For Immediate Release
New York, NY — [May 18, 2026] —
As Netroots Nation 2026 gathers thousands of organizers under the banner of “The Next Movement: Planning and Pushing Toward Progressive Power,” a new kind of ally is arriving in the exhibit hall. Unruled Masses (UM), a nonpartisan multidisciplinary powerhouse team of 65+ people from across the country, will showcase its high-tech, intelligence-driven tools designed to expose institutional capture and return power to the public.
While many at Netroots focus on the "what" of policy, Unruled Masses provides the "how" of accountability. Founded on the recognition that public institutions—from the highest levels of government to our local school boards—have been captured by undemocratic private interests, UM bridges the gap between grassroots human rights activism and elite intelligence tradecraft.
“The shift from public service to private exploitation wasn't an accident; it was engineered,” says Nick Van Zandt, Founder of Unruled Masses and former military intelligence officer. “We are here to provide counter-engineering to attack this problem head on. We are equipping the Netroots community with the same caliber of data science and strategic intelligence used by national security agencies, but repurposing it for the people to fight for democracy.”
Why you should visit Unruled Masses at Booth 505:
Unruled Masses is a value-added partner to the pro-democracy ecosystem, offering technical infrastructure that transforms raw outrage into surgical civic action. At our booth, attendees and media will get a first look at:
- The Database of Strategic Action: A precision-engineered playbook that moves beyond standard protesting into peaceful civic maneuvers designed for strategic effect.
- Hidden-Reality Reporting: Evidence-driven actionable intelligence that tracks the flow of "dark capture" within legislatures, hospitals, courts, media, or your local HOA.
- The Technical Counter-Engine: Tools that allow everyday citizens to map corruption patterns and mobilize for nonviolent civic resistance to stop abuse patterns.
“Netroots is about the future of power,” stated Deanna Wilken, UM co-founder and professional human rights strategist. “Unruled Masses stands for that same mission. But power without the right tools is just noise. We’re providing the civic infrastructure to ensure that the people ready to fight for democracy and human rights have the tools and strategic intelligence needed to win.”
Unruled Masses invites journalists, philanthropic and movement partners, digital organizers, and civic leaders to visit them at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, June 4–6, in the Town Hall at Booth 505 to explore the tools needed to combat institutional corruption.
About Unruled Masses
Unruled Masses (UM) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that combines the expertise of former intelligence and military officers, human rights strategists, attorneys, and data scientists to protect the rule of law. Nonpartisan and evidence-based, UM builds the technical and strategic infrastructure necessary for ordinary people to reclaim their democracy from corrupt interests.
Media Contact:
Press Desk — Unruled Masses
Email: contact@unruledmasses.org
Website: www.unruledmasses.org
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