{"id":2400870,"date":"2025-02-10T07:11:01","date_gmt":"2025-02-10T12:11:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/media-should-investigate-federal-waste-not-the-people-finding-it\/"},"modified":"2025-02-10T07:12:20","modified_gmt":"2025-02-10T12:12:20","slug":"media-should-investigate-federal-waste-not-the-people-finding-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/media-should-investigate-federal-waste-not-the-people-finding-it\/","title":{"rendered":"Media Should Investigate Federal Waste, Not The People Finding It"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fmedia-should-investigate-federal-waste-not-the-people-finding-it%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2400870&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The article discusses the findings of the Department of\u200c Government Efficiency (DOGE), which <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">reveal important wasteful spending<\/a> within federal funding, suggesting a potential \u2064need for thorough investigative journalism \u2062on these issues.It points out \u200cthat conventional\u200b media have largely ignored \u200dthis information, possibly due\u200d too their own financial \u200dties to \u200bthe government, having received millions\u2062 in \u2063funding from federal\u2062 sources.The piece criticizes the media\u2064 for focusing on the relatively inexperienced young staff at DOGE instead \u2063of investigating \u200bdubious \u200cfunding expenditures, such as an $8 million project aimed at \u2062teaching Sri Lankan journalists about gender issues.The author argues that the media should be scrutinizing the origins of this funding and examining the connections\u200c and responsibilities \u2064surrounding such projects rather \u2064than targeting the investigators themselves. Ultimately, the article \u2064calls\u2063 for \u2063a deeper inquiry \u2063into government spending and accountability, \u2064suggesting that critically\u2062 important questions remain\u2062 unexplored.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>The avalanche of wasteful spending uncovered by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is a mere hint of deeper secrets lurking within funky federal funding. Even a cub reporter knows the juiciest news is uncovered when you follow the money, but that is not where the legacy media are looking.<\/p>\n<p>DOGE is highlighting spending information that is ripe for investigative reporting. A lot of this information has been readily available on the government spending website <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usaspending.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">USAspending.gov<\/a>, which was spurred to life in 2006 in part through the efforts of Federalist CEO and <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/author\/seandavis\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Co-Founder<\/a> Sean Davis.<\/p>\n<figure>\n<p><span><\/p>\n<blockquote data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">As the staffer who conceived of and wrote that law for Sen. Tom Coburn, the lead sponsor of the bill, I am not at all surprised to see what&rsquo;s happening with USASpending. What&rsquo;s happening right now is exactly what was intended from the very beginning. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/sbN6s44vEc\">https:\/\/t.co\/sbN6s44vEc<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Sean Davis (@seanmdav) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/seanmdav\/status\/1887734625083994409?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 7, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><\/span> <\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p>The corporate media have had years to tell the public the extent of government glut, but why would they when they were on the take themselves, enjoying fat government handouts? As Federalist writer Logan Washburn recently<a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2025\/02\/06\/follow-the-money-feds-gave-millions-to-left-wing-media-outlets-including-politico-the-new-york-times\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> reported<\/a>, the federal government has paid Politico $34.3 million since 2015; Reuters, $10.6 million since 2020; The New York Times, $2.7 million since 2008; and $1.7 million to The Washington Post since 2014. &nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>It is a conflict of interest for the media to receive money from the same government it is ostensibly covering. It&rsquo;s hard to imagine a heavy-hitting investigation challenging spending such as &ldquo;$8 million to teach Sri Lankan journalists how to avoid &lsquo;binary gendered language,&rsquo;&rdquo; as Federalist writer Tristan Justice recently <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2025\/02\/07\/cynthia-lummis-slams-usaid-funding-for-sesame-street-program-in-iraq\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>There is good news: The lazy media have a newfound curiosity. The bad news is that traditional media have turned their attention to the people investigating the federal funding. Instead of following the money, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/republicans-hunter-biden-probe-is-legit-even-if-biden-family-apologists-dont-like-it\/\" title=\"Republicans\u2019 Hunter Biden Probe Is Legit Even If Biden Family Apologists Don\u2019t Like It\">left-wing media complex<\/a> is following the money followers.<\/p>\n<figure>\n<p><span><\/p>\n<blockquote data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<div lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">\n<p>CNN just unintentionally made the funniest news segment of all time.<\/p>\n<p>They reported on a 19-year-old DOGE staffer whose online name is &#8220;Big Balls.&#8221; &#128514;<br \/> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/nH5JyGC6tp\">pic.twitter.com\/nH5JyGC6tp<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>&mdash; George (@BehizyTweets) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BehizyTweets\/status\/1887688005751558620?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 7, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><\/span> <\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Wired Global Editorial Director Katie Drummond spoke with CNN host Erin Burnett about Wired&rsquo;s &ldquo;riveting&rdquo;  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wired.com\/story\/edward-coristine-tesla-sexy-path-networks-doge\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">investigation<\/a> into Edward Coristine, a 19-year-old hired for computer work at DOGE.