A popular democratic leader in a developing country refuses to side with the United States against Russia. In response, the U.S. pressures officials behind the scenes to have that leader removed, effectively returning the military and its allies to power.

This may sound like a Cold War history lesson, but it happened just last year — and most of the corporate media in the United States ignored it.

The Intercept has obtained secret documents that reveal how the Biden administration pushed for the overthrow of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan — and then used the promise of a desperately needed International Monetary Fund bailout to ensure the continued flow of Pakistani weapons to Ukraine.

This story matters even if you’re a strong supporter of the Ukrainian war effort — because when the U.S. fights for democracy in Europe while overthrowing democracy in poorer countries, we undermine Ukraine’s legitimacy around the world.

To be blunt, no one but The Intercept is going to keep reporting on this story. It won’t generate clicks or ad dollars, and it’ll anger powerful people in both the United States and Pakistan. But we have to follow the story where it leads us.