About three weeks back, the Valentine's Day exposure of key Heartland Institute internal documents made national and international news. This story was covered at length on Daily Kos and elsewhere. Particularly attention-grabbing was the information that Heartland was developing a denialist K-12 curriculum intended in part to "dissuade teachers from teaching science", and that this and much of Heartland's other activity was funded by a single deep-pocketed donor -- referred to only as the "Anonymous Donor".
(Although Heartland has disputed the authenticity of one document, its contents are corroborated by other documents of undisputed authenticity.)
Since that initial burst of February sunshine, we've learned the identity of the man who exposed this scheme, but not of the man behind it and much of the rest of Heartland's activity. Eyes initially turned, as they often do, to the Koch brothers, but the data didn't correspond well to their particular styles and interests, and they have not exactly been shy about their role in funding and controlling other "intellectual ammo shops".
Here, I will sum up the case developed over the previous 3.5 diaries, for the person whom I believe to be the strongest candidate for the Anonymous Donor: reclusive Chicago industrialist Barre Seid.
Sunlight breaking through on a dark Chicago day.
(
Bossbob50)
Previously: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 3.5 (reference material)
If you're one of the hardy souls who has read all of the previous diaries, you'll find a few repeated sections.
(Reposted from Sunday, when it didn't get much visibility.)
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