excited when I can! Courage News is going places! And you’re part of the reason why!
In less happy news, I had a really heartbreaking and extremely hurtful interaction with someone who’d donated to Courage News last summer. Someone I’d felt so grateful for that I cried when they helped. I am completely baffled about it and has caused me more than a little stress. It has caused me to question if I should pack it in – if my reporting matters at all. But I am 100% confident I am in the right and that you will agree.
And to give up would be silly. I have a duty to do the reporting I do.
Absolutely no one can say I haven’t stayed consistent to my values and my promise to be an uncorrupted journalist, digging where no one wants me to dig, always. Of that I am certain.
You can read what’s going on as well as see all the email receipts here, in this thread. I’m happy to answer any questions anyone has about it! Just email me.
Reporting Updates
Behind-the-scenes, I’m working on another FBI expose that will be published (hopefully) sometime this month, in a major outlet!
Why publish in major outlets, Jenn, isn’t MSM bad? It’s simple – I don’t publish or accept freelance contracts unless I can report uncompromised. I need to reach a wider audience – more people need to know what’s going on. I also need to earn a living. Courage News is, unfortunately, not there yet. And my experience with this outlet has been fantastic.
I’m also working on an investigative Flint piece (exposing additional corruption!) as well as a piece on the East Palestine, Ohio crisis.
As you can imagine, I’ve been very busy. So many exciting things happening for Courage News.
Courage News Changes
I’ve never wanted Courage News to become just another indie YouTube channel, talking about nothing and bickering. To really make an impact, I don’t want to be a talking head. I want to investigate, break stories, and hold the powerful to account.
However, with investigations taking a long time (just how it works) and with projects boiling that will make a huge impact but can’t yet be released, I’ve realized I need to dedicate part of my time to regularly updating you all and this Substack. I need to get important stories out, even if I’m not the one who broke them. That’s what you see at the top here! A curated list of news I find critical to know about, delivered in more bite-sized pieces so you can catch up even on limited time. I’ll be doing this regularly.
Courage News Funding
As of right now, the vast majority of my income comes from freelance work and contracted work. I earn very little from Courage News subscriptions.
I aim to deliver exceptional content that makes you want to subscribe and support my work. Which means I need to be in communication more, show you some more behind-the-scenes, host interactive events/chats, and give you what no one else does.
Which is exactly what I will do.
Subscribe now, free, if you haven’t already, so you get all the latest the second I release it.
Upgrade to a paid subscription for access to behind-the-scenes content I won’t post elsewhere – and know that your support will be going toward helping me break stories. I can’t do this without you.
My reputation and body of journalistic work speak for themselves, and I’m determined to keep making waves. I’m determined to keep making a difference.
Subscribe, gift, or donate a subscription, today! You’ll be able to consider yourself part of holding the powerful accountable.
If you’d like to help me pay the rent by giving more all at once, you can do so here:
Absolutely anything is appreciated!
~
Jenn
Bravo!! Counted several articles here I haven't seen anywhere else, but ones which (SHOULD!) demand attention. Keep up the good work, Jenn.