{"id":2586777,"date":"2026-04-03T07:37:01","date_gmt":"2026-04-03T11:37:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/local-independent-pro-redistricting-outlet-in-virginia-is-owned-by-democrats\/"},"modified":"2026-04-03T07:45:19","modified_gmt":"2026-04-03T11:45:19","slug":"local-independent-pro-redistricting-outlet-in-virginia-is-owned-by-democrats","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/local-independent-pro-redistricting-outlet-in-virginia-is-owned-by-democrats\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Local independent\u2019 pro-redistricting outlet in Virginia is owned by Democrats"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><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%2Flocal-independent-pro-redistricting-outlet-in-virginia-is-owned-by-democrats%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=2586777&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 Virginia Independent is portrayed as a local Virginia news outlet,but reports describe it as a front for Democratic operatives based in washington,D.C., pushing the state&#8217;s redistricting referendum. It is produced by American Independent Media, funded by the American Independent Foundation (a 501(c)(3) tied too David Brock) with leadership connections to Media Matters and other Democratic-aligned groups. The publication has delivered near-daily online articles and mailers advocating for the redistricting amendment, frequently enough downplaying or omitting the subjects\u2019 political affiliations. Critics label it \u201cpink slime\u201d journalism-a strategy that imitates local news to promote a partisan agenda, distributed both online and via physical mail. The piece discusses legal questions surrounding its 501(c)(4) status, which can allow lobbying on ballot measures, and situates this outlet within a broader ecosystem of philanthropically funded, pro-Democratic local-news ventures (such as States Newsroom and Courier Newsroom) backed by wealthy donors, including George Soros. It notes concerns about legality in Virginia and the potential impact on voters and public perception.  <\/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<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">&lsquo;Local independent&rsquo; outlet in Virginia pushing redistricting is owned by Democratic operatives<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2542961\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>A purported local, nonpartisan news outlet that has been heavily pushing <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/Virginia\/\">Virginia<\/a> Democrats&rsquo; <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/redistricting\/\">redistricting<\/a> effort ahead of the referendum this month is owned and run by Democratic operatives based in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/Washington-DC\/\">Washington, D.C.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>In the lead-up to the April 21 vote on the redistricting measure in Virginia, which would redraw the state&rsquo;s congressional maps favorably for Democrats, a faux newspaper called the <em>Virginia Independent<\/em> has been delivering <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/virginiaindependentnews.com\/?search=redistricting\">near-daily<\/a> messaging in support of the ballot initiative, presented as homegrown press coverage, both online and directly to the electorate&rsquo;s doorsteps.<\/p>\n<p>For instance, the <em>Virginia Independent<\/em> spotlighted a series of sitdown interviews it conducted with proponents of the constitutional amendment, portraying the supporters simply as working-class Virginia residents despite their ties to the Democratic base.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>The profiles contained pro-redistricting commentary in Q&amp;A format from <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/virginiaindependentnews.com\/elections\/redistricting-constitution-amendment-referendum-house-representatives-2026-midterms-sheila-crowley\/\">&ldquo;Mathews County retiree&rdquo;<\/a> Sheila Crowley, formerly <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/ballotpedia.org\/Sheila_Crowley\">a Democratic candidate<\/a> for the Virginia House of Delegates; <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/virginiaindependentnews.com\/elections\/southside-nurse-shares-why-she-is-voting-yes-on-the-redistricting-amendment\/\">&ldquo;Southside nurse&rdquo;<\/a> Paddy Rassbach, the current <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/mecklenburgcountydemsva.org\/\">vice chair<\/a> of the Mecklenburg County Democratic Committee; <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/virginiaindependentnews.com\/elections\/virginia-beach-veteran-support-redistricting-amendment-2026-midterms\/\">&ldquo;Virginia Beach veteran&rdquo;<\/a> Susan Hippen, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/vademocrats.org\/your-party\/party-organizations-and-networks\/\">chairwoman<\/a> of the Virginia Democrat Party&rsquo;s veterans and military families caucus; and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/virginiaindependentnews.com\/elections\/retired-lancaster-small-business-owner-vote-redistricting-amendment-referendum-2026-midterms\/\">&ldquo;Lancaster small-business owner&rdquo;<\/a> Charlotte Hollings, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/vademocrats.org\/local\/lancaster\/\">leader<\/a> of the Lancaster County Democrats.