“Politico received an $8 million contribution from the U.S. government to keep it afloat.”

According to reporting by CBS News, FactCheck.org, and Snopes, the claim that Politico received an $8 million contribution or bailout from the federal government is false. Data from USAspending.gov shows that federal agencies collectively paid more than $8 million in 2024 for ordinary subscription services and products, such as Politico Pro and E&E News. Snopes noted that Politico has never received government subsidies, grants, or handouts, and FactCheck.org verified that the payments were strictly commercial subscriptions rather than funding to keep the outlet afloat.