The Hound | Mar. 19

 

Hi there, It’s Thursday. Politico’s founder and former owner, Robert Allbritton, is launching a new rival to Jeff Bezos’ Washington Post. NOTUS, which Allbritton owns, is rebranding as The Washington Sun and has recruited a number of staff from the wreckage of the Post after a third of its staff was laid off earlier this year. A bombshell New York Times investigation uncovered a pattern of abuse by civil rights icon Cesar Chavez, which included labor activist Dolores Huerta disclosing she was raped by Chavez. In addition, the Pentagon is now seeking $200 billion in additional funding for the ongoing Iran War, which is on top of the already massive $800 billion defense budget. This request comes even as Congress has not formally authorized the war and lawmakers from both parties are raising concerns about its scope, cost, and lack of clear strategy. When the government asks for hundreds of billions more dollars to sustain a conflict, the public deserves a clear explanation of the mission, the goals, and how it will end. When coverage focuses on the size of the request rather than the absence of a coherent plan, it obscures the recklessness of pouring more resources into an open-ended conflict. 🖊️ Add your name to call on major news organizations to cover the Pentagon’s funding request as a story of accountability and risk—demanding answers about goals, timelines, and legal authorization before normalizing additional war spending...SUBSCRIBE AND JOIN WITH OTHERS TO SPEAK OUT ON IMPORTANT ISSUES! The public deserves journalism that asks not just how much this war will cost, but why it is being fought and how it will end. Democracy depends on scrutiny before more lives and resources are committed. Read about this, and more, with today’s stories: Pentagon seeks $200 billion in additional funds for the Iran war, AP source says (AP News) The longer the Iran war goes, the worse it could be for Trump. Just look at history (NPR) JD Vance Admits Gas Prices Are About to Get Ugly: “Rough Road Ahead” (The New Republic) Mullin grilled on past remarks in tense DHS confirmation hearing (PBS) Competition for Jeff Bezos’s Shabby Washington Post (The American Prospect) Dolores Huerta Worried Her Abuse by Cesar Chavez Would Hurt Farmworker Movement (Mother Jones) THIS IS WORTH READING FOR THE THREAT POSED BY RFK JR:  How Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Vaccine Agenda Risks a Resurgence of Deadly Childhood Plagues (ProPublica) excerpt:  ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. Sign up to receive our biggest stories as soon as they’re published. Reporting Highlights Sowing Doubt, Risking Supply: Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is spreading doubts about the safety of vaccines and considering changes that could prompt manufacturers to flee the U.S. market. Plagues of the Past: History has shown how vaccine-preventable diseases can roar back when trust in shots or access to them have faltered. Dangers Abroad: As the U.S. pulls international aid, deadly and disabling diseases like diphtheria, rubella and polio continue to harm people overseas and can easily reach the U.S. These highlights were written by the reporters and editors who worked on this story. The Vanishing Next Generation of US-Made EVs (Inside Climate News) Until next time, Harry from The Hound P.S. Do you know someone who would appreciate The Hound? If you can, forward this email and encourage them to subscribe! Let’s stay informed, together.

Part of the Civic Shout activist network © 2026 The Hound 16192 Coastal Highway Lewes, DE 19958, United States