politicnewsbusterinsiderpostreview: Let's talk about tobacco.

October 7, 2022

As someone who spent the majority of their childhood in both North Carolina and Virginia, tobacco is a plant I'm pretty familiar with. Tobacco (and slavery) played a huge role in the economic growth of both states. In grade school, my class took a field trip to a tobacco farm once. What I didn't know about, however, was the abuse that so many migrant workers face while growing and tending to this plant.

That was until today. In partnership with the Bureau of Investigative Journalism and Enlace Latino NC, our latest investigation dives into the world of tobacco agriculture, zeroing in on North Carolina senator and mega-farmer, Brent Jackson. The report peels back the shiny veneer of his businesses and political career, investigating allegations of union busting, deplorable work conditions, and Jackson's ties to tobacco company giant, Reynolds American, which has pumped significant amounts of money into his re-election campaign.

My co-worker and fellow North Carolinian, Jacob Rosenberg, summed it up best: "This is a classic MoJo piece, to my mind. It's a deep investigation about power and money. It's got fantastic on-the-ground reporting but doesn't lose the big picture. And it's a really cool partnership!"

I'd definitely recommend giving it a read this weekend. Bonus: it's also written in Spanish.

—Arianna Coghill

A North Carolina Farmer Was Accused of Abusing His Workers. Then Big Tobacco Backed His Election.

In Reynolds American, Brent Jackson has not only found a buyer for his crop but also a generous source of funds for his political endeavors.

BY BEN STOCKTON AND VICTORIA BOULOUBASIS

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