Investigative Journalists
The journalists who hold power accountable — uncovering the systems of money, influence, and secrecy that shape American democracy and inform active citizenship.
Jane Mayer
Staff Writer, The New Yorker
Investigative journalist exposing the hidden systems of political power and money in America
Ryan Grim
Co-Founder, Drop Site News
Political reporter uncovering the inner workings of Congress, the progressive movement, and institutional power
Glenn Greenwald
Co-Founder, The Intercept
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who broke the Edward Snowden NSA surveillance story
The Washington Post
Bob Woodward
The Washington Post
The most famous investigative journalist of the Watergate era, uncovering the Nixon administration's abuses of power and transforming American journalism.
RAND Corporation / The Pentagon Papers
Daniel Ellsberg
RAND Corporation / The Pentagon Papers
The military analyst who leaked the Pentagon Papers — the secret history of the Vietnam War — changing the course of American history and defining whistleblowing for a generation.
The Washington Post
Carl Bernstein
The Washington Post
The Pulitzer Prize-winning Washington Post reporter who, alongside Bob Woodward, uncovered the Watergate scandal that brought down a presidency.
Gil Duran
Independent Journalist — The Nerd Reich
Investigative journalist tracking the rise of tech authoritarianism and how Silicon Valley billionaires are working to replace democracy with corporate autocracy.
Ken Klippenstein
Independent Journalist (formerly The Intercept)
Investigative reporter exposing national security secrets through FOIA battles and deep-source reporting
Krystal Ball
Co-host, Breaking Points
Co-host of Breaking Points — the fastest-growing independent news show in America — and former MSNBC host fighting for a working-class political revolution.
Kyle Kulinski
Host, Secular Talk — Co-founder, Justice Democrats
Host of The Kyle Kulinski Show (Secular Talk) and co-founder of Justice Democrats — a leading progressive voice holding both parties accountable.
Mehdi Hasan
Founder & Editor-in-Chief, Zeteo
Award-winning British-American journalist, founder of Zeteo, former MSNBC anchor — known for his relentless, fact-driven interview style that holds power accountable.
Cenk Uygur
Founder & CEO, TYT Network
Founder and host of The Young Turks — the largest online news show in the world — and co-founder of Justice Democrats, the PAC that launched the progressive wave.
Ana Kasparian
Co-host & Executive Producer, The Young Turks
Co-host and executive producer of The Young Turks — a leading progressive voice known for sharp commentary on politics, media, and social justice.
Anderson Cooper
Anchor, CNN — Anderson Cooper 360°
Anchor of Anderson Cooper 360° & 60 Minutes correspondent
Hemu Rahman
Interval News
Founder of Interval News — fighting censorship and surfacing suppressed headlines that mainstream media won't touch.
Why This Matters for Civic Literacy
A functioning democracy depends on a free press that investigates power, exposes corruption, and informs the public. Understanding who holds power — and how they use it — is the foundation of informed citizenship.
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