Politico 'Note to Our Readers' on Funding Falls Flat With Readers

P.J. Gladnick
February 9th, 2025 5:59 AM

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Politico issued an emergency "Note to Our Readers" on Thursday about evidence uncovered by Team Doge that Politico has been paid at least $8 million indirectly via high priced government agency subscriptions to its Politico Pro service.

Bizarrely in the entire note the agency at the center of the scandal dares not mention its name. Yes, you will not see the word "USAID" even once in the note issued by Politico's CEO Goli Sheikholeslami and Global Editor-in-Chief John F. Harris.

The damage control starts with the subtitle of the emergency note: "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."

"Misinformed" as in Hunter Biden Laptop misinformed which was perpetrated as flat out election interference in Politico in October 2020?

And now the flurry of excuses which very carefully avoids naming a certain agency (emphasis Politico).

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. It is supported by advertising and sponsorships.

Advertising money IS government funding. This is not an issue of "dimes," but of many millions. 

Just a note that it has been reported that a number of media outlets around the world that receive funding from a certain government agency that shall go unnamed coincidentally had payroll glitches this past week just as Politico suffered the same strange glitch.

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.

At around $10,000 a pop per subscription POLITICO Pro certainly is different.

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

Speaking of "transparency and accountability," inquiring DOGE minds would like to know the breakdown of the pricey $10,000 subscriptions vs the cheap subscriptions as to government vs private sector.

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.

Do 51 former intelligence officials guarantee that as a fact, Jack?

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.

You might stand by your work but most readers of your note on X (which will forever still be known as Twitter) have a radically different assessment. A few examples:

 

 

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