Media Matters, a prominent nonprofit pivotal in liberal politics, is grappling with intense legal challenges from President Trump’s allies, signaling the potential fate of even well-funded targets of his retaliatory campaigns, according to The NY Times.
Backed by major Democratic donors, the organization has incurred approximately $15 million in legal fees over the past 20 months, defending against lawsuits from Elon Musk and investigations by Trump’s Federal Trade Commission and Republican state attorneys general.
According to internal documents and interviews with 11 individuals close to the organization, Media Matters has significantly reduced its staff and is urgently seeking additional funds from hesitant donors to sustain operations.
Efforts to settle with Musk through concessions failed due to irreconcilable differences, and despite occasional court victories, Musk has persisted with appeals and new lawsuits. As a last resort, the group has contemplated closing, per internal documents and interviews.
“Unlike some major media outlets that have recently yielded to pressure, we recognize this fight transcends us,” said Angelo Carusone, president of Media Matters, in a statement. “That’s why we persist in our mission and legal battles.”
The ongoing struggle highlights how powerful ideological adversaries can use legal warfare to suppress influential voices and curb dissent. Media Matters has tempered its criticism of Musk and the Trump FTC, faced alienation from some allies, and dealt with declining staff morale, internal conflicts, and security concerns.
This marks a stark reversal for a group that raised nearly $250 million from 2003 to 2023, establishing itself as a powerhouse in Democratic politics by challenging major conservative media figures and politicians.