[Note: A great piece of investigative journalism from Parker Thayer at the Capital Research Center]
August 11, 2026
Readers encountering The ‘Gander in Michigan, UpNorthNews in Wisconsin, and the Copper Courier in Arizona might think these news outlets providing skeptical coverage of artificial intelligence (AI) data centers are refreshing examples of homespun, objective journalism. But their folksy branding hides a secret. All of them are fronts for a DC-based, left-leaning political advocacy firm named Courier Newsroom.
Founded by Democratic strategist Tara McGowan, Courier was initially incubated inside a left-of-center nonprofit named ACRONYM. Courier has since become a for-profit firm running news outlets in at least 20 states. The Courier affiliates are still regurgitating talking points from left-of-center advocacy groups, but now with a profit motive. One target audience lately is Americans with worries about data centers being built in their communities.
Frustrated with recent policy setbacks and eager for a path back to popularity, several left-wing anti-energy climate groups have begun to stoke these concerns about data centers into flames of hysteria. Some far-left environmental activists have even gone as far as helping to create activist groups claiming to be conservative that organized nationwide protests against datacenters.
The Courier network seems to have taken up this cause. Since 2025, Courier outlets in sixteen states have published at least 242 media products (such as articles, videos, and newsletters) attacking or otherwise unfavorably mentioning artificial intelligence and AI data centers using the guise of an ordinary local paper.
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