<\/p>\n<p>Those four feature stories, aimed at convincing undecided Virginians to vote in favor of overhauling the state&rsquo;s congressional districts <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/opinion\/4490894\/abigail-spanbergers-redistricting-fairness-farce\/\">to the advantage of Democrats<\/a>, either downplayed the subjects&rsquo; political affiliations or neglected to mention their leadership positions within the Democratic Party entirely.<\/p>\n<p>The <em>Virginia Independent<\/em> published 14 other dubiously crafted pieces about the redistricting battle <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/virginiaindependentnews.com\/?search=redistricting\">in March<\/a> alone, including stories <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/virginiaindependentnews.com\/elections\/critics-say-virginia-anti-redistricting-fight-is-a-maga-misinformation-effort\/\">calling<\/a> criticism against the proposed changes &ldquo;MAGA misinformation&rdquo; and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/virginiaindependentnews.com\/elections\/virginia-redistricting-backers-say-a-yes-vote-could-change-congress-for-the-better\/\">asserting<\/a> that the amendment&rsquo;s approval &ldquo;could change Congress for the better.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Its content is available in digital as well as print form, with a roundup of articles physically appearing in the mailboxes of Virginia voters every month &mdash; no subscription needed.<\/p>\n<p>On the front page of its March edition, the <em>Virginia Independent<\/em> <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/virginiaindependentnews.com\/elections\/obama-backs-virginia-redistricting-amendment-as-trump-pushes-republican-control-of-house\/\">featured<\/a> former President Barack Obama backing the redistricting push, mirroring recent TV ads in the Virginia market of Obama telling Virginians to vote &ldquo;Yes&rdquo; on the ballot question.<\/p>\n<p>Readers unaware of the outlet&rsquo;s origins are led to believe that the <em>Virginia Independent<\/em>, because of its name and presentation style, is an impartial newspaper native to the Old Dominion.<\/p>\n<p>But watchdogs monitoring political advertising schemes warn that the <em>Virginia Independent<\/em>, which operates <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/virginiaindependentnews.com\/contact\/\">out of a P.O. Box<\/a>, is a front for advancing the Democratic Party&rsquo;s agenda in Virginia.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-who-is-behind-the-virginia-independent\">Who is behind the <em>Virginia Independent<\/em>?<\/h2>\n<p>The <em>Virginia Independent<\/em> is a product of American Independent Media, a well-funded media network managed by a cohort of longtime Democratic operatives.<\/p>\n<p>Its 501(c)(3) arm, the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.influencewatch.org\/non-profit\/the-american-independent-foundation\/\">American Independent Foundation<\/a>, is owned by prominent Democratic ally David Brock, the founder of Media Matters, a fact-checking website focused on countering conservative content.<\/p>\n<p>Several past and present Media Matters executives have held senior positions in American Independent&rsquo;s ranks. Pilar Martinez, the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mediamatters.org\/about-us\/leadership\">chief financial officer<\/a> of Media Matters, is the CFO of American Independent Media and its 501(c)(3) counterpart. Democratic strategist Bradley Beychok, previously the president of Media Matters, also served as the president of American Independent Media until 2024.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Politico&rsquo;s Ken Vogel reports Thursday that CREW has been taken over by David Brock and will likely become part of his partisan operation. (AP Photo) | Danny Johnston<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Ankit Desai, the American Independent Foundation&rsquo;s former treasurer, is a business associate of Beychok and Ryan Berni, an ex-Biden administration official, all of whom work together at Lafayette Advisors, a strategic communications and consultancy firm <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.prnewswire.com\/news-releases\/seasoned-democratic-strategists-launch-lafayette-advisors-new-communications-and-advocacy-strategy-firm-302213187.html\">composed of former officials<\/a> from the Biden, Obama, and Clinton administrations.