A note from POLITICO!

My Inbox ^ | Feb 6 | Politico's CEO

[RandFan]

A Note to Our Readers from POLITICO's CEO and Editor-in-Chief

POLITICO has been the subject of debate on X this week. Some of it has been misinformed, and some of it has been flat-out false. Let’s set the record straight.

POLITICO is a privately owned company. We have never received any government funding — no subsidies, no grants, no handouts. Not one dime, ever, in 18 years.

Millions of people around the world read our journalism on POLITICO.com, POLITICO.EU, and in newsletters like this one. It is supported by advertising and sponsorships.

POLITICO Pro is different. It is a professional subscription service used by companies, organizations, and, yes, some government agencies. They subscribe because it makes them better at their jobs — helping them track policy, legislation, and regulations in real-time with news, intelligence, and a suite of data products. At its core, POLITICO Pro is about transparency and accountability: Shining a light on the work of the agencies, regulators, and policymakers throughout our vast federal government. Businesses and entities within the government find it useful as they navigate the chaotic regulatory and legislative landscape. It’s that simple.

Most POLITICO Pro subscribers are in the private sector. They come from across the ideological spectrum and subscribe for one reason: value. And 90% renew every year because they rely on our reporting, data, and insights.

Government agencies that subscribe do so through standard public procurement processes — just like any other tool they buy to work smarter and be more efficient. This is not funding. It is a transaction — just as the government buys research, equipment, software, and industry reports.

Some online voices are deliberately spreading falsehoods. Let’s be clear: POLITICO has no financial dependence on the government and no hidden agenda. We cover politics and policy — that’s our job.

We are so proud of our journalists and so proud of the connection we have with you, our readers.

We stand by our work, our values, and our commitment to transparency, accountability, and efficiency — the same principles that drive great journalism and great business.

Now, back to work.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

“Order your government funded VIP pass now or you will be just as misinformed as the rest of our viewers.”

“Not only that, your special Government-Only VIP pass entitles you to an ad-free experience while you are learning what your government is doing!”

[paudio]

That 8.1 mil is not from USAID alone but the whole government agencies

[central_va]

DOGE’s motto- “squeal like a pig”.

[teeman8r]

what matters is that those subscriptions were paid for with, wait for it, taxpayer dollars. if the employees of government agencies paid for the subscriptions with their own monies, that might be legit, not so using other people’s monies.

[teeman8r]

D’oge!

[Openurmind]

Yep, 8.2 million in just the last 12 months. Did you see that graph Pollard?

Almost Flatline from 2008 to 2019. Then in 2019 the government started throwing money at them with the most given to them in 2023 and 2024. Then in 2025 it drops off back to nothing again. Coincidence it was before, during, Biden’s term and then the most leading up to the election?

[cgbg]

In government speak the criteria for government expenditures is “reasonable and necessary”.

The Politico money laundering/bribe operation fit neither criteria.

[Raycpa]

You say potato, I say tomato.

[Steven Scharf]

I don’t disagree with you as to what is shown with Politico. I am just pointing out that it does provide a service. Whether the govt should be spending money on that service is a judgement call.

[Vendome]

Yesterday's report that the US government has been funding outlets such as Politico, the Associated Press, the BBC, and others raised more questions than it answered - though the obvious implication is that the US government has effectively been propping up regime-friendly media, which then peddles regime-friendly coverage - and spent years attacking independent outlets such as ZeroHedge, The Federalist, and many unlucky ones who have since been starved out of business.

 

According to RSF, the Trump administration's freeze on foreign aid - roughly $268 million earmarked to fund "independent media and the free flow of information," has 'thrown journalism around the world into chaos.'

Almost immediately after the freeze went into effect, journalistic organizations around the world that receive American aid funding started reaching out to RSF expressing confusion, chaos, and uncertainty. The affected organizations include large international NGOs that support independent media like the International Fund for Public Interest Media and smaller, individual media outlets serving audiences living under repressive conditions in countries like Iran and Russia.

...

USAID programs support independent media in more than 30 countries, but it is difficult to assess the full extent of the harm done to the global media. Many organizations are hesitant to draw attention for fear of risking long-term funding or coming under political attacks. According to a USAID fact sheet which has since been taken offline, in 2023, the agency funded training and support for 6,200 journalists, assisted 707 non-state news outlets, and supported 279 media-sector civil society organizations

 

 

 

Source:  Wiki Leaks

https://x.com/wikileaks/status/1887501752213409919

 

 

[DiogenesLamp]

"POLITICO is a privately owned company. We have never received any government funding — no subsidies, no grants, no handouts. Not one dime, ever, in 18 years. "

"Government agencies that subscribe do so through standard public procurement processes..."

These two statements seem contradictory to me. They say they aren't getting government money, but then they say they *ARE* getting government money.

[Openurmind]

“That 8.1 mil is not from USAID alone but the whole government agencies.”

Does it matter??? Go look at the graph on this page... It is so obvious a blind man could see it was Biden term propaganda money. It was flatline from 2008 to 2019 and then exploded during Biden’s term and leading up to the elections.

https://www.usaspending.gov/recipient/fa0cefae-7cfb-881d-29c3-1bd39cc6a49e-P/latest

[cgbg]

It is not a close call.

Hopefully some federal employees will go to prison for this—and the juries will make the point for me.

It is a grotesque misuse of federal funds—and the full context—use in many agencies—suggest a concerted effort to support Politico by the Democrats.

Further context is offered by the constant leftist claims that mass media needed government support to fight “disinformation”.

They decided to go for it without Congressional authorization—and play the propaganda/election interference/push leftist wackadoodle agenda at home and abroad game.

[Starboard]

POLITICO has no financial dependence on the government

************

But can't seem to pay its staff when there's a freeze on government spending.

[Robert A Cook PE]

Millions in US government money paid into one hand of Politico ... goes into the gut and blood that supports the lifestyles of the rick and famous in the rest of Politico.

But, you see, if US government money does NOT go into supporting the rest of Politico, then rest of Politico will have no problems losing those tens of millions of US government money, will they Mr Editor in Chief?

[Starboard]

Pls see my #54.

[Robert A Cook PE]

Are those graphics from Elon Musk’s super-geek Squad of programmers?

[Professional]

Ding ding ding...

You win the internet today

[Stosh]

from their statement: “Government agencies that subscribe do so through standard public procurement processes — just like any other tool they buy to work smarter and be more efficient. This is not funding. It is a transaction”

The first thing I thought of with this so-called “transaction” was former Dem Speaker Jim Wright’s “book” deal, where unions and other influence-seekers bought up thousands of copies of a piece of work consisting of blank pages, pages with just a few words, and the like. Most ended up scrapped or shredded.

A scam is a transaction as well, especially when a grossly-inflated price is associated with a service of negligible value.

[Jamestown1630]

LOL