Help Build the Independent Reporting This Election Deserves
The next four months will help determine the future of American democracy.
That won’t happen in television studios.
It happens in union halls, church basements, campaign offices, community centers, college campuses, and living rooms across the country.
That’s where I intend to be.
From August through Election Day, I’m launching the largest reporting project in Mesoscale News’ history: traveling across the country to cover the 2026 midterm elections from the ground, not from behind a studio desk.
I’ll interview candidates from across the Democratic Party. I’ll challenge them when they dodge questions. I’ll speak with organizers, scientists, teachers, veterans, election officials, workers, and voters. I’ll report from races national media often overlook until they’re suddenly “surprising.”
Democracy only works when people have access to honest information, and honest, independent reporting has never been more important.
Why This Election Matters
We’ve watched attacks on science, public health, voting rights, higher education, civil liberties, climate research, and democratic institutions accelerate at a pace few imagined possible.
At Mesoscale News, I’ve spent the last several years documenting exactly that. Just in the last few months, I’ve:
Investigated the dismantling of America’s disease surveillance systems and what that means for future outbreaks.
Covered the constitutional crisis unfolding in Louisiana.
Reported on military politicization, attacks on scientific institutions, AI infrastructure, disaster preparedness, climate change, and the slow erosion of democratic norms.
Again and again, I’ve gone beyond the headlines to explain not just what happened, but why it matters.
Those stories aren’t isolated.
They’re all connected.
And now comes the next chapter.
The people asking to lead this country should answer difficult questions before they earn our votes, not afterward.
Why Me?
Long before millions of Americans knew my name, I was a scientist.
I earned a dual degree in Earth Science and Journalism from Syracuse University, and a Master of Science from Louisiana State University, where I minored in mass communication, before finishing my doctoral work at Florida State University.
My career was built on evidence, transparency, and following the data wherever it led.
When Florida attempted to manipulate COVID-19 data, I refused to stay silent.
Millions of people relied on the dashboard I built because they trusted transparent data more than political spin.
That decision changed my life forever.
Since then I’ve become one of the country’s most recognized science whistleblowers, receiving honors including Forbes Technology Person of the Year, Fortune 40 Under 40, and national recognition for transparency and public service.
Today I bring that same philosophy to journalism.
I don’t chase outrage.
I chase evidence.
I read the reports.
I verify the documents.
I interview the experts.
And when politicians refuse to answer a question, I keep asking.
That’s why more than 750,000 people follow my work across platforms.
It’s why Mesoscale News has become one of Substack’s bestselling science and environment publications.
And it’s why readers trust me to cover stories others either miss or won’t touch.
Legacy newsrooms are shrinking. Statehouse bureaus have disappeared. Science desks have been gutted.
Too much political coverage has become a horse race of fundraising numbers, polls, and campaign strategy.
Mesoscale exists to do the opposite.
When history happens, I don’t want to summarize someone else’s reporting.
I want to be there.
What We’re Building Together
This isn’t simply funding a road trip.
It’s building an independent newsroom capable of reporting where corporate media increasingly can’t—or won’t.
Every paid subscription.
Every donation.
Every ethical sponsorship.
Every share.
Every new reader.
Helps expand independent journalism.
The stronger this campaign becomes, the more races I’ll cover.
The more candidates I’ll interview.
The more communities I’ll visit.
And the more accountability we can demand from the people asking to lead this country.
Where I’ll Be
Democratic Primaries
Michigan (August 4)
Senate primary featuring Dr. Abdul El-Sayed and Rep. Haley Stevens.
Virginia’s 1st District (August 4)
One of the closest House races in America, with seven Democratic candidates competing to challenge Republican Robert Wittman.
Minnesota Senate (August 11)
Angie Craig vs. Peggy Flanagan.
Florida (August 18)
District 20: Elijah Manley vs. Debbie Wasserman Schultz
District 25: Oliver Larkin vs. Jared Moskowitz
U.S. Senate: Alexander Vindman vs. Angie Nixon
Massachusetts Senate (September 1)
Ed Markey vs. Seth Moulton.
General Election
Coverage will focus on the races most likely to determine control of Congress, prioritizing competitive House and Senate contests across Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Maine, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Virginia.
As funding grows, so will the map.
What Your Support Makes Possible
Rather than asking you to fund “travel,” I’d rather show you what your support actually accomplishes.
Every dollar goes directly toward journalism.
Not overhead.
Not executive salaries.
Not shareholders.
Reporting.
A paid subscription ($49.99 a year)
Helps cover fuel between campaign stops, keeps breaking news and daily reporting free for everyone, and supports an hour of reporting, filming, writing, and editing.
Direct Donations via PayPal or CashApp
$100
Helps fund a candidate interview or town hall visit.
$250
Covers one night of lodging while reporting in the field.
$500
Funds travel between campaign states.
$850
Fully equips the newsroom with upgraded cameras, microphones, lighting, batteries, storage, and travel equipment.
$5,360
Fully funds the entire primary reporting project across five states.
Budget Transparency
Primary Election Goal: $5,360
Reporting Equipment: $850
Portable lighting, microphones, 4K camera upgrades, backup batteries, memory cards, tripods, and a durable travel case.
Travel: $1,800
Flights, rental vehicles, fuel, parking, and transportation between campaign stops.
Lodging: $2,510
Four days in Michigan, three in Minnesota, eight in Florida, and two in Massachusetts. I’ll stay with friends whenever possible, but I’ve budgeted conservatively so coverage isn’t dependent on finding a couch.
I’ll continue publishing updates so readers know exactly how funds are being spent.
Sponsorship Opportunities
I’m also seeking partnerships with organizations that believe in independent journalism, civic engagement, science, education, environmental stewardship, and democracy.
Sponsors expand coverage.
They do not influence it.
Editorial decisions remain mine alone.
Every sponsorship will be publicly disclosed, and my reporting will remain fully independent.
If you or your organization wants to help bring trusted, on-the-ground reporting to more communities during one of the most consequential elections in modern history, I’d love to talk.
Help Send Me Where History Is Happening
For six years, millions of people have trusted me because I refused to let politics bury the truth.
That commitment hasn’t changed.
The battlefield has.
This election will shape the future of science, public health, climate policy, voting rights, civil rights, and American democracy for years to come.
I intend to be there—not after history happens, but while it’s happening.
If you’ve ever wished journalists would stop talking about voters and start talking to them...
If you’ve ever wanted someone to ask the questions politicians spend millions trying to avoid...
If you’ve ever believed independent journalism is worth fighting for...
Then help build this newsroom.
Become a paid subscriber.
Make a donation.
Sponsor the mission.
And let’s cover this election the way it deserves to be covered.