<\/p>\n<p>District of Columbia registration records identify Katherine LaBeau, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/elias.law\/bio\/katherine-labeau\/\">a political law partner<\/a> at Elias Law Group, as the &ldquo;incorporator&rdquo; of American Independent Media. Elias Law Group is the firm of <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4074943\/rough-year-court-marc-elias\/\">Marc Elias<\/a>, the Democratic Party&rsquo;s go-to lawyer for litigating election matters.<\/p>\n<p>American Independent Media <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/tainews.com\/about\/\">says<\/a> it &ldquo;uses journalism to educate the public, giving them the information they need about local and federal issues,&rdquo; while its charitable foundation describes their shared mission <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/projects.propublica.org\/nonprofits\/organizations\/331137541\/202522879349301317\/full\">on tax filings<\/a> as &ldquo;foster[ing] strong, independent journalism that helps create positive societal change through increased public awareness of progressive issues.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-politicking-disguised-as-local-news\">Politicking disguised as local news<\/h2>\n<p>American Independent&rsquo;s content is a brand of &ldquo;pink slime&rdquo; journalism, according to the media monitor <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cjr.org\/tow_center\/pink-slime-partisan-journalism-and-the-future-of-local-news.php\">Columbia Journalism Review<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Pink slime sites, named after the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thesalt\/2014\/06\/17\/322911060\/pink-slime-is-making-a-comeback-do-you-have-a-beef-with-that\">byproduct<\/a> used as filler in processed beef that is then passed off as higher-quality meat, take on the appearance of a community news outlet in order to gain readers&rsquo; trust and appear as a reliable source of information.<\/p>\n<p>Political advocacy masquerading as unbiased, grassroots journalism is not a novel electioneering tactic, explained Michael Watson, the research director of Capital Research Center, a think tank tracking the mobilization strategies of special interest groups.<\/p>\n<p>Websites serving as mouthpieces for political actors have infiltrated the local news space for several years now, successfully imitating neighborhood gazettes and regional dispatches.<\/p>\n<p>Watson, however, told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> that the mass distribution of physical mailers posing as a traditional town newspaper, rather than relying merely on online articles, is a newer approach to reaching unsuspecting voters.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;If you don&rsquo;t know what you&rsquo;re looking at,&rdquo; Watson said, &ldquo;and you&rsquo;re just a person and you see this mailer that pretends to be a newspaper, it can easily trick you into thinking that, &lsquo;Oh, this is independent and not actually aligned with a consultant network that&rsquo;s very close to the Democratic Party.&rsquo;&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Watson said that such left-of-center projects created to platform Democratic arguments about certain state-specific policy issues can range from left-leaning political reporting to thinly veiled partisan propaganda.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;This goes not just for the American Independent network,&rdquo; Watson said, &ldquo;but for all these sorts of progressive pink slime news. There&rsquo;s a sliding scale of outright talking points to ideological journalism.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>For instance, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.influencewatch.org\/non-profit\/the-newsroom\/\">States Newsroom<\/a>, which used to fall under the umbrella of dark money behemoth Arabella Advisors, covers state-level politics through a liberal lens. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.influencewatch.org\/non-profit\/courier-newsroom\/\">Courier Newsroom<\/a>, meanwhile, is a Democrat-affiliated media service deployed specifically to generate public support for the party&rsquo;s positions while appearing to be local news.<\/p>\n<p>American Independent Media, such as Courier Newsroom, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/tainews.com\/\">operates<\/a> other state-centric variants in known swing states, such as the <em>Pennsylvania Independent<\/em>, the <em>Michigan Independent<\/em>, and the <em>Wisconsin Independent<\/em>, seemingly intended to sway readers there toward voting blue.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-booming-pseudo-news-business-backed-by-big-philanthropy\">Booming pseudo-news business backed by Big Philanthropy<\/h2>\n<p>Watson said that similarly disguised influence campaigns tend to target battleground states, jurisdictions where politics are highly competitive at the local level, and areas whose voters are considering issues of great interest to the left-wing donor class.