Two days in and some things we know for sure

I can’t shake the image of the president being sworn in, flanked by some of the richest men in the world. The tech billionaires surrounding Donald Trump on Monday have all had a hand – some more than others – in degrading the local and national media landscape, resulting in fewer sources of trustworthy information and the proliferation of dangerous falsehoods. We’re entering an unprecedented era of misinformation, ushered in and celebrated by those in power.  

But it doesn’t have to be this way. It’s possible for news organizations to be independent and trustworthy – and for workers and community members to have a real say in how they’re run. That’s what we’re doing here at The 51st.

The dust had barely settled from the spectacle of the inauguration when D.C. began to face the implications of his second term; federal workers –many of whom are our neighbors – are now grappling with uncertainty in their jobs, while immigrants and their families are facing unconstitutional threats. And this is only week one.

We can’t predict what will come in a month or a year, but acknowledging the reality of our challenges is the first step toward building something better. 

As we do this with you, we want to remind you of a few things we know for sure: 

The best antidote to hopelessness is action. We want to serve as a connector, sharing ways to help and plug in.

Everyone is more resilient in community. Fear and despair thrive in isolation—we weren’t meant to do this alone. We’ll keep highlighting events and fun things happening around the city, too.

The 51st is growing. Our part-time team of six is working hard to publish weekly and serve you better. Thanks to a growing number of monthly supporters, we’re funded through mid-year and as more of you join we're building toward a sustainable future. We want to be able to expand to cover more of this city.  

There’s so much more we want to do — and that’s only possible when more readers become paying members.

We’re asking: How do we make it through this moment and build something better together? We have some ideas, but we know the answers lie with you. Will you join us?

If you're already a monthly subscriber and want to support extra with a one-time donation, you can do that here.

With love and solidarity,

Maddie Poore & The 51st Team