OUR THEORY OF CHANGE
Disinformation is being sold the same way you sell toothpaste, resulting in the dangerous erosion of our democracy. To survive, democracy must be sold the same way.
We give truth an ally
About Us
To defend truth above the tsunami of disinformation plaguing our country, we create hyper-targeted content that disrupts and replaces false narratives. As one of the only organizations leading with an audience-first approach, we connect with seemingly out-of-reach communities and deeply engage them with inexpensive, culturally compelling content.
Our History
We Defend Truth (formerly TruthNotLies) was formed as a 527 in 2020 to respond to the proliferation of disinformation in US elections, with an eye toward delivering engaging, persuasive counter-narratives to Trump voters. Following the 2020 cycle, we launched a 501c3 and a 501c4 in order to expand our reach and persuade more Americans through fact-driven counter-narratives. Founded and led by an inclusive team and Board of Directors that centers diversity, equity, and inclusion as part of WDT’s core values, we are committed to building an organization that reflects and represents the demographic and identities that comprise our democracy.
Our Values
Truth, Transparency, & Impact. We’re here to defend the truth – which means sticking to the facts and prioritizing accuracy. Truth requires transparency – which is why we’ll always be upfront about what we’re doing, why we’re doing it and our results. Impact is everything – if it isn’t working, it isn’t worth doing. That’s what we’re all about.
Our Strategy
Research
Research subconscious drivers and motivations
Create
Create values-based, culturally-compelling content
Reward
Reward engagement by validating identity
Trust
Build a trusted relationship
Disrupt
Disrupt damaging, hurtful narratives
Amplify
Drive algorithmic feedback that amplifies truth
Our Creators & Content
We recruit unorthodox creators of some of the web’s most viral content, including one of the top GIF makers on Reddit and Imgur. We Defend Truth content regularly goes viral and has been viewed OVER 29 MILLION TIMES! Access to our comprehensive content library is available upon request. For more information, contact info@wedefendtruth.org.
HELP US DEFEND THE TRUTH
MEET THE TEAM
Jehmu Greene
CEO/FOUNDER
An award-winning media and advocacy strategist, Jehmu is a Fox News Political Analyst where she has promoted progressive values and policies on the network for the last 12 years. Together with Jose Vargas, Alicia Menendez and Jake Brewer, she co-founded Define American, an organization that uses media and culture to elevate the immigration reform conversation. As a Founding Board Member and national trainer for VoteRunLead, Jehmu travels the country training women candidates to run as they are. Jehmu previously served as president of Rock the Vote, where under her leadership young voter turnout had the highest increase ever recorded; and president of the Women’s Media Center where she trained progressive women to use media to amplify their impact. A proud Texan, Jehmu still dreams of becoming a country music singer.
David Goldstein
CHIEF OF STRATEGY/FOUNDER
David has worked on numerous local, state, and national campaigns as a pollster and strategist, for leaders ranging from President Obama and Senator Cory Booker in the US, to Prime Minister Gordon Brown in the UK and Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk in Ukraine. Since 2016, he has collaborated with policymakers, academics and the media to establish how to protect democracy in the new digital era, and led efforts that drove record-breaking turnout for Greta Thunberg at the Global Climate Strike. Having delivered winning results/real results for Democratic candidates in deep-red states like Alabama and Tennessee, David is widely sought after by national media seeking to understand the impact of disinformation on elections. He worked closely with the New York Times in early 2020 to reveal how Democrats were still struggling with modernizing their digital/data efforts and has been featured on ABC News, Planet Money, and Bloomberg TV.
Beau Elliot
Creative Director
Beau Elliot is an award winning Creative Director with over a decade of experience in digital marketing and creative design. He has produced content that has amassed tens of millions of views for We Defend Truth, and hundreds of viral videos and gifs garnering over a billion online views. One of the most effective communicators in the digital space, Elliot's innovative approach to visual storytelling and strategic design has earned him accolades from clients across multiple industries. His portfolio reflects his versatility and talent, showcasing his ability to craft compelling narratives and visually stunning campaigns.
Janay Cody
Data Scientist
Janay Cody is a behavioral data scientist and data equity advisor with 15 years of experience creating equitable data governance, inclusive data driven cultures, data literacy training, randomized controlled trials, quasi-experimental testing, survey research, segmentation, machine learning models, and quality control solutions.
Her analytic solutions and culturally relevant insights have been integrated into organizational operations and community engagement campaigns of philanthropies including Ford Foundation and Rockefeller Family Fund; data and tech companies including Catalist, Movement Labs, and Analyst Institute; and civic engagement organizations across the United States.
Cody previously worked for the Analyst Institute, where she led research strategy, experimental design and implementation, and training for civic organizations across 22 states and collaborated with colleagues to build systems for flagging biases in data, advocate for more inclusive research, and design equity policies. She also co-authored a major assessment of educational testing in urban school districts for Educational Testing Services.
Cody received her Ph.D. in political science from the University of Notre Dame, where her research focused on public opinion and quantitative research methods.
Mayren Rancifer
Digital Communications Strategist
Mayren is a graphic designer and creative communicator who gained early experience in politics during Jon Ossoff’s 2020 Senate campaign. Having worked from Georgia to Boston and back to her home state of Utah, she has contributed her expertise to campaigns at both local and national levels. Passionate about causes such as reproductive rights, immigration reform, and environmental advocacy, Mayren has found her niche in progressive advocacy and political campaigns. Her creativity permeates everything she does, from eye-catching social media graphics to innovative campaign materials, all aimed at engaging audiences and clarifying complex messages.
Judge Baskin
Research Intern
Born and raised in Texas, Judge is currently a student at The University of Texas at Austin studying Journalism and Plan II Honors with a passion for environmental policy and democracy defense. He plans to pursue law school to further this focus and hopes to one day make a significant impact on these crucial issues.
Prior to diving into academics, he honed his work ethic and leadership skills for four years as a restaurant line cook. He further cultivated his passion for community by running a successful supper club from his home.
Siyona Nayampally
Communications Intern
Siyona Nayampally is a student at UT Austin, studying Economics and Plan II Honors with interests in public policy and foreign affairs. Over the past few years, she has worked on several political and advocacy campaigns but is excited to be involved with elections in a non-partisan way.
Outside of work and academics, Siyona enjoys playing the violin, reading, and spending time outside with her family and friends.