Can you please read this long email about the future of funding news outlets and what it means for our country and democracy.

Friend, no news media outlet, whether it is print, digital, public, award-winning, niche, or general interest, has been able to escape the financial hardships that have plagued the industry. That includes the legacy newspaper, the Baltimore Sun, that was just bought by conservative millionaire [David Smith.]( [Daily Kos doesn't have a billionaire backer to help us make ends meet—and that's how we like it, but we need your help. Donate $5 or more to support Daily Kos.]( [DONATE]( A Baltimore media critic, David Zurawik, saw the sale as "a sad and politically dangerous development not just for Baltimore media but for the city.” That's because Smith also happens to be the Chairman of the conservative-leaning [Sinclair, Inc](which owns 193 local television stations across the country. He has also given [hundreds of thousands of dollars to ultra-right wing organizations]( like Project Veritas, Turning Point USA, and Moms for Liberty. This is the problem with billionaire backers. Their money may save a newsroom, but at what cost to the integrity of the journalism? Too often billionaires come purse strings to control the bias and influence the narrative of the news. Daily Kos hasn't been able to escape the financial hardships that have hit some many other news outlets. In fact, 2023 was the most difficult year in our 20-year history. While we were forced to make deep financial cuts and other changes in hopes of improving our revenue, we never lost sight of our mission. Instead of turning to some billionaire for help, we asked our readers and activists to donate a few dollars at a time to help us continue our work. It's likely that Daily Kos wouldn't have been able to continue to provide the news you trust and the effective actions you rely on without the support of our readers and activists. Over the last few years, grassroots donations have become our largest source of revenue to cover our operating expenses. And honestly, we prefer it this way because it makes us accountable to you—the Daily Kos community—not to some billionaire or corporation with their own agenda. We know that in order to keep operating, we have to fight and deliver for what you believe in. [Daily Kos exists to deliver progressive news and fight for democracy by giving our readers and activists the information and resources needed to create impactful change. We need your help to continue our work. Please donate $5 right now to Daily Kos.]( [DONATE]( Thank you for all you do, Amanda McKay, Daily Kos If you wish to donate by mail instead, please send a check to Daily Kos, PO Box 70036, Oakland, CA, 94612. Contributions to Daily Kos are not tax deductible. Sent via [ActionNetwork.org](. To update your email address, change your name or address, or to stop receiving emails from Daily Kos, please [click here](.