A shadowy Ohio-based news outlet, The Buckeye Bulletin, which has been actively promoting attacks against Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton and highlighting Vivek Ramaswamy, is managed by a California conservative nonprofit organization. The Buckeye Bulletin, which appeared this spring, presents itself as a local news source but lacks bylines, staff listings, or clear funding disclosures, raising concerns about its partisan agenda.
Further investigation revealed that The Buckeye Bulletin's social media presence on Facebook and Instagram is operated by the Lincoln Media Foundation, a nonprofit associated with the influential Lincoln Club, a prominent conservative donor group based in Orange County, California. IRS documents confirm shared leadership between the Lincoln Club and the Lincoln Media Foundation. Representatives from The Buckeye Bulletin, the Lincoln Club, and the Lincoln Media Foundation did not respond to requests for comment.
This tactic, known as "pink-slime" journalism, involves creating ostensibly local news sites to disseminate political messaging. Political scientists note that The Buckeye Bulletin employs strategies similar to those used by other "pink-slime" outlets linked to the Lincoln Media Foundation in the past. These outlets have previously targeted key states in presidential elections with content amplified through Meta platforms, aiming to shape the information landscape. Max Read, director of civic innovation for the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, observed that The Buckeye Bulletin appears to replicate the tactics and aesthetics of previous efforts by this group.
The Buckeye Bulletin's social media activity since its March launch has predominantly featured content favorable to Ramaswamy, including endorsements and policy discussions. Concurrently, it has published critical posts targeting Acton, focusing on her past public health decisions and her refusal to debate. Most recently, the outlet amplified a controversial campaign ad by Ramaswamy featuring Acton's estranged mother, an ad that has drawn significant criticism for omitting details about a history of child sexual abuse within the family.
The content on The Buckeye Bulletin’s social media feeds is interspersed with non-political news segments, often repurposing content from local television stations. This strategy is designed to create a façade of genuine local journalism. The language used on the website's "About Us" page also exhibits characteristics suggestive of artificial intelligence, with generic mission statements and vague claims about journalistic standards.
The Lincoln Media Foundation, established by leaders of the Lincoln Club, has seen a substantial increase in financial activity, reporting nearly $3.88 million in revenue in 2024, a significant jump from previous years. While the foundation's website states its aim to reach underserved communities, it does not disclose funding for news outlets. The Buckeye Bulletin's social media accounts have spent approximately $10,000 on paid promotions, a relatively small sum in the context of major Ohio political races, but a tactic that experts suggest can be highly effective in capturing voter attention by appearing as independent news rather than overt advertising.
