It turns out that Politico, the left-leaning news outlet that has long smeared the Gamergate and the gaming community, was receiving millions in taxpayer dollars. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced Wednesday that the outlet will no longer receive federal funding after revelations that it took more than $8 million through USAID and other government contracts.
This funding bombshell was highlighted by X user Anarseldain, who pointed out that Politico has published multiple articles related to Gamergate, consistently framing it as a “disinformation” and “harassment” campaign while pushing narratives about “diversity” in gaming. A search for “Gamergate” on Politico returns 22 different articles.
The revelation raises serious questions about whether taxpayer money was used to promote a political agenda within gaming journalism.
People have wondered if our tax dollars were used to promote wokeness in video games, and the answer is YES.
USAID paid Politico millions per year to write pieces like this one, which promotes “diversity” and describes Gamergate as a “disinformation” and “harassment” campaign. https://t.co/VEIdGN2DvB pic.twitter.com/4647tVXKQK
— Sólionath (@Anarseldain) February 6, 2025
“People have wondered if our tax dollars were used to promote wokeness in video games, and the answer is YES,” Anarseldain posted. “USAID paid Politico millions per year to write pieces like this one, which promotes ‘diversity’ and describes Gamergate as a ‘disinformation’ and ‘harassment’ campaign.”
During Wednesday’s White House press briefing, Leavitt confirmed that Politico’s taxpayer funding is being terminated immediately.
Press Secretary Leavitt calls out Politico to their face.
“I was made aware of funding from USAID to Media Outlets…including Politico…who I know has a seat in this room. The $8M you receive ends today. The DOGE Team is cancelling those payments now…” pic.twitter.com/s3xiy2h87F
— Liz Churchill (@liz_churchill10) February 5, 2025
“I was made aware of funding from USAID to media outlets… including Politico… who I know has a seat in this room,” Leavitt said. “The $8M you receive ends today. The DOGE Team is canceling those payments now.”
The DOGE Team, short for the Department of Government Efficiency, is led by Elon Musk and has been tasked with eliminating wasteful spending in federal contracts.
President Donald Trump commented on this controversy on his Truth Social platform.
“It looks like billions of dollars have been stolen at USAID and other agencies, with much of it going to the fake news media as a “payoff” for creating favorable stories about the Democrats,” Trump said. “The left-wing outlet Politico appears to have received $8 million. Did The New York Times receive money? Who else did? This could be the biggest scandal of them all—perhaps the biggest in history. The Democrats can’t hide from this one. It’s too big, too dirty!”
Politico’s History of Pushing Anti-Gamer Narratives
For years, Politico has aligned itself with activist gaming journalists who push woke narratives under the guise of combating “toxicity.” Their extensive coverage of Gamergate framed gamers as reactionary extremists rather than addressing the legitimate concerns about media corruption that sparked the controversy in the first place.
A screenshot from Dragon Age: The Veilguard (2024), BioWare
Many of these narratives were driven by the same journalists who sought to rebrand gaming as a “progressive battleground” rather than an entertainment industry. Politico’s financial ties to the government now raise concerns about whether these narratives were shaped, at least in part, by taxpayer-funded incentives.
Mainstream Media’s Government Subsidies Run Deep
Politico isn’t alone in taking taxpayer money. According to USASpending.gov, other media outlets receiving government funds include:
The Associated Press – $619,968
Reuters – $3.1 million
The New York Times – $378,266
These revelations come at a time when Musk and the Trump administration are aggressively slashing wasteful federal spending. Leavitt made it clear that taxpayer money should not be funding media outlets that serve political interests rather than the public good.
A screenshot from Concord (2024), Firewalk Studios
“The Trump Administration is going line-by-line when it comes to the Federal Government’s books,” she said. “Anything that does not serve the interests of the American people will be cut.”
Politico’s week has already been turbulent. Just days before the funding scandal broke, Semafor reported that the company had missed its latest payroll run, though it later claimed the issue was resolved. Now, with the loss of $8 million in federal funding, the outlet faces an uncertain future.
As for the gaming world, this revelation confirms what many suspected all along—mainstream outlets pushing woke narratives were often backed by the very institutions gamers sought to challenge. The days of taxpayer-funded media propaganda in gaming may finally be coming to an end.
Are you surprised that Politico received government funding while bashing Gamergate? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
