Honey, We’re Selling The Government

This is Lever Weekly, a recap of our work from the past week. If you only read one email from us all week, this should be it.

Here’s what The Lever published this week:

🪫 The Red State Workers Caught In Trump’s EV Battle. Many clean energy boom towns voted for Trump. Will his administration put them at risk as they fight to save their factories — and protect their workers’ health?

🔋 BONUS: On The Line In The Battery Belt. Dig deeper into this story with a bonus report for paid subscribers. Hear from EV plant workers about the risks, rewards, and uncertainties of working toward “the future of the automotive industry” amid Trump-related upheaval. 

The Battle For Musk’s Lair. States are quietly weakening corporate accountability to lure Elon Musk and other business interests.

How To Combat The Information War. Fox News just screamed the quiet part — and told a brutal truth.

Trump Removes “Zombie” Pipeline Safety Rules. The administration has withdrawn carbon dioxide pipeline regulations inspired by a horrific gas leak, and a former industry lobbyist is now overseeing such matters.

The Firefighting Fire Sale. After U.S. Forest Service layoffs, will for-profit contractors protect you from wildfires?

Making Tax Day Expensive Again. While raking in campaign cash from tax prep companies, the GOP is trying to kill a free filing system and gut IRS customer service.

Google’s New Private Tax. With little fear of competition, the tech giant is jacking up prices for its cloud-based software as it aims for another monopoly.

Musk’s Empire Is Reaping $2 Million Per Day From Trump. While the billionaire is touting cuts to the government, the new administration has already delivered $86 million to Musk’s rocket company since the inauguration.

Ted Cruz Just Legalized More Corruption. How the Texas senator’s latest money-in-politics scheme could increase the price of cars.

The Gas Station Wars. The environmental disasters on every street corner are prompting a local backlash.

LIVE EVENT REPLAY: Billionaires Get Tax Cuts — What’s Left For Us?. A special virtual live event with Accountable.US.

The Planet Is Heating Up Whether You Care Or Not. People say they care about climate change. Why won’t they talk about it?

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🔌 A secret society is fleecing you. New data show that in the last three years, private corporate utilities have jacked up electricity rates 49 percent more than the rate of inflation, while publicly owned utilities have raised rates 44 percent less than the inflation rate. Since private companies provide 70 percent of American electricity, this scheme is probably ripping you off right now. Blame state regulators — and this secret society of consultants.

😢 Private equity killed the craft store. Joann Fabric is going out of business — despite previously announcing it would keep some stores open — after the legacy craft store was auctioned off to the private equity firm GA Group, which has decided to strip it for parts. The only chain options left for crafty people now are Michaels — acquired by private equity giant Apollo Global Management in 2021 — and Hobby Lobby, owned by conservative billionaire Trump supporters.

🤑 Elon’s already cashing in. After dropping nearly $300 million supporting Trump and his allies in 2024, Musk’s personal wealth has increased 50 percent since Election Day, sending his net worth soaring toward $400 billion. Moreover, Musk’s businesses have gained a combined $613 billion in valuation since Nov. 5, according to a Bloomberg analysis. In the words of the inimitable economist Richard D. Wolff, it pays to buy a U.S. President.

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Every week, we bring paid subscribers a newsletter full of good news — policy wins, environmental victories, and initiatives that are improving your life. This week, your fruit bowl comes to the rescue, a traffic tax hits the jackpot, anti-abortion activists get buffered, and the Granite State goes green. 

Lever Leaders provide us with our highest level of support and score additional perks in return, including an annual gift of limited-edition Lever merchandise, a yearly gift subscription for friends and family, and access to an exclusive Lever staff meeting for a sneak peek at our future plans. Every week, we highlight folks who’ve taken that step:

• Luis R.: “Good journalism is indeed needed to hold power accountable, so I'd like to support it.”
• Sean V.

• The Financial Diet — David Sirota joined the personal finance-focused YouTube channel to explain how the government and the economy are rigged against working people.
• ZDF — The German public-service television broadcaster featured our reporting on Biden’s farewell warnings about the master plan.
• Uprise RI — The publication used our reporting as an example of how independent journalism can thrive outside of corporate control in the wake of Jeff Bezos turning The Washington Post’s editorial page into his personal propaganda machine.
• MSN — The news site highlighted our scoop on DOGE slapping firefighters’ credit cards with a $1 spending limit. 
• AlterNet — The independent news website amplified our reporting about the Trump administration slashing firefighting resources.
• Canary Media — The climate-focused publication featured our reporting on Trump’s move to weaken carbon dioxide pipeline safety regulations.
• East End Beacon — The local publication featured our reporting on the chemical lobby’s move to obscure safety disclosures for chemical risks.