In a shocking turn of events that defied the expectations of political analysts and media powerhouses alike, former President Donald Trump secured an election victory that has sent shockwaves across the country. For many, this result isn’t just about politics; it’s an undeniable indication of a broader trend: the growing disconnect between mainstream media and the public they purport to serve.
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Mainstream Media’s Dwindling Trust and Engagement
For years, mainstream media has been viewed as a cornerstone of American democracy. However, this perception has been shifting. According to a 2024 Gallup poll, trust in mainstream media has hit a record low, with only 26% of Americans expressing confidence in national news organizations. This erosion of trust is echoed by declining ratings and readership. For instance, CNN’s prime-time audience has plummeted by 40% in recent years, while other major outlets, like MSNBC and The Washington Post, have also experienced significant declines in viewership and subscriptions.
The 2024 election is the latest sign that these trends have real consequences. Despite consistent negative coverage of Trump by major outlets, his support among voters remained resilient, suggesting that audiences were tuning out mainstream narratives in favor of alternative perspectives.
The Independent Surge
This shift in public sentiment can be traced to the rise of independent journalism and podcasts. A 2023 Pew Research Center report highlighted that nearly 60% of U.S. adults now get their news from social media and independent platforms, bypassing traditional networks entirely. Influential podcasters like Joe Rogan and independent journalists on platforms like Substack have reached millions with content that challenges mainstream narratives.
The numbers are telling. Substack, which had a modest start in 2017, now hosts over a million paid subscribers across its publications, with top writers earning substantial incomes rivaling those of mainstream columnists. The surge is not only a testament to a hunger for alternative voices but also an indication that audiences are looking for more personalized and less filtered news experiences.
My Journey from Mainstream to Independent Journalism
As someone who worked in mainstream media for 25 years, I witnessed firsthand the gradual shift from investigative reporting to agenda-driven narratives. The disconnect between newsrooms and the real world became apparent during major political and social events, where newsroom discussions often mirrored the echo chambers of social media rather than the sentiments of everyday Americans.
The decision to leave my $110,000-a-year job and go independent wasn’t made lightly. It was rooted in the realization that audiences were craving authenticity and stories that challenged conventional wisdom. The final push came when I recognized that traditional media outlets were more invested in preserving the status quo than in holding power accountable and presenting unbiased news.
Since going independent, I have built a dedicated following of nearly 900,000 across major social platforms. My subscribers on Locals and Substack have grown steadily, demonstrating that people are willing to support independent voices that prioritize transparency and truth over ratings.
Why Mainstream Media is Struggling to Adapt
The mainstream media’s decline can be attributed to several factors:
Homogenized Content: Many major outlets cover stories with the same angles, making it difficult for readers to find fresh perspectives.
Perceived Bias: A 2024 report by Reuters Institute revealed that 55% of Americans believe mainstream media coverage is biased toward a specific political ideology, further driving audiences to seek balanced or differing viewpoints elsewhere.
The Rise of Digital Creators: Independent journalists and digital creators are leveraging technology to deliver content faster, with fewer barriers and more direct interaction with their audiences. The podcast industry alone saw a 20% growth in 2023, with more people listening to news podcasts than ever before.
The Future of Journalism
The results of the election and the continued rise of independent media underscore a vital lesson: audiences are demanding more than pre-packaged narratives. They want authenticity, engagement, and news that speaks to their concerns without political or corporate influence.
I saw this writing on the wall and made the leap into independent journalism to be part of the change. It’s a challenging path, marked by uncertainty and risk, but it’s one that offers freedom and aligns with the evolving landscape of media consumption. The shift toward independent journalism is not just a trend—it’s a transformation, and it’s reshaping the future of news as we know it.
For those willing to adapt, the opportunities are immense. For those who don’t, the election of 2024 serves as a powerful reminder that staying out of touch comes at a cost. The media landscape is changing, and for many, that change is long overdue.
Michigan House Bill 5711, which would roll back the state’s clean energy mandates for utilities, has cleared the House Energy Committee and is headed to the full House for a vote.
If approved there, it would move to the Senate for consideration.
🚨The Village of Birch Run, Michigan doesn’t record or live stream their public meetings. They’re not legally required to, but I think it would be something good to do for transparency. I talked to the village president who did not want to touch the issue.
