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.
If you are not a paid subscriber become one here--- davebondy.locals.com/support
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.
This is video of one of the meteors taken from a home in Waterford, Michigan. Thanks to John for the video.
Intense wind, rain and lightening in Saginaw County, Michigan. #storms #michiganwesther
This is taxpayer money. https://substack.com/@rtmp/note/p-192159326?r=m9vqj&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=notes-share-action
Michigan school, streets might change names after New York Times report on Cesar E. Chavez
The names of some Michigan streets and a school might change after a recent New York Times story alleged that Cesar E. Chavez abused young girls.
Five streets and a school in Michigan are named after the American labor union and political activist who co-founded United Farm Workers in 1962. Chavez died in 1993, but a March 18 news article named two women and alluded to several others who have come forward to allege he sexually abused them.
The city of Lansing is having conversations about renaming its street in Old Town, Scott Bean, director of communications and senior advisor to Lansing Mayor Andy Schor, told Michigan Capitol Confidential in an email that outlined Lansing’s street-naming policy. Click here to read more.
14-year-old girl with ‘lengthy’ criminal history strikes police vehicle in stolen vehicle
BALTIMORE — A stolen car slammed into a Baltimore police patrol vehicle during a chase in West Baltimore around 1 a.m. on April Fool’s Day, then crashed again at a dead end as officers tried to stop it.
Audio from the scene captured an officer describing the initial impact: “That vehicle did sideswipe the front of my vehicle when I saw it.”
Police said the stolen car didn’t get far before ending at a dead end and hitting the patrol vehicle again. One suspect got away, with an officer reporting, “The passenger ran on foot going northbound on Ashburton.” Click here to read more.
Michigan Attorney General calls for action as Consumers Energy seeks another rate increase
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is continuing to question Michigan’s energy companies, as Consumers Energy, one of the largest utilities in the state, seeks yet another increase to its electrical rates.
The Department of Attorney General released a statement on Monday, reaffirming Nessel’s commitment to intervening in all major rate cases before state energy regulators, slamming Consumers Energy for filing a new rate case within seven days of the Michigan Public Service Commission approving its last increase.
“The rate hike just approved by the MPSC hasn’t even taken effect yet, and Consumers Energy is already gearing up to reach back into the pockets of Michigan families,” Nessel said. “Ratepayers don’t have a choice in who they buy their energy from, yet our utility companies still choose to make these relentless and unsustainable rate hike demands year after year. Announcing plans to file what we expect to be a new multi-hundred-million-dollar request just seven days after securing a nearly $280 million hike proves how truly broken this system has become.” Click here to read more.
Services Demand Surges to Three-Year High Despite Rising Energy Costs
New orders for services rose to their highest level in more than three years in March, the Institute for Supply Management reported Monday, as strong demand across the economy proved resilient to the spike in energy prices driven by the U.S.-Israel military campaign against Iran.
The ISM index for the services sector registered 54 percent, down from 56.1 percent in February but still comfortably in expansion territory for the 21st consecutive month. The slight pullback in the headline number masked what was arguably the most important signal in the report: the barometer of new order surged to its highest reading since February 2023. Click here to read more.
Mom accused of faking 3-year-old’s illnesses, leading to unnecessary medical treatments
GLEN ROSE, Texas - A Texas mother accused of child medical abuse is facing multiple charges.
In an 18-page arrest affidavit, Tarrant County investigators said 31-year-old Kaitlyn Laura subjected her 3-year-old son to severe and ongoing medical abuse.
Detectives said for months, Laura claimed her son had serious conditions, such as stomach issues, trouble walking and even cerebral palsy.
For years, he was fed through a tube and kept in a wheelchair, but doctors never diagnosed any of it.
Investigators said, at one point, the child was on 17 different medications, eating less than 1,000 calories a day and consuming dog food. Click here to read more.
UM ‘researcher’ from China jumps to his death on campus after questioning by feds
A Chinese University of Michigan “researcher” jumped to his death from a building on campus last month after he was questioned by federal officials, sparking demands for an investigation by the Chinese government.
Neither the University of Michigan nor the U.S. government have released any details on the death.
“We are reaching out to share the sad news of the death of an assistant research scientist employed in the lab of Zetian Mi, who fell from an upper story of the GG Brown building last night,” read a March 20 internal email from UM’s Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department cited by both World Socialist Web Site and Eye on Digital Chain.
Ten days later, the Chinese Consulate General in Chicago confirmed the incident followed “questioning by US law enforcement personnel.” Click here to read more.
Number of public-school employees reaches 18-year high
Michigan K-12 public schools have more employees now than at any point in the last 18 years, according to the state’s Center for Educational Performance and Information. The number of students decreased by more than 180,000 over that period. The spike in headcount was largely a byproduct of a hiring spree during Gov. Whitmer’s COVID-era lockdowns.
Public schools employed 381,571 people in the 2024-25 school year, according to MI School Data, operated by the state of Michigan. By comparison, Michigan public schools had 338,216 employees in the 2007-08 year, the earliest year for which online records are available. The extra 33,355 employees represents an increase of nearly 10%.
Public schools shed more than 180,000 students during that same time, but taxpayers got no relief from the reduced workload as the state hired up during its reaction to COVID-19. Click here to read more.
Yes, other states are building much more housing than Michigan
Even the biggest opponents of a bill to make zoning less burdensome agree that local zoning rules prevent the housing people want from getting built. In response to a bill to preempt local governments rules that prohibit most types of housing to be built, local government advocates introduced their own legislation to subsidize local governments that loosen building rules.
The interest group also says that there is no problem to be solved with bills to let people build more housing. They argue that Michigan already builds more than other states. The state “has permitted more new housing every year, while Florida, Texas, and the U.S. as a whole have permitted less,” its spokesman argues. Click here to read more.
Student suspended for pro-ICE flyer while NEA spends $1.7M to help anti-ICE protests
WASHINGTON — A student at Torrey Pines High School in San Diego was suspended after posting a pro-Immigration and Customs Enforcement flyer reading, “We [heart] ICE – Real Americans,” following an anti-ICE walkout on campus, according to the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression.
Student-led anti-ICE walkouts have continued to rise nationwide. In 2026 alone, more than 300 such walkouts and protests have taken place. Various organizations have led training programs within K–12 schools, and the National Education Association has provided $1.7 million in funding to a May Day 2026 training toolkit that includes anti-U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement messaging, according to an investigation by Defending Education.
A “Four Weeks of Power” training series is organized and led by Free the Future, the Alliance to Reclaim Our Schools, New York University’s Steinhardt Metro Center and the Midwest Academy. Click here to read more.
The California Exodus Grows as Affordability Crisis Pushes Residents Out
The California Exodus is quickening, and it turns out the people leaving don’t have to wander too long to find a new promised land.
That’s the takeaway from several recent reports showing that the population decline in California is becoming extreme, but that the people who choose to leave the state are finding life much better—certainly more affordable—elsewhere.
Census data published in late March highlighted a dramatic population drop in Los Angeles County from 2024 to 2025.
“The region recorded the largest population drop of any in the nation between July 2024 and July 2025, according to newly released estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau,” the New York Post reported. “The data, published March 26, shows roughly 54,000 residents left the county during that one-year period. The losses mark a continuation of a steady slide for the nation’s most populous county.” Click here to read more.
