A new movie profiles journalist Gary Webb, who exposed the CIA’s involvement with the U.S. crack epidemic and later committed suicide.

Webb’s groundbreaking “Dark Alliance” reports for the San Jose Mercury News documented that the CIA was at least aware that allies among the Nicaraguan Contras were using U.S. drug sales to finance their central American war. The Los Angeles Times and other papers assigned numerous reporters to discredit the story. A number of prominent media critics, public reporters and ombudsmen would go on to back Webb against the mainstream press. In fact, the Times later said of its own reporting, “we dropped the ball.” Webb struggled to find work at a daily paper and, in 2004, was found dead.

— Posted by Peter Z. Scheer

 Your support is crucial...

As we navigate an uncertain 2025, with a new administration questioning press freedoms, the risks are clear: our ability to report freely is under threat.

Your tax-deductible donation enables us to dig deeper, delivering fearless investigative reporting and analysis that exposes the reality beneath the headlines — without compromise.

Now is the time to take action. Stand with our courageous journalists. Donate today to protect a free press, uphold democracy and uncover the stories that need to be told.

SUPPORT TRUTHDIG
In this Article:
#central america#cia#crack cocaine#drugs#gary webb#los angeles times#spying