<\/p>\n<p>The progressive philanthropy industry, Watson added, is deeply invested in the pink slime news sector, and Democratic donors see these dissemination sites as a vehicle for shaping public perception around contentious agenda items.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;In this case, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/George-Soros\/\">George Soros<\/a> has given a substantial amount of money to the Virginia redistricting campaign,&rdquo; Watson said. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s of critical importance to the progressive donor class, even though Virginia is a relatively comfortable Democratic state.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/investigations\/4485211\/liberal-dark-money-democrats-virginia-redistricting\/\"><strong>LIBERAL DARK MONEY BOOSTS DEMOCRATS&rsquo; VIRGINIA REDISTRICTING EFFORT, MASSIVELY OUTRAISING OPPONENTS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The proliferation of <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >pink slime sites mimicking legitimate localized news<\/a> is owed in large part to deep-pocketed donors, who are pumping hundreds of millions of dollars into these pseudo-news operations, realizing that readers still prefer local media over legacy outlets.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pewresearch.org\/short-reads\/2025\/10\/29\/how-americans-trust-in-information-from-news-organizations-and-social-media-sites-has-changed-over-time\/\">Studies<\/a> have shown that consumers historically are more likely to trust local media than <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/fact-check-viral-image-claims-a-milkman-in-california-fathered-over-800-children\/\" title=\"FACT CHECK: Viral Image Claims A Milkman In California Fathered Over 800 Children\">national news sources<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;They&rsquo;ve learned by now that national outlets like the <em>New York Times<\/em> are going to be progressive and Democratic, Fox News is going to be conservative and Republican,&rdquo; Watson said. &ldquo;But local outlets still have that ability to persuade, and so [philanthropists] are responding by throwing money, whether at ideological journalism or talking point mills essentially skin-suited as supposedly local journalism.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-legal-concerns-and-staying-power\">Legal concerns and staying power<\/h2>\n<p>Though the <em>Virginia Independent <\/em>predates the state&rsquo;s current redistricting fight, the publication only popped up last year. Its online stories date back to early 2025, and it began sending newspaper-like mailers during Virginia&rsquo;s off-year election cycle, when Democrats were vying for &mdash; and subsequently secured &mdash; full control of the state government.<\/p>\n<p>Some skeptical state residents who received unsolicited copies of the <em>Virginia Independent<\/em> in the mail took to social media at the time to question the political objective of the monthly mailers, many of them promoting positive press about Gov. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/Abigail-Spanberger\/\">Abigail Spanberger<\/a>&rsquo;s (D-VA) gubernatorial bid.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-large is-resized\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">September 2025 edition of the Virginia Independent. (X.com)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>One Virginia voter <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/Blindcompl52926\/status\/1974198214380433888\">complained<\/a> that its September issue read like &ldquo;a campaign ad for Spanberger,&rdquo; adding, &ldquo;Seems illegal to me!&rdquo; Another recipient <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/OfKrakatoa\/status\/1976372990888771819\">suggested<\/a>, &ldquo;It is an illegal, undisclosed Democrat campaign brochure. Supposed to disclaim &lsquo;paid for by &hellip; &rsquo; A class one misdemeanor.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Regarding the legality of American Independent Media&rsquo;s direct-mail redistricting campaign, Watson said that since it is structured as a 501(c)(4) social welfare organization, the nonprofit entity is <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sfbar.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/The-ABCs-of-501c4s.pdf\">allowed under tax law<\/a> to engage in unlimited lobbying on any number of ballot initiatives.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;501(c)(4)s are designed for public advocacy, and [supporting or opposing] a ballot measure is considered lobbying the electorate,&rdquo; Watson said. &ldquo;As a 501(c)(4), you can make, as far as I&rsquo;m aware, as many statements on ballot measures as you want.