The Truth Shouldn’t Be Bought—The Power of Truth In A System with Rigged Players
Last week, we reported on how former county judge Nelson Wolff used his position during the height of the COVID-19 crisis to steer public funds into the hands of his well-connected peers. This week, we take a step back—not just to examine Wolff’s actions, but to better understand the system that shields power behind the mask of public service. Because with the right information, communities can challenge that system, hold politicians accountable, and stop it from being used for personal gain.
Throughout history, the biggest political scandals were cracked open by investigative journalists committed to truth—not tied to donors or backdoor agendas. But in today’s landscape, many so-called “non-profit newsrooms” are little more than polite fronts for political insiders and wealthy elites to control the narrative. They shape what’s published, what’s left out, and who gets burned in the process.
Bought the Narrative, Sold the People
We live in a time where media is supposed to be the buffer between the people and the powerful. Instead, it’s becoming the buffer that protects the powerful from the people. And when that happens—when stories are curated, not reported—the truth gets lost. Public opinion gets shaped. Contracts get awarded. Elections get won. All while communities suffer the fallout.
Not Just One Judge, One Story, or One Article
This isn’t just about one judge or one article. It’s about a dangerous pipeline where money, media, and government blur lines to create influence machines. It’s about millionaires funding “independent” platforms to control messaging and using journalistic credibility to sanitize political motives.
In a true democracy, voters have the right to all the facts—unfiltered, unbought, and unapologetically honest. Because if media coverage can be influenced by donations, and government contracts are awarded based on connections rather than merit, then that raises the continuing questions about how we are being governed.
