💎 Transparency
You’re funding this work. You deserve to know exactly how every dollar is spent.
The Principle
I demand transparency from governments and corporations. I can’t demand it from them without offering it myself.
This page shows every expense category, what I spend, and why. Updated monthly. No secrets.
📊 Current Monthly Status
Monthly Income
$3
From supporters
Monthly Expenses
$18
Operating costs
Current Gap
-$15
Self-funded
Last updated: February 2026
💰 Monthly Expense Breakdown
🖥️ Infrastructure
$6/mo
Server for website, database, email. 1 CPU core, 1GB RAM, 25GB SSD. Runs WordPress, MySQL, Nginx. Full control, no shared hosting limitations.
Annual domain registration ($12/year). Required for website accessibility.
🔍 Research Tools
$12/mo
JSTOR, academic databases. Historical research, peer-reviewed sources. Credibility matters.
Total Monthly Operating Cost
$18/mo
This is the bare minimum to keep the operation running. No salary. No marketing. Just the essential tools to research and publish.
🚫 What’s NOT Included (Yet)
These expenses would make the work sustainable, but aren’t covered yet:
- FOIA Requests ($0/mo): Government records cost money. Processing fees, copying fees, sometimes legal fees.
- Travel for Investigations ($0/mo): Some stories require being there. Interviews, courthouse visits, on-site research.
- Equipment ($0 currently): Better recording equipment, camera, backup systems. Funded through dedicated fundraisers when needed.
- Legal Defense Fund ($0/mo): Investigative journalism sometimes gets sued. Need reserves for legal protection.
📅 Monthly Transparency Updates
February 2026
Total Income
$3
Total Expenses
$18
🎉 First Subscriber!
The first subscriber joined this month. Operating costs mostly self-funded ($15/mo gap), but this marks the beginning of reader-supported journalism. Building slowly, sustainably, and with full transparency.
Published This Month:
- Content in production
The Commitment
Every month, this page gets updated. Real numbers. Real expenses. Real income.
If you support this work, you’ll see exactly where your money goes. If expenses increase, you’ll know why. If income grows, you’ll see the progress.
No secrets. You’re funding this, you deserve to know how it’s used.
Support Transparent Journalism
Help move this operation from self-funded to sustainable. Every tier brings this work closer to independence.
Memberships starting at $3/month • Crypto accepted • Cancel anytime