The Lever - Here Is Proof That Pressure Works

Friends:

Once again, our reader-supported investigative reporting has helped deliver results. On Tuesday, we revealed that after raking in huge money from oil and gas interests, New York’s Democratic governor Kathy Hochul tried to help those donors gut her state’s climate law. A day after our report, Hochul’s office walked back the plan, saying it was no longer a priority.

Hochul’s change of heart is not just a matter of local politics. New York boasts one of the largest economies in the world. Had Hochul had succeeded in weakening the law, it would have meant more carbon emissions, and encouraged other states to weaken their own climate policies.

This is just the latest example of how our accountability journalism is delivering change. From exposing former New York governor Andrew Cuomo’s nursing home massacre, to giving the president ammunition to fight the scourge of dark money, to pressuring Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to crack down on the airline industry and prioritize new rail safety rules, our reporting is making a huge impact.

Our small team is breaking big stories thanks to the support of our subscribers.

Once again, thank you for being part of our team. You helped deliver this moment of triumph — and with your support, we aim to deliver many more.

Rock the boat.