Big League Politics Explained

Big League Politics is a far-right American media website that promotes conspiracy theories.^[1] The website was founded by former Breitbart News employees.^{[2] [3]} The site was announced in 2017 by one of its founders as an investigative outfit.^[4] In early 2018, Big League Politics was acquired by Mustard Seed Media^[5] which is owned by Reilly O'Neal and Noel Fritsch.^[6] The Wall Street Journal describes the website as "a scrappy, pro-Trump outfit backed by Republican operatives".^[7]

Content

The website has promoted conspiracy theories, on subjects such as QAnon and the murder of Seth Rich.^{[8] [9] [10]} The New York Times described Big League Politics as "an obscure right-wing news site [...] which has promoted conspiracy theories and written favorably about white nationalist candidates."^[11] Huffington Post said it is intended for "people who find Breitbart too reasonable." According to Mother Jones, the website "has published stories attacking anti-fascist activists and trying to downplay the role of neo-Nazi violence in the death of Heather Heyer at the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville in 2017. It went so far as to falsely blame an anti-racism activist and professor from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill for her death."^[12] It pushed falsehoods about the 2020 United States presidential election.^[13]

Big League Politics is best known for breaking a story in February 2019 about a damaging photo on Virginia Governor Ralph Northam's 1984 yearbook page, leading to widespread calls for the governor's resignation during the 2019 Virginia political crisis.^{[14] [15]} The website also published sexual assault allegations against Virginia Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax.^{[16] [17]}

Notes and References

1. News: With Northam Picture, Obscure Publication Plays Big Role in Virginia Politics. Gabriel. Trip. February 4, 2019. The New York Times. January 7, 2020. Grynbaum. Michael M.. en-US. 0362-4331.
2. News: Alternative Narrative Emerges in Conservative Media as Russia Inquiry Widens . Peters . Jeremy W. . November 3, 2017 . The New York Times . January 8, 2018 . en-US . 0362-4331.
3. Web site: Secret message board drives 'pizzagate'-style harassment campaign of small businesses. NBC News. August 27, 2018 . en. January 21, 2019.
4. News: ROSIE GRAY . Breitbart Alumni Launch 'Populist-Nationalist' Group . February 10, 2019 . The Atlantic . January 13, 2017 . Howley plans an investigative outfit called Big League Politics as the media arm of his project, though Stockton said the launch for that site was some time away..
5. News: Roy Moore Consultants' New Project: A Conspiracy-Theorizing Pro-Trump News Site. Markay. Lachlan. February 28, 2018. The Daily Beast. May 13, 2018. en.
6. News: Palmer . Anna . Sherman . Jake . Lippman . Daniel . POLITICO Playbook: Pats win, Trump's schedules are out and tomorrow is the SOTU . February 10, 2019 . POLITICO . February 4, 2019 . en.
7. News: Hagey . Keach . Site Behind Northam Revelations Is Backed by GOP Operatives . February 10, 2019 . The Wall Street Journal . February 4, 2019.
8. Web site: Secret message board drives 'pizzagate'-style harassment campaign of small businesses. NBC News. August 27, 2018 . en. February 10, 2019.
9. News: With Northam Picture, Obscure Publication Plays Big Role in Virginia Politics. Gabriel. Trip. February 4, 2019. The New York Times. February 10, 2019. Grynbaum. Michael M.. en-US. 0362-4331.
10. News: Green . Jordan . This New Right-Wing Site Falsely Blamed A UNC Professor For Heather Heyer's Death . February 10, 2019 . Huffington Post . October 21, 2018.
11. News: Gabriel . Trip . Grynbaum . Michael M. . With Northam Picture, Obscure Publication Plays Big Role in Virginia Politics . February 6, 2019 . The New York Times . February 4, 2019.
12. News: Mencimer . Stephanie . That Northam yearbook photo? It was unearthed by an outlet associated with white nationalists. . 24 February 2020 . Mother Jones.
13. Web site: Hendrickson. Clara. Video falsely claims Detroit poll workers were trained to steal election. Here are the facts.. 2020-11-11. Detroit Free Press. en-US.
14. Paul Fahri / Washington Post (February 3, 2019) A tip from a 'concerned citizen' helps a reporter land the scoop of a lifetime Sfgate.com
15. News: 'Big League Politics' Editor On Publishing Controversial Yearbook Page . February 10, 2019 . NPR . February 2, 2019 . The image was first posted Friday by the website Big League Politics.
16. Web site: Virginia governor's deputy Justin Fairfax denies assault claims . Bbc.com . February 4, 2019 . February 9, 2019.
17. Web site: Vargas . Theresa . Va. Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax denies sex assault allegation from 2004 . Washingtonpost.com . February 9, 2019.