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Coristine&rsquo;s online history, including a LinkedIn account where he calls himself Big Balls, has disappeared recently,&rdquo; Wired reported, adding it is questionable if Coristine could get a security clearance to work in the government. Oh, and he started a business named &ldquo;Tesla.Sexy LLC&rdquo; when he was 16.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The horror. Bad taste, sure. But no laws were broken. There was a time when some gritty editor with a coffee-stained tie would reject a reporter&rsquo;s story pitch like this. &ldquo;Nice try kid,&rdquo; he&rsquo;d say. &ldquo;But it&rsquo;s not news. Go get me something people care about.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The standards are different now. An editorial team probably sent reporters fishing at DOGE&rsquo;s door, not on the inner workings of government spending but on the people investigating it.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Get me some dirt!&rdquo; But all they could find was a team of younger-than-dirt DOGE workers. &nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure>\n<p><span><\/p>\n<blockquote data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<div lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">\n<p>The young men working for <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/DOGE?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@DOGE<\/a>. I trust them more than our politicians who have been robbing the American people! <\/p>\n<p>Top left to right&hellip;<br \/>Galvin Kliger<br \/>Ethan Shaotran<br \/>Edward Coristine<\/p>\n<p>Bottom left to right&hellip;<br \/>Luke Ferritor<br \/>Gauthier Cole Kilian <br \/>Akash Bobba <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/iceF1tOYI1\">pic.twitter.com\/iceF1tOYI1<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>&mdash; OneOutOfFour (@OneOutof4) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/OneOutof4\/status\/1887248879659172228?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 5, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><\/span> <\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Some DOGE employees are aged 25 and under. The corporate media have packaged this as a deep concern, using disparaging phrases like &ldquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.inc.com\/kit-eaton\/as-musks-doge-efforts-ramp-up-spotlight-falls-on-age-inexperience-of-employees\/91142489\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">inexperience[d]<\/a>,&rdquo; &ldquo;barely <a href=\"https:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/news\/world\/americas\/us-politics\/elon-musk-doge-trump-marko-elez-age-b2692402.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">out<\/a> of college,&rdquo; &ldquo;nerd <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.co.uk\/news\/article-14357585\/Elon-musk-doge-college-aged-employees.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">army<\/a>,&rdquo; and &ldquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.jezebel.com\/elon-musk-is-melting-down-because-his-baby-doge-minions-are-being-ided\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Baby<\/a> DOGE Minions.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>To people who have not yet moved out of their mom&rsquo;s basement, it may be shocking to see gainfully employed young people in powerful positions. But this cohort can handle the task, and, unlike aging members of Congress nearing death, these young people have a dog in the fight. They are going to have to live with the financial decisions the nation makes right now. Note also that you can enlist in the Marines at 17. &nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>As usual, the corporate media are missing the target. Again, follow the money, not the people investigating the money. Remember that $8 million spent on Sri Lankan journalists? This is a news tip, and it is practically slapping the media in the face. The same goes for all the eyebrow-raising DOGE findings. <\/p>\n<p>Funding is just the surface of the story. If the budget line item seems odd, corruption could be involved. The media should be asking questions. Who advocated for this funding? Why? Which journalists were trained? How many? What were they taught, specifically? Is this project connected to other contracts? Which people are behind this spending? Are they connected to lawmakers or high-level government officials? If so, what other contracts are they connected to? What were the salaries of the people who received the contract? Did the work get done? What was the result?<\/p>\n<p>These questions are just a starting point. It would take time, records requests, interviews, and maybe a trip to the work site to get the answers.<\/p>\n<p>Meh. It is so much easier for government-funded media to smear the investigators and try to keep the funding streams flowing.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<p>      Beth Brelje is an elections correspondent for The Federalist. She is an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/lara-logan-challenges-media-to-ask-certain-questions-about-afghanistan\/\" title=\"Lara Logan Challenges ... To Ask Certain ... About Afghanistan\">award-winning investigative journalist<\/a> with decades of media experience.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>DOGE reveals wasteful spending, hinting at deeper federal issues<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":104,"featured_media":2400871,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Presser.png","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[8049,50114,50113],"class_list":["post-2400870","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-accountability","tag-federalwaste","tag-mediainvestigations"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Presser.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2400870","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/104"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2400870"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2400870\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2400874,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2400870\/revisions\/2400874"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2400871"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2400870"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2400870"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2400870"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}