Ira Stoll writes for the Washington Free Beacon about another case of media malfeasance.
A charity that opposes nuclear weapons is paying for the CNN reporter who covers nuclear issues.
The Outrider Foundation, a Madison, Wisconsin-based charity funded by Democratic donor Frank Burgess, describes itself as a “non-political, nonpartisan 501c3 organization that educates the public about nuclear security threats and climate issues.” Its website claims “it is possible to dismantle our nuclear weapons” and urges readers to act.
“The more people participate, the stronger and louder the movement will be. Think about getting involved as a volunteer, or consider donating money,” the Outrider Foundation website says. “Contact your representatives in Congress. Write them, call them, email them, fax them, tweet them… there are many ways to be heard. Many U.S. representatives receive donation money from powerful companies that make nuclear weapons, like Northrop Grumman and Boeing. Tell your official to represent your best interests, not those of nuclear lobbyists.”
A June 26, 2026, press release from CNN announced, “Davis Winkie has joined CNN as a Reporter and Senior Fellow covering national security and nuclear threats … Winkie’s work at CNN is supported by a partnership between the Outrider Foundation and Journalism Funding Partners … CNN retains full editorial control of all reporting.”
The news business has been financially challenging in recent years, so news organizations have taken to schnorring from charities to support news and editorial content. The New York Times is publishing anti-Israel content subsidized by a far-left nonprofit called the Pulitzer Center. The Associated Press’s climate coverage is paid for by left-wing foundations opposed to fossil fuels.
The situation shows the double standard when it comes to press bias. When Larry and David Ellison and Bari Weiss take over CBS News or try to buy CNN, the left-wing watchdogs whip themselves up into a frenzy over the possibility that they might exercise some editorial influence, or, worse yet, discover some cost efficiencies. Yet under the current management, CNN is cutting a variety of deals—with Qatar, with Turkey, with the Outrider Foundation, with the Rockefeller Foundation—that could erode whatever remains of the network’s reputation for impartiality.
