The Intercept

The Intercept is a nonprofit news organization headquartered in New York City, launched in 2014 by Glenn Greenwald, Laura Poitras, and Jeremy Scahill. It operates under the umbrella of First Look Media and focuses on investigative journalism, particularly in the areas of national security, surveillance, politics, and civil liberties. The outlet gained immediate recognition for its reporting based on documents leaked by Edward Snowden, which exposed global surveillance programs run by the NSA. This early work set the tone for a publication that consistently challenges power structures and mainstream narratives.

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, The Intercept relies on reader donations, foundation grants, and membership subscriptions rather than advertising revenue. Its editorial stance is progressive and left-leaning, often covering topics that other outlets overlook or underreport. In 2016, it launched The Intercept Brasil, a Portuguese-language edition that covers political corruption and social issues in Brazil. The organization produces long-form articles, podcasts, and video investigations, and has built a dedicated audience that values its independent approach.

Despite its successes, The Intercept has faced internal and external controversies. Co-founder Glenn Greenwald resigned in 2016 over disagreements about editorial direction and coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Critics have accused the outlet of bias, while supporters see it as a necessary counterweight to corporate media. The organization has also engaged in legal battles to protect press freedom, including a 2026 lawsuit against the Trump administration over restricted access to government announcements. Today, The Intercept continues to publish daily and remains a significant voice in independent journalism. [edit]

The Intercept's mission is to hold powerful individuals and institutions accountable through fearless, adversarial journalism. The organization believes that journalism is a tool for civic action and aims to expose abuses of power, government secrecy, and corporate malfeasance. It prioritizes stories that are often ignored by mainstream media, particularly those concerning national security, surveillance, and social justice. By operating as a nonprofit, The Intercept seeks to maintain editorial independence and serve the public interest rather than commercial interests. [edit]

The Intercept was founded in 2014 by three journalists who had worked together on reporting from the Edward Snowden trove of classified documents. Glenn Greenwald, Laura Poitras, and Jeremy Scahill launched the publication under the umbrella of First Look Media, a media company created by eBay founder Pierre Omidyar. The outlet's first major stories, published in its opening months, focused on the NSA's global surveillance programs, including the collection of phone metadata and the PRISM program. These reports won widespread attention and established The Intercept as a serious investigative outlet.

In 2016, The Intercept expanded internationally with the launch of The Intercept Brasil, a Portuguese-language edition covering political turmoil and corruption in Brazil. The same year, co-founder Glenn Greenwald resigned, citing disagreements about editorial independence and the publication's coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. His departure marked a turning point, and the organization has since been led by various editors, including Betsy Reed, who became editor-in-chief in 2017.

Over the years, The Intercept has produced numerous impactful investigations, from the U.S. drone program to police brutality and corporate fraud. It has also faced legal challenges, including a 2026 lawsuit against the Trump administration over restricted access to government announcements. Despite internal strife and external criticism, the outlet has maintained its commitment to adversarial journalism and continues to publish daily from its New York headquarters. [edit]