Why the Founders of America Would Have Written For American Muckrakers

By David B. Wheeler, Co-Founder American Muckrakers and Co-Host MUCK YOU! podcast.

Happy Independence Day! It may be a grim week to celebrate but I’m writing because I think there is light at the end of the tunnel. Please hear me out.

The American Muckrakers, our fierce crew of truth-diggers since 2021, are on a mission to expose corrupt politicians, shady influencers, and corporate cronies who think they’re above the law. Our investigations, lawsuits, MUCK YOU! podcast, and unfiltered Substack posts hold power to account, and I’m convinced the Founding Fathers, those champions of liberty and accountability, would be raising a glass to our work. From Washington to Jefferson, they’d see us as the press they dreamed of: bold, relentless, and vital to democracy.

The Founders’ Vision: Power Must Be Checked

The Founders built America on the principle that power must be checked. They loathed unchecked authority, whether it was a distant king or a local elite. That’s why they enshrined freedom of the press in the First Amendment. James Madison nailed it when he said, “A popular government, without popular information, is but a prologue to a farce or a tragedy.” American Muckrakers small, but determined crew, live this truth every day. If you follow us you know exposing scandals like those involving Mark Robinson that shake the powerful awake. Our work is rooted in the muckraking tradition of Ida Tarbell and Upton Sinclair and keeps democracy’s engine running, just as the Founders intended

“A popular government, without popular information, is but a prologue to a farce or a tragedy.” — James Madison

Channeling Franklin’s Grit

Think of Benjamin Franklin, a printer who used his Pennsylvania Gazette to call out corruption and spark change. When we file lawsuits or drop exposés that make headlines, we’re channeling Franklin’s grit, using truth to protect the public. When we post a MUCK YOU! podcast we’re bringing true muckrakers directly to you. The Founders didn’t want a timid press; they wanted one that made the powerful sweat. Our Substack, raw and unfiltered, delivers the kind of information Thomas Jefferson championed—free from corporate spin, empowering citizens to demand better, much like Revolutionary pamphlets rallied the colonies.

“We’re channeling Franklin’s grit, using truth to protect the public. If you want American Muckrakers in the game for 2026 & 2028, it’s time to step up and support us.”

We Need You to Keep Fighting

Here’s the rub: we can’t keep this fight alive without you. I’m pouring my heart into American Muckrakers, but without funding, I’ll be forced to find a “real job” here in Trumpland, where truth-tellers are as welcome as a skunk at a picnic.

Every subscription or donation keeps our investigations rolling, our lawsuits filed, and our Substack firing on all cylinders. Please, hit that subscribe button or donate today your support is the oxygen we need to keep exposing corruption.

Democracy’s Bedrock: An Informed Public

The Founders knew an informed public was democracy’s bedrock. Jefferson said he’d take newspapers over government any day. Our work, from breaking election-shifting stories to forcing accountability, proves the press is still the people’s watchdog. Madison would’ve been a paid Substack subscriber, no question. So, join us. Subscribe, donate, and help us keep the Founders’ vision alive, because without you, the powerful win, and I’m stuck job-hunting in a red sea of MAGA hats.

Light at the End of the Tunnel

Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill,” passed this week and I’ve now dubbed it “Bad Bad Bad Bill”, is a self-inflicted wound for Republicans. This massive tax-cut package, which slashes Medicaid and SNAP while ballooning the deficit by $3.4 trillion, has sparked outrage, with Democrats like Hakeem Jeffries calling it “cruel” and Chuck Schumer warning of electoral consequences. The bill’s cuts, expected to leave 11.8 million uninsured by 2034, alienate voters in swing districts, setting the stage for Democrats to reclaim the House and possibly flip the Senate in 2026.

On our Muck You podcast, we’ve showcased unbeatable candidates and strategies, like Welcome PAC, led by Adam Frisch, which recruits centrist Democrats who prioritize their home districts. Frisch, who nearly won Colorado’s 3rd District against BeetleJuice Boebert, is building a playbook for pragmatic candidates to win Trump-leaning seats, ensuring a Democratic wave. Colonel Moe Davis, Co-Host of MUCK YOU!, is one of those centrist pragmatic candidates that can win. With your support, we’ll keep exposing GOP overreach and amplifying these winnable voices.

David B. Wheeler is the president of American Muckrakers PAC, fighting for truth, and lives in a 80% MAGA county in Western North Carolina.

Support the Fight for Truth

Become a paid subscriber or donate now at AmericanMuckrakers.com to keep our investigations alive!

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