A Difficult Holiday

Thanksgiving is an increasingly difficult holiday to rationalize. To those celebrating, OptOut extends our warmest wishes. Enjoy the family time, the food, and the reprieve from work (if you can).

But we would also like to recognize that today marks the National Day of Mourning to remember Indigenous peoples genocided by European colonizers. For many, today represents a solemn reminder of our nation’s darkest chapters—genocide, degradation, forced displacement, and broken promises to the land’s original inhabitants.

For more:

Unthanksgiving Day

A celebration of Indigenous resistance to colonialism, held yearly at Alcatraz.

Earth Island JournalShannon Toll

Meet the Indigenous leader using psychedelic medicine to heal the traumas of colonization

Indigenous leader Rueben George is working to bring the healing potential of psychedelic medicine to his people and eventually everyone.

Waging NonviolenceJames K. Rowe

That legacy continues to this day. For example, Indigenous women are significantly more likely to die in child birth than white women. A significant number of missing persons cases involving Indigenous people are unsolved. Indigenous communities have consistently some of the highest poverty rates in the country. Existing inequities were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and Indigenous peoples had some of the highest mortality rates. Then there is the continued environmental destruction on Indigenous lands.

From jurisdictional issues to lack of resources, Indigenous women testify on MMIW crisis • Source New Mexico

Native American women disproportionately go missing and are murdered in cases that are rarely solved, if they’re investigated at all.

Source New MexicoShondiin Silversmith, AZ Mirror, Jim Small, AZ Mirror

Wisconsin approves pipeline reroute near Bad River Reservation

A federal court has ruled that Enbridge is trespassing on Indigenous lands, but operations continue while the company proposes a new route that still doesn’t resolve water pollution

PrismRay Levy Uyeda

Difficult as it may be to discuss these issues, dialogue and recognition are essential components of carving a more just future for everyone.

Nervous about Teaching Indigenous Content? Here’s Some Pro Advice | The Tyee

Carolyn Roberts discusses her new book on decolonizing the school system. A Tyee Q&A.

The TyeeKatie Hyslop

Before You Go…

We wanted to call your attention to the work OptOut has been doing through our original investigative reporting newsletter IMPORTANT CONTEXT. We have been busy. Over the last few years, we have focused heavily on public health and right-wing dark money. Now, that work is more relevant than ever as some of the individuals we have been covering are going to be in the incoming administration, tapped by Present-Elect Donald Trump to lead critical public health agencies.

For example, Anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist Robert Kennedy Jr., for example, has been chosen for Health and Human Services secretary. We covered the reactions from prominent contrarians.

Right-Wing and Medical Fringe Celebrate Kennedy HHS Nomination

Contrarians have been quick to congratulate the notorious anti-vaxxer on his nomination, touting a “realignment.”

Important ContextAllison Neitzel

Meanwhile, Stanford professor and COVID herd immunity advocate Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, whose rise we have tracked throughly, is Trump’s pick to lead the National Institutes of Health. We were able to compile a thorough “everything you need to know” piece about him.

Everything You Need to Know About Donald Trump’s NIH Pick

Dr. Jay Bhattacharya is a loud voice from the fringes.

Important ContextWalker Bragman

Similarly, Dr. Marty Makary, a Johns Hopkins surgeon who has cast doubt on COVID vaccines, is set to the lead the FDA. We published an explainer about him too.

Everything You Need to Know About Donald Trump’s FDA Pick

Johns Hopkins surgeon Marty Makary has spent years promoting fringe pandemic views and attacking the U.S. government.

Important ContextWalker Bragman

We also covered the news that Dr. Mehmet Oz is the pick to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, providing critical information about the right-wing doctor.

How Dr. Oz Hyped Trump’s COVID Snake Oil

Now he’s Trump’s pick to run the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Important ContextAllison Neitzel

Outside of our administration coverage, OptOut‘s climate editor Amanda Magnani covered the recent COP29, the UN’s annual climate conference.

The Climate Disinformation Machine at Work at COP29

Beyond the 1,773 fossil fuel lobbyists currently in Baku, COP29 is attended by over a hundred members of climate disinformation organizations across all levels.

Important ContextAmanda Magnani

With that, have a great day. Please consider helping us continue this work through 2025. The need for independent, hard-hitting journalism has never been clearer.

The OptOut Media Foundation (EIN: 85-2348079) is a nonprofit charity with a mission to educate the public about current events and help sustain a diverse media ecosystem by promoting and assisting independent news outlets and, in doing so, advance democracy and social justice.

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