Part 4/10:
Bedford asserted that although it's unlikely there exists a direct line item in budgets for agencies like USAID that explicitly directs funds to Politico, the reality is that such funding mechanisms exist. The government’s spending on these media outlets not only raises pertinent questions about transparency but also illuminates a landscape where taxpayer money can inadvertently subsidize narrative shaping. A previously opaque realm is gradually being exposed due to increased scrutiny from media and investigative efforts.