Semafor EIC Ben Smith on populist conspiracy and new media elites | The Moynihan Report

In 'How the Other Half Lives', Jacob Riis exposes the harsh living conditions, exploitation, and poverty faced by immigrants in New York City's tenements during the 1880s. Using his photographs and vivid descriptions, Riis highlights the filth, disease, and overcrowding that characterized the lives of over a million immigrants. The book played a significant role in pushing tenement reform to the forefront of New York's political agenda and influenced social reform efforts, including the closure of police-run poor houses by then-Police Commissioner Theodore Roosevelt.

Ida Tarbell's 'The History of the Standard Oil Company' is a seminal work of investigative journalism that chronicles the development of the oil industry in the United States and the monopolistic practices of Standard Oil. Originally published in 1904, it played a significant role in the eventual breakup of Standard Oil in 1911. The book provides a detailed account of how Standard Oil dominated the oil industry through strategic business tactics and its impact on the economy and society.

Lincoln Steffens' "The Shame of Cities" is a landmark work of investigative journalism that exposed widespread political corruption in major American cities during the Progressive Era. The book details Steffens' meticulous investigations into municipal governments, revealing how bribery, graft, and collusion between politicians and business leaders were commonplace. Steffens' insightful analysis highlighted the systemic nature of corruption and its detrimental effects on democratic governance. His work played a crucial role in galvanizing public support for reform and contributed significantly to the muckraking movement. The book remains a compelling study of political corruption and its enduring relevance to contemporary society.

Published in 1906, 'The Jungle' follows the life of Lithuanian immigrant Jurgis Rudkus and his family as they navigate the brutal realities of working-class life in Chicago's meatpacking district, known as Packingtown. The novel highlights issues such as public health hazards, extreme poverty, and the cruel treatment of workers and animals. Despite Sinclair's intention to expose labor abuses, the public reaction primarily focused on the sanitation issues in the meatpacking industry, leading to significant legislative changes, including the passage of the U.S. Pure Food and Drug Act and the Meat Inspection Act.