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Folks,
We're in Flint, Michigan all weekend reporting and interviewing residents on YouTube.com/StatusCoup (press ALL NOTIFICATIONS) following the publication of our MAJOR Status Coup investigation that shows the state of Michigan broke key EPA regulations during Flint water lead testing from 2016 through today by flushing residents water lines right before sampling. To break it down in plain English: state officials went into homes and let water run—in some cases for 10-15 minutes before collecting samples—which dramatically and artificially lowers lead levels and. As Erin Brockovich told us in our piece: "The only reason to do this would be to obtain a clear sample and report false information."
How did we break this story, you might be wondering? By doing something RADICAL in today's journalism. Jenn and I knocked on over 400 doors this summer and spoke with 140 residents. This was before we officially launched Status Coup and we did it by bleeding into our very small, individual personal savings. THAT'S HOW MUCH WE CARE.
In response to our story, Rep. Ro Khanna and Rep. Tulsi Gabbard are calling for an immediate investigation and a re-opening of free water bottle distribution in Flint. We have calls in to other politicians who may be able to take action. Celebrities like Susan Sarandon—aka the woman who elected Donald Trump—are also outraged. We're actively working on drawing more media attention to this (not an easy task with midterm mania but we're working on it!). The Ring of Fire and progressive host Jamarl Thomas did a great recap on this and we're told some other outlets may be covering our investigation as well. Lastly, the EPA is looking into our report as well. We're not naive to think they will take action without pressure...so we are working on creating that pressure as well.
This kind of investigative and Disappearing Middle Class reporting is what Status Coup was born to create. We need your support to do much more. From Flint, we'll be headed to Wisconsin for Tuesday's pivotal midterm election—where one of the most extreme, corrupt Republicans in America is on the verge of losing (and progressive Randy Bryce is in a close race to replace corrupt Paul Ryan).
As of this writing, our GoFundMe has raised nearly $19,000 from 268 amazing supporters in less than two months. Our goal for November is to reach $25,000. This money is going toward in-the-field reporting on stories corporate—and many independent outlets — won't dare touch (funds also go to equipment, marketing, and eventually--hiring more people!).
We aren't telling you what we're going to do: we're SHOWING YOU. Thanks to your GoFundMe support, we've been able to report in Dallas, Flint and Wisconsin for the midterms. Past that, we have an ambitious fall and winter in mind with in-the-field reporting ideas on environmental genocide, local and state corruption, and corporate behemoths using workers as machines.
If each person who reads this email pitches in $5, we can pass our November goal quickly! If you don't have the means, please share our GoFundMe!
Thanks for your continued support. Remember to check out our new website and enter your email!
Jordan
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