Take the risks that seem worth taking.

A defining moment, x3.   [Mother Jones + The Center for Investigative Reporting]( MoJo Reader, Straight to the point: We had a few bad days for our fundraising last week, so we need to be laser-focused on [the donations we need]( as part of our First $500,000 fundraising drive. It looks like you’ve not donated to Mother Jones before, and we know that many of you simply can’t afford to. We get that and appreciate you the same! You can [get a free sticker]( to help us reach more people. But if you can [part with $5, $35, or $50](, it would mean the world to us right now. Journalism is [in trouble](, and key to our success is being able to [earn the support]( of more regular readers. This is a huge, defining moment for us. We just took a big swing and merged with the Center for Investigative Reporting to bring fearless investigative journalism to the internet, radio, video, and feature films—everywhere that people need an antidote to lies and propaganda. It’s such a strong pairing, and we have a solid plan and decades of experience at scraping by year after year, thanks to being funded primarily by people who believe in the power of investigative reporting to bring about change. Already, the team has been knocking it out of the park: publishing [sweeping]( [investigations](, told in so many powerful ways. We’ve won [quite a few]( [prestigious awards]( this spring, too, including three Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Awards, a George Polk Award, and a Webby for best creator (a big deal) for Garrison Hayes. We’ve seen our work have tremendous impact, resulting in a new law in Utah, allowing clergy members who learn of ongoing child abuse during a confession to [report it to police without fear of legal retaliation](, as well as [a settlement]( between the California attorney general and the University of Phoenix for unlawful recruitment of military veterans brought to light years ago by Reveal. That’s exactly how it’s supposed to work. But the slow few days for our fundraising last week have the two of us concerned about [the donations we need](. We simply cannot afford to come up short right now. And that makes this a rubber-meets-road email for us: If you can [part with even just a few bucks](, it would give us a powerful signal that we can keep going hard at the biggest stories. This is a huge, defining moment for American democracy. The unbelievable possibility of another Trump term is terrifying for [lots]( [of]( [reasons]( we won’t [go into]( here. It’s surreal: A twice-impeached, coup-leading, several-times-indicted former president, who isn’t shy about his intentions, could well rise to power again. It should be more shocking than it is. This is a huge, defining moment for journalism. Newsrooms are shuttering or shriveling, resulting in fewer journalists digging around even as they’re needed like never before, and too many big national outlets won’t stand up to bullies and bullsh*t. This isn’t business as usual. We’re in uncharted territory. When it feels like the very notion of truth and accountability is at risk, there are two paths. Hunker down and retrench, or try to bust out and do something new. You will absolutely not be surprised that Mother Jones chose the latter. Because that’s what you, our readers, have always chosen. Take the risks that seem worth taking when the status quo doesn’t cut it and doing so can lead to something big. We have the journalism part down. Now we need to rise to the moment and [pay for it](. This is a big email for us. It will tell us a lot as we ask you to [back us with a donation]( so we can reach our First $500,000 goal by June 22. After today, we’ll either see that we have some immediate regrouping to do, or [a lot of people will pitch in]( and show that those slow days last week were just a blip. A [gift of $5, $50, or $500]( would mean the world to us all the same. It really matters right now. There’s more about our merger and this wild moment, including why we’re optimistic despite the challenges, in “[Less Dreading, More Doing](,” and we recommend [skipping straight to an awesome video summary]( from Garrison Hayes so you can feel the excitement like we do. It’s so inspiring, in a way our words on this screen you’re reading them on can never be. [Mother Jones]( Thanks for reading, and for everything you do to make Mother Jones what it is. Monika Bauerlein CEO Brian Hiatt Online Membership Director [Donate](   [Mother Jones]( [Donate]( [Donate Monthly]( [Subscribe]( This message was sent to {EMAIL}. To change the messages you receive from us, you can [edit your email preferences]( or [unsubscribe from all mailings.]( For advertising opportunities see our online [media kit.]( Were you forwarded this email? [Sign up for Mother Jones' newsletters today.]( [www.MotherJones.com]( PO Box 8539, Big Sandy, TX 75755