GOP governors launch ‘news’ site

The Republican Governors Association (RGA) has founded an online “news” website called the Free Telegraph, The Associated Press reported on Tuesday. 

The website, which is made to look like an online news publication, shares articles praising Republicans and criticizing Democrats. But it wasn’t until an AP inquiry last week that RGA added a disclosure stating that it was behind the website.

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Critics have branded the publication as propaganda for not sharing its connection to the group, which works exclusively in support of Republican governors. On its official Facebook page, RGA encourages people to “stand by our conservative Governors as they are relentlessly criticized for making the tough decisions today.”

As of Tuesday evening, the Free Telegraph made no mention of its ties to the RGA on its social media accounts, describing itself on its Facebook account only as a “media/news company” that is “dedicated to bringing you all the political news that matters outside of Washington,” the AP reported.

RGA spokesman Jon Thompson told the newswire that the Free Telegraph is “just another outlet to share those positive results.” 

Another partisan, Hillary Clinton-friendly news venture called Verrit launched recently following the 2016 election, claiming to provide “media for the 65.8 million,” referring to the number of people who voted for Clinton in the election. It does not have ties to the Democratic Governors Association, however.