A network of at least 51 locally branded news sites has popped up since last year under names like the Milwaukee Metro Times, the Mecklenburg Herald and the Tri-City Record.
The sites are focused on key swing states with elections in 2021 and 2022: Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Michigan, New Hampshire, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin.
Each follows a similar template: aggregated local news content and short write-ups about local sports teams and attractions — interspersed with heavily slanted political news aimed at boosting Democratic midterm candidates and attacking Republican opponents. …
Six American Independent writers have each contributed to most or all of the Local Report sites, regularly writing stories that exclusively appear on the network.
The American Independent was launched by Democratic operative and fundraiser David Brock, who is also known for founding the left-leaning media watchdog Media Matters for America.
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