Lean to the Left is a progressive media platform offering political commentary, fact-based news analysis, and expert interviews that expose threats to democracy and hold leaders accountable. Lean to the Left is an independent, evolving media platform. Member benefits will grow and adapt over time. Founded in 2017 as Not Fake News and rebranded in 2021, Lean to the Left brings together the work of journalist and author Bob Gatty and a talented team of contributing writers who deliver sharp, insightful content on the issues affecting Americans today. 

Our podcast—launched as NFN Radio News before becoming The Lean to the Left Podcast—featured weekly interviews with authors, activists, experts, and political insiders, with hard-hitting commentary on the challenges facing our nation. What began as a podcast grew into a community of listeners and readers who care deeply about democracy, accountability, and civic engagement. At its close, the Lean to the Left podcast had reached nearly 850 episodes with a worldwide audience.

Lean to the Left: Stay Informed. Speak Up. Join the Conversation.

Name(Required)
Email(Required)

Air Mail Protest Against Corruption, Climate Change

Doug Hughes in his gyrocopter at U.S. Capitol

In April 2015, a mailman concerned about climate change and political corruption decided he needed a dramatic way to bring attention to those issues, which he believes threaten our country, indeed the world.

So, he decided that air mail delivery was the only way — not by just dropping letters to Congress in a mailbox and forgetting about it, but by personally flying those letters to the U.S. Capitol himself.

So, after learning how to fly, he trailered a 250-pound flying contraption called a gyrocopter from Florida to Pennsylvania to stage his one-man protest. He flew 70 miles south from Gettysburg across Maryland, turned left at the Potomac, and two miles up the Capitol Mall, past the White House and past the Washington Monument to land on the lawn of the US Capitol Building.

The man’s name is Doug Hughes and he’s our guest on the Lean to The Left podcast to recount his story, which he has detailed in a memoir, "FLIGHT PLAN: A Mailman’s Aerial Excursion and Special Delivery."

Hughes succeeded in gaining attention, of course. His exercise of free speech eventually cost him four months in jail, but he doesn't regret that and during our interview offers concrete ideas about how the political system should be changed to eliminate corruption of those we elect to represent us.

Listen to our interview.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Sign Up for Email Updates

Subscribe to get email updates and access to exclusive subscriber content.

Name(Required)
Email(Required)