The Louisiana Illuminator is a left-of-center news website with a focus on Louisiana state-level politics. The website is a part of the left-of-center States Newsroom, a network of left-of-center state-focused news outlets initially supported by the Hopewell Fund. ¹

The website has a far-left critical race theory-inspired “diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice” policy which guides its news coverage. ²

In April 2023, the website ran an op-ed from its sister publication, the Colorado Newsline, which called for the removal of former President Donald Trump from the ballot for insurrection under the 14^th Amendment. ³

Background

States Newsroom, a network of left-of-center state-focused news outlets initially supported by the Hopewell Fund, part of the Arabella Advisors-managed network of liberal “dark money,” ⁴ founded the Louisiana Illuminator in June 2020. The website pledged to focus on poor and marginalized Louisianians and the policies that impact them. ⁵

The website is free for all its users and features no paywalls. The website allows others to republish the content for free in exchange for an attribution. ⁶

DEIJ Policy

The Louisiana Illuminator has a far-left critical race theory-inspired “diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice” policy. The policy claimed that “bias and systemic racism” are present throughout journalism. ⁷

The policy’s stated goal is to produce journalism that challenges the inequality and racism many readers experience. The policy claims that the values of diversity and equity dictate what stories to cover, which sources to use, and which language to use. ⁸

Selected Commentaries

Disqualifying Donald Trump

In April 2023, the Louisiana Illuminator published an op-ed by Quentin Young who is the editor-in-chief of its sister publication Colorado Newswire which called on Secretaries of State to disqualify former President Donald Trump from their state ballots for allegedly committing an insurrection. Young claimed there was no serious debate that Trump encouraged a mob to storm the U.S. Capitol. ⁹

In 2024, a unanimous Supreme Court ruled that states did not have the power to disqualify federal candidates from ballots on these grounds. ¹⁰

Accusing GOP Of Voter Suppression

In May 2023, the Louisiana Illuminator’s editor Greg LaRose accused the Louisiana Republican Party of voter suppression for creating a voter integrity operation and supporting legislation such as banning “Zuckerbucks,” private funds to fund election operations. ¹¹

Denouncing Speaker Mike Johnson

In 2023, the Louisiana Illuminator published an op-ed by Delaney Nolan attacking House Speaker Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) as an extremist due to his rejection of climate change alarmism, pro-life views, and Christian beliefs. The op-ed quoted “environmental justice organizer” Justin Solet, who said Rep. Johnson would turn Louisiana into the theocratic state of Gilead from The Handmaid’s Tale. ¹²

Criticism

In July 2023, Louisiana-based conservative commentator Scott McKay referred to the Louisiana Illuminator as the “Illumigroomer” on his website The Hayride. He criticized the Illuminator’s coverage of a letter sent by then-Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry (R) opposing a federal rule restricting states from obtaining information about out-of-state abortions and child sex changes by their citizens. McKay accused the website of promoting the “gender-bending” of kids with its coverage criticizing Landry’s letter, which Landry said was important in the efforts to fight child abuse. ¹³

Leadership

The Louisiana Illuminator’s editor is Greg LaRose. LaRose has been in journalism for over 30 years. Previously, LaRose was the chief investigative reporter for WDSU-TV in New Orleans. ¹⁴

Finances

The Louisiana Illuminator is a part of States Newsroom, which is a left-of-center nonprofit initially supported by the Hopewell Fund, part of the Arabella Advisors-managed network of liberal “dark money.” ^{15 16}

1.  ^[1] Deutch, Gabby. “A website wanted to restore trust in the media. It’s actually a political operation.” The Washington Post. February 6, 2020. https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/02/06/is-it-local-journalism-or-just-local-propaganda/
2. “Deij Policy .” Louisiana Illuminator. Accessed March 11, 2024. https://lailluminator.com/deij-policy/.
3. Young, Quentin. “Election Officials Must Block Trump. the Constitution Demands It. .” Louisiana Illuminator, April 14, 2023. https://lailluminator.com/2023/04/14/election-officials-must-block-trump-the-constitution-demands-it/.
4. ^[1] Deutch, Gabby. “A website wanted to restore trust in the media. It’s actually a political operation.” The Washington Post. February 6, 2020. https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/02/06/is-it-local-journalism-or-just-local-propaganda/
5. “States Newsroom Launches Louisiana Illuminator.” States Newsroom, June 23, 2020. https://statesnewsroom.com/press-releases/states-newsroom-launches-louisiana-illuminator/.
6. “About Page .” Louisiana Illuminator. Accessed March 11, 2024. https://lailluminator.com/about/.
7. “Deij Policy .” Louisiana Illuminator. Accessed March 11, 2024. https://lailluminator.com/deij-policy/.
8. “Deij Policy .” Louisiana Illuminator. Accessed March 11, 2024. https://lailluminator.com/deij-policy/.
9. Young, Quentin. “Election Officials Must Block Trump. the Constitution Demands It. .” Louisiana Illuminator, April 14, 2023. https://lailluminator.com/2023/04/14/election-officials-must-block-trump-the-constitution-demands-it/.
10. “Trump v. Anderson.” SCOTUSblog. Accessed March 18, 2024. https://www.scotusblog.com/case-files/cases/trump-v-anderson/.
11. [1] LaRose, Greg. “Louisiana GOP’s Recent Efforts Are Thinly Veiled Voter Suppression .” Louisiana Illuminator, May 4, 2023. https://lailluminator.com/2023/05/04/louisiana-gops-recent-efforts-are-thinly-veiled-voter-suppression/.
12. Nolan, Delaney. “New House Speaker Mike Johnson Holds Extreme Views on Climate Change, Science.” Louisiana Illuminator, November 2, 2023. https://lailluminator.com/2023/10/31/mike-johnson-extreme/.
13. MacAoidh. “Behold, the Louisiana Illumigroomer!” The Hayride, July 18, 2023. https://thehayride.com/2023/07/behold-the-louisiana-illumigroomer/.
14. “About Page .” Louisiana Illuminator. Accessed March 11, 2024. https://lailluminator.com/about/.
15. Deutch, Gabby. “A website wanted to restore trust in the media. It’s actually a political operation.” The Washington Post. February 6, 2020. https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/02/06/is-it-local-journalism-or-just-local-propaganda/
16. “About Page .” Louisiana Illuminator. Accessed March 11, 2024. https://lailluminator.com/about/.