They have started calling it a "Conspiracy Theory". Which pretty much guarantees it is true.
The White House has announced it will cancel approximately $8 million in federal subscriptions to Politico, following accusations that the publication was receiving government subsidies.
At the center of the controversy is a conspiracy theory circulating on social media, claiming that Politico and the Associated Press received millions of dollars in direct funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
In reality, the money in question was part of broader federal spending on subscriptions to these news organizations, rather than grants or subsidies provided by USAID itself.
The move to cancel the subscriptions, led by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under Elon Musk's oversight, has drawn both support and criticism from across the political spectrum.
Is USAID Being Used to 'Fund' Politico?
At a White House press briefing, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that she had been made aware of USAID funding to media outlets, including Politico, adding that taxpayer dollars that had been used for "essentially subsidizing subscriptions to Politico."
Leavitt also stated: "The DOGE team is working on canceling those payments now."
In truth, the payments covered the cost of government-wide subscriptions to the news outlets' services.
Reporters were quick to dispute the claim's made by Leavitt regarding taxpayer funding.
Investigative journalist Byron Tau disputed the claim that Politico was receiving USAID funding, writing on X, formerly Twitter: "I looked at these contracts and I have my own fun fact... This is occurring because agencies (not just USAID) are buying subscriptions to Politico's Pro editorial product, not because Politico is getting grants or other federal funding."
USAID Chief of Staff Resigns Amid DOGE Push for Classified Info: Report
In a memo to staff, Politico CEO Goli Sheikholeslami and Politico founder John Harris wrote "we welcome" the conversation around the value of Politico's subscriptions.
Harris also stated that the company had "never been the beneficiary of government programs or subsidies" and that the "overwhelming majority" of its subscriptions come from the private sector.
Why Is DOGE Targeting Politico?
The White House's move comes amid increasing scrutiny of federal spending, particularly from Musk, who was appointed by Donald Trump to lead DOGE, the department which the president claims is aimed at "changes to the Federal Bureaucracy with an eye on efficiency and, at the same time, making life better for all Americans."
Musk commented on X, calling the payments "a huge waste of taxpayer money!"
His stance gained traction among conservative commentators. Kyle Becker, a former Fox News producer, claimed on X that "Politico received USAID funds... Everything makes sense now," tying the alleged funding to a recent payroll delay at the news outlet.
However, others see the move as politically motivated. Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez criticized the decision, stating, "This is another blatant attempt by this administration to control the media landscape."
https://www.newsweek.com/politico-funding-government-subscriptions-usaid-doge-2027041
At the center of the controversy is a conspiracy theory circulating on social media, claiming that Politico and the Associated Press received millions of dollars in direct funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
In reality, the money in question was part of broader federal spending on subscriptions to these news organizations, rather than grants or subsidies provided by USAID itself.
The move to cancel the subscriptions, led by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under Elon Musk's oversight, has drawn both support and criticism from across the political spectrum.
Is USAID Being Used to 'Fund' Politico?
At a White House press briefing, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that she had been made aware of USAID funding to media outlets, including Politico, adding that taxpayer dollars that had been used for "essentially subsidizing subscriptions to Politico."
Leavitt also stated: "The DOGE team is working on canceling those payments now."
In truth, the payments covered the cost of government-wide subscriptions to the news outlets' services.
Reporters were quick to dispute the claim's made by Leavitt regarding taxpayer funding.
Investigative journalist Byron Tau disputed the claim that Politico was receiving USAID funding, writing on X, formerly Twitter: "I looked at these contracts and I have my own fun fact... This is occurring because agencies (not just USAID) are buying subscriptions to Politico's Pro editorial product, not because Politico is getting grants or other federal funding."
USAID Chief of Staff Resigns Amid DOGE Push for Classified Info: Report
In a memo to staff, Politico CEO Goli Sheikholeslami and Politico founder John Harris wrote "we welcome" the conversation around the value of Politico's subscriptions.
Harris also stated that the company had "never been the beneficiary of government programs or subsidies" and that the "overwhelming majority" of its subscriptions come from the private sector.
Why Is DOGE Targeting Politico?
The White House's move comes amid increasing scrutiny of federal spending, particularly from Musk, who was appointed by Donald Trump to lead DOGE, the department which the president claims is aimed at "changes to the Federal Bureaucracy with an eye on efficiency and, at the same time, making life better for all Americans."
Musk commented on X, calling the payments "a huge waste of taxpayer money!"
His stance gained traction among conservative commentators. Kyle Becker, a former Fox News producer, claimed on X that "Politico received USAID funds... Everything makes sense now," tying the alleged funding to a recent payroll delay at the news outlet.
However, others see the move as politically motivated. Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez criticized the decision, stating, "This is another blatant attempt by this administration to control the media landscape."
https://www.newsweek.com/politico-funding-government-subscriptions-usaid-doge-2027041