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Tax-exempt entities organized as 501(c)(4)s frequently game campaign finance regulations by exploiting the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lathropgpm.com\/insights\/federal-judge-finds-limits-on-501c4s-political-activity-unconstitutionally-vague\/\">legally vague<\/a> distinctions between issue advocacy and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.irs.gov\/charities-non-profits\/other-non-profits\/political-activity-and-social-welfare\">direct campaign intervention<\/a>, that is, explicitly acting on behalf of or opposing a candidate running for public office.<\/p>\n<p>501(c)(4)s are able to participate in political activity that boosts a candidate&rsquo;s visibility, for instance, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/afj.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/Election_Year_Activities_for_501c4_Social_Welfare_Organizations.pdf\">as long as it is not<\/a> the organization&rsquo;s primary purpose.<\/p>\n<p>A bulk of the <em>Virginia Independent<\/em>&rsquo;s content has been dedicated this year to the redistricting referendum. The outlet also opines, with a liberal bent, on a wide array of other politically charged topics affecting Virginia and often airs general grievances against GOP leadership in Washington, claiming that the criticism comes from everyday Virginians.<\/p>\n<p>One <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/virginiaindependentnews.com\/health-care\/trump-administration-medicare-medicaid-ssdi-funding-cuts-insurance-aca\/\">March 25 article<\/a> titled, &ldquo;Virginians say Trump administration policies are making their lives more difficult,&rdquo; quoted a dog groomer from Charlottesville.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3861690\/virginia-democrats-redistricting-fight-plan-counter-trump-agenda\/\"><strong>VIRGINIA DEMOCRATS JUMP INTO REDISTRICTING FIGHT WITH PLAN TO COUNTER TRUMP AGENDA<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;A lot of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/5-financial-bubbles-that-made-gamestop-look-like-nothing\/\" title=\"5 Financial \u2018Bubbles\u2019 That Made Gamestop Look Like Nothing\">middle-class people<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/election-polling-in-italy-finds-wealthiest-voted-left-working-and-middle-voted-right\/\" title=\"Election Polling in Italy Finds Wealthiest Voted Left, Working and Middle Voted Right\">lower-middle-class people<\/a> are struggling so much that they are essentially in poverty,&rdquo; the pet stylist, bashing <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/restoring-america\/faith-freedom-self-reliance\/4422277\/enhanced-obamacare-subsidies-should-stay-gone\/\">Affordable Care Act cuts<\/a>, told the <em>Virginia Independent<\/em>. &ldquo;I can&rsquo;t help but specifically point at the Republicans for doing this.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>That interviewee, the story failed to acknowledge, also appeared one day prior on <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/cvillerightnow.com\/news\/208802-virtual-panel-discusses-impact-of-aca-and-gop-cuts-to-healthcare\/\">a March 24 panel<\/a> formed by Protect Our Care, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.influencewatch.org\/non-profit\/protect-our-care\/\">a self-described<\/a> &ldquo;dedicated war room for [Obamacare].&rdquo; Protect Our Care&rsquo;s executive director is Brad Woodhouse, the previous president of the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.influencewatch.org\/non-profit\/american-bridge-21st-century-foundation\/\">American Bridge 21st Century Foundation<\/a>, which bankrolls the American Independent Foundation.<\/p>\n<p>American Independent Media was contacted for comment.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Virginia outlet run by DC Dem operatives<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3767,"featured_media":2586778,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/David-Brock-dark-money-scaled-e1775169664480.webp?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[3685,77075,77074,16985,38033],"class_list":["post-2586777","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-democrats","tag-local-media","tag-media-ownership","tag-redistricting","tag-virginia-politics"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/David-Brock-dark-money-scaled-e1775169664480.webp?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2586777","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\/3767"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2586777"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2586777\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2586785,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2586777\/revisions\/2586785"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2586778"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2586777"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2586777"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2586777"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}