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NewsLos Angeles Times – CaliforniaOctober 25, 2026Los Angeles County

Mystery Ohio news site boosting Vivek Ramaswamy's ad tied to California GOP nonprofit

Photo: Los Angeles Times – California

An Ohio-based news platform called the Buckeye Bulletin has been running Facebook ads to boost a controversial campaign video for gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, while Meta advertising data reveals the site is managed by the Lincoln Media Foundation, a California-based nonprofit associated with the conservative Lincoln Club. The publication features no bylines, staff lists, or funding disclosures, utilizing tactics of partisan "pink-slime" journalism previously deployed in 2024 battleground states. The site's Facebook and Instagram accounts have spent just over $10,000 this year boosting posts that promote Ramaswamy and criticize his Democratic opponent, Amy Acton.

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Why It Matters

The article details how partisan groups use opaque local news sites and artificial intelligence to influence voter information environments in high-stakes elections.

Key Facts

Each fact below is taken from the article. Click one to see the exact passage.

Who's Mentioned

OrganizationInstitute for Strategic Dialogue“Organization where Max Read serves as director of civic innovation”PersonDonald Trump“Defended the controversial campaign ad”OrganizationThe Buckeye Bulletin“Ohio-based partisan news site managed by the Lincoln Media Foundation”OrganizationCalMatters“Identified another outlet tied to the Lincoln Media Foundation called the Califo”PersonNik Usher“Associate professor of communications at the University of San Diego”PersonGeorgia Kernell“Associate professor in the departments of communications and political science a”OrganizationTow Center for Digital Journalism“Columbia Journalism School center that conducted research on the Morning Mirror”OrganizationNewsGuard“Found that leading AI chatbots are citing pink-slime websites”PersonJohn Wayne“Once counted as a member of the historic Lincoln Club”OrganizationCalifornia Courier“Outlet tied to the Lincoln Media Foundation circulating ads criticizing Gov. Gav”PersonGavin Newsom“Governor of California whose policies were criticized by the California Courier”PersonJD Vance“Ohioan who defended the campaign ad”OrganizationLincoln Media Foundation“Nonprofit organization affiliated with the Lincoln Club that manages the Buckeye”OrganizationThe New York Times“Identified a network of 1,300 news sites in 2020”OrganizationOhio State Medical Assn.“Political action committee that endorsed Vivek Ramaswamy”PersonMike DeWine“Ohio's Republican Governor who condemned the attack ad”OrganizationLincoln Club“Orange County-based conservative donor organization described as the oldest and ”PersonMax Read“Director of civic innovation for the Institute for Strategic Dialogue who identi”PersonLaura Loomer“Right-wing political activist whose video featured a watermark on a Buckeye Bull”OrganizationStar Spangled Media“Left-leaning media group that used a site called Morning Mirror in 2024”PersonVivek Ramaswamy“Ohio Republican gubernatorial candidate whose campaign video was boosted by the ”PersonNixon“Former President who once counted as a member of the Lincoln Club”PersonDonna Arthur“Amy Acton's estranged mother featured in a controversial campaign attack ad”OrganizationMorning Mirror“Site used by Star Spangled Media to promote down-ballot Democratic candidates in”PersonAmy Acton“Ohio's former public health director and Democratic gubernatorial candidate runn”