The USGS says a magnitude 2.9 earthquake hit about 7 km south southeast of Amherstburg, Canada, just across from the Detroit area. It happened at a shallow depth of about 2 km.
Did you feel anything in Mid Michigan or Metro Detroit?
No livestream. No recording. No transparency. So I showed up. St. Charles, Michigan school board. Know a school board or local government keeping meetings off camera? Tell me where to go next.
Thank-you for being here. M to F I send out this morning email. The stories they don’t want you to see.
SOS Benson’s Past Ties to SPLC Draw Scrutiny Amid Federal Investigation Allegations
LANSING, Mich. – Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, a Democrat who is running for governor, isn’t shy about her longtime ties to the now federally-indicted Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC).
The left-leaning SPLC is under a U.S. Department of Justice criminal investigation, and faces 11 counts related to wire fraud, bank fraud, and money laundering. It centers on the SPLC paying people to infiltrate groups like the Ku Klux Klan and Neo-Nazi organizations in order to incite racial unrest. These are the very groups the SPLC said they fought against.
The Michigan Fair Elections Institute (MFEI) stressed that Benson’s affiliation with the SPLC wasn’t “peripheral.” It said, “By her own account, [Benson] worked at the organization as an undercover operative in the late 1990s, going so far as to pose as a freelance journalist to gain access to neo-Nazi leaders and white supremacist groups.” Click here to read more.
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FBI looks into dead or missing nuclear and space defense scientists tied to NASA, Blue Origin, and SpaceX
Almost a dozen scientists related to nuclear and space defense programs tied to NASA, SpaceX, and Blue Origin are dead or missing in cases as far back as 2022, and they’ve gone largely unnoticed by authorities and the public—until now.
The House Oversight Committee formally demanded answers from four federal agencies Monday on the deaths and disappearances of at least 11 American scientists and researchers with ties to NASA, nuclear research, and classified defense programs—several of them directly connected to the space defense technologies now being commercialized by SpaceX and Blue Origin.
Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) and Rep. Eric Burlison (R-Mo.), the chair of the Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Energy Policy, and Regulatory Affairs, sent letters to FBI Director Kash Patel, Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, requesting staff-level briefings no later than April 27. Click here to read more.
Alabama boy’s secret Facebook post asking for cancer drug grabs national attention
RALPH, Ala. - An Alabama teenager took a chance on Wednesday, filming a two-minute video on his mom’s Facebook page without his parents knowing.
He didn’t expect what happened next.
Will Roberts, 15, lives in Ralph, an unincorporated community in Tuscaloosa County. He’s fighting for his life against stage 4 bone cancer, called osteosarcoma, which has spread throughout his body.
“From a parent’s aspect, you’re just getting by day to day in hopes that this miraculous treatment is advanced in the time that you’re allowed to fight every day,” said Will’s mother, Brittney. Click here to read more.
Appeals court keeps Florida’s ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ open
ORLANDO, Fla. — A federal appeals court ruled Tuesday that the immigration detention facility in the Florida Everglades known as “Alligator Alcatraz” can continue operating, overturning a lower court’s order that had required it to begin winding down.
In a 2-1 decision, a three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals found that the state-run center did not trigger requirements for a federal environmental review. The majority said Florida officials built and control the facility on state land, without sufficient federal involvement to invoke the National Environmental Policy Act.
“Florida, not the federal government, controls the site and bore the full cost of construction,” the opinion stated. At the time of the district court’s injunction last August, no federal reimbursement had been provided, the panel noted. Click here to read more.
Fairfax Schools’ ‘Equity’ Calendar and Its Classroom Consequences
In January 2022, Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) adopted a calendar containing fewer five-day school weeks and more early release days with the explicitly stated goals of “equity and inclusion.”
At that time, the 12 Democratic-endorsed school board members also voted to decouple spring break from Easter—a terrible idea that lasted only a year—as part of broader efforts to create a more “equitable” school calendar.
FCPS’s updated calendar further recognizes several religious and cultural holidays, including Eid al-Adha, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Día de los Muertos, Diwali, Bodhi Day, Three Kings Day/Epiphany, Orthodox Christmas, Orthodox Epiphany, Lunar New Year, Ramadan, Good Friday, Theravada, Orthodox Good Friday/Last Night of Passover and Eid al-Fitr. Click here to read more.
