> Our review of further records covering the previous 10 years found other government agencies paid a total of over $34 million to Politico (not just $8 million) over that decade. Again, however, the records displaying the biggest dollar amounts showed the money was spent on past subscriptions to E&E News, as well as to Politico Pro, a service designed for "professional policy makers," offering "critical news, alerts and tools that power policy."

Isn't this somewhat of a distinction without a difference? Donating money, or buying an expensive "service" so that Politico may lobby their causes at you at taxpayer expense. Not to mention the fact that an allegedly independent press shouldn't be getting tangled with government like this.

BTW Politico is owned by Axel Springer SE, the owner of the right wing newspapers BILD and Die Welt. The later published a pro-AfD article by Musk endorsing the extreme right wing party as last hope for Germany, Musk is the winner of Axel-Springer-Award 2020 and was at the birthday party of Matthias Döpfner, the CEO of Axel Springer SE.

Both Trump and Musk take the view that they should never let the truth get in the way of a convenient story.