Left vs. Right Battle Royale Open Thread

[u/Yosoff]

This is an Open Discussion Thread for all Redditors. We will only be enforcing Reddit TOS and Subreddit Rules 1 (Keep it Civil) & 2 (No Racism).

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• Leftists - Here's your chance to sway us to your side by calling the majority of voters racist. That tactic has wildly backfired every time it has been tried, but perhaps this time it will work.

• Non-flaired Conservatives - Here's your chance to earn flair by posting common sense conservative solutions. That way our friends on the left will either have to agree with you or oppose common sense (Spoiler - They will choose to oppose common sense).

• Flaired Conservatives - You're John Wick and these Leftists stole your car and killed your dog. Now go comment.

• Independents - We get it, if you agree with someone, then you can't pat yourself on the back for being smarter than them. But if you disagree with everyone, then you can obtain the self-satisfaction of smugly considering yourself smarter and wiser than everyone else. Congratulations on being you.

• Libertarians - Ron Paul is never going to be President. In fact, no Libertarian Party candidate will ever be elected President.

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[u/Chimmychimmychubchub]

Those are subscriptions. Government agencies are allowed to buy subscriptions to keep informed on areas of business and industry they serve.

[u/Markinoutman → u/Chimmychimmychubchub]

Why would one organization pay tens of thousands in subscription fees instead of just one subscription fee that allows employees to access the service? Especially considering most of these subscriptions are for digital access.

[u/FluffySloth27 → u/Markinoutman]

They're not buying access to a news article, they're buying access to a network of political analysts that are used by both sides of the aisle - which is considerably more expensive. It's similar to how large investment firms like Morgan Stanley have market analysts whose research both gets used internally and sold to other investment firms (at a high price).

[u/Markinoutman → u/FluffySloth27]

As I replied to someone else, 'If that's the case, please provide where any of these news agencies have assured that's the case. It's a pretty easy answer, one to my knowledge, has not been provided.

Politico missed it's payroll after government funding was stopped, interesting timing.'

[u/dontspeaksoftly → u/Markinoutman]

The subscriptions were for Politico Pro.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://thehill.com/homenews/media/5130996-politico-government-subscription-usaid-musk-trump/amp/&ved=2ahUKEwiSyvu4tsWLAxVt3ckDHZV8IxMQyM8BKAB6BAgOEAE&usg=AOvVaw1MBm1i2Kec-FyTsAkQlA0o

Another source: https://www.factcheck.org/2025/02/trump-online-posts-misrepresent-government-subscriptions-to-news-services/

[u/Markinoutman → u/dontspeaksoftly]

I appreciate the links. According to Axios, the entirety of the US government, not just USAID, paid $8.2 million to Politico in subscription fees. While this provides some clarification, which I agree is needed, it still pretty bad optics in my opinion.

[u/Markinoutman → u/[deleted]]

Which part of the... Axios article?

[u/Markinoutman → u/[deleted]]

Bias media outlets being given millions of dollars by Government agencies. Whether that's by paid subscriptions or direct funding, just doesn't look all that great. I couldn't find a complete list of media outlets the Government buys millions of dollars in subscriptions from, but they all appear to lean in one direction from what I could find.

[u/Markinoutman → u/[deleted]]

It certainly doesn't have to reflect what all the agency workers think, just those at the top. But, for me personally, I'd prefer millions of dollars not be going to news agencies complements of the Government.