Special Poll
Rep. Lauren Boebert recently amplified a false claim circulating among MAGA circles that the government has been heavily subsidizing the media outlet Politico, only for it to be revealed that her own congressional office subscribes to the service.
The Colorado congresswoman lashed out at Politico while former President Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and other prominent MAGA figures promoted the misleading assertion that the publication was funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
“LOL. @politico is trying to attack @elonmusk because he’s exposing their grift,” Boebert posted on X Wednesday, sharing a screenshot of recent coverage about Musk. “NEWS FLASH: No one trusts media funded by the deep state!!”
However, her statement quickly backfired when a community note on X pointed out that her own congressional office pays for a Politico Pro subscription—a premium service providing policy updates.
“Members of Congress and administration officials pay for Politico Pro, a service that provides policy updates. Lauren Boebert also pays for this service in her office,” the note stated.
Records later revealed that Boebert’s office spent $7,150 on a one-year subscription, starting January 27, 2024, as disclosed by journalist Billy Binion.
The false claim about Politico’s funding gained traction on Wednesday after conservative media commentator Kyle Becker alleged that USAID had given the outlet $8.1 million. The assertion was further amplified by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt during a press briefing, where she announced that the administration was working to cancel those payments.
However, further investigation exposed that the so-called “funding” was nothing more than USAID paying for Politico Pro—a commonly used government resource that tracks legislative and policy developments in real time. Government agencies across Washington spent a total of $8.2 million on the service, with USAID’s share amounting to just $24,000—a fraction of the total.
Boebert’s blunder was another example of her tendency to spread misinformation, only to have the truth contradict her own statements. Her public criticism of Politico while simultaneously paying for its services not only embarrassed her but also undermined Trump’s ongoing claims about so-called “deep state” media bias. Instances like these highlight how quickly misinformation can spread within MAGA circles, only to fall apart under scrutiny.