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🎤 Meet The Soundcheck Fund’s First Cohort
We’ve been talking for a while about the Soundcheck Fund—our plan to give independent creators early support to test the mic and fine-tune their message.
Here’s the why: if we’re going to defeat fascism, the collapsing corporate media model has to give way. Access journalism, monopoly gatekeeping, and cultivated cynicism helped land us here. The Soundcheck Fund exists to build what replaces it.
We’re awarding $500–$1,000 micro-grants to creators, storytellers, and digital voices pushing back on extremism and disinformation—and producing original work that informs, agitates, and inspires on the issues that define our democracy. We’ll also use our platform to amplify their work.
To our paid subscribers: you said you wanted to be part of the solution. You are.
Meet our first honorees:
Gabe Sanchez [ [link removed] ]
Gabe is the writer-host behind What Was That?, a sharp, satirical news show that cuts through the chaos to make sense of politics. Expect punchy explainers and accountability reporting that land with humor—and receipts.
Check out Gabe’s work → [link removed] [ [link removed] ]
Organizer Memes [ [link removed] ]
Organizer Memes turns breaking news into rapid-response memes that travel fast across the progressive internet—boosting candidates, campaigns, and causes in real time. They also train groups on how to “meme-ify” policy so it actually spreads.
Check out Memes’ work → [link removed] [ [link removed] ]
McKenzie Ortiz [ [link removed] ]
Pedestrian Pride makes engaging, educational videos that amplify non-drivers and working-class commuters—pushing for safer, more accessible streets. McKenzie creates community-rooted advocacy that meets people where they are and shows what better could look like.
Check out McKenzie’s work → [link removed] [ [link removed] ]
Aurea Bolaños Perea [ [link removed] ]
Aurea is a Spanish-speaking Latine communicator and reproductive-justice advocate who creates clear, culturally fluent political content—and calls out mis/disinformation targeting her community. Her work blends organizing, media training, and storytelling to move people from fear to action.
Check out Aurea’s work → tiktok.com/@aurea_bp [ [link removed] ]
Gina DiVittorio [ [link removed] ]
Gina runs The Pocket Report, a fast, funny, on-your-phone news brief that breaks down politics with wit and clarity—often on location and always on deadline. Think smart explainer journalism with a comedian’s timing and a big, loyal audience.
Check out Gina’s work → [link removed] [ [link removed] ]
We’re thrilled about this first group—and the next ones coming. We’re building an ecosystem of independent creators. We’ve shouted about this for years; now we’re doing it. We couldn’t do it without your paid subscriptions, which let us keep investing in the program.
Thank you. Together we’ll beat the fascist threat and rewrite the rules of modern media. We don’t want the old democracy back; we want a stronger, fairer, more just one—and we’ll settle for nothing less.
Want in?
Check out the Soundcheck Fund → [ [link removed] ] [🔗] [ [link removed] ]
If you’re a creator (or know one) with something real to say, we want to hear it.
Apply here → [ [link removed] ] [ [link removed] ][🔗] [ [link removed] ]
(You can also nominate someone who deserves a mic.)
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