Forthcoming | May 2025 Government secrecy isn’t just a federal issue—it’s a pervasive problem at the state and local levels, where hidden deals quietly impact everyday lives. Through years of investigative reporting, Backroom Deals in Our Backyards by Miranda S. Spivack reveals the stories of five everyday Americans who became accidental activists. As they uncover secret deals, corruption, and a lack of transparency in their local and state governments, their shaken faith in the system transforms into a determined fight for accountability and change.