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08-08-2023, 10:21 AM
BY ALI SWENSON AND SAMANTHA HENDRICKSON
Updated 1:50 AM GMT+8, August 8, 2023
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Supporters of a ballot question in Ohio that would make it harder to change the state constitution and could determine the fate of abortion rights there say a yes vote will provide a “defense against out-of-state meddling.”
Opponents argue that a yes vote would give “special interests the winning advantage.”
But an analysis of campaign finance data shows that as both sides lambast out-of-state interests, they are largely funded by such donors.
......
It’s increasingly common across the nation to see a large influx of out-of-state money in state-level races
......
Some of the messaging from the outside groups has been deceptive. A fake newspaper distributed throughout the state has spread misleading claims about the opposition while conspiracy theorists hosted a get-out-the-vote event.
......
an eight-page local newspaper, titled “The Buckeye Reporter.” ...... a closer look revealed the mailer was far from unbiased journalism. The articles emphasized prominent elected Republicans who supported Issue 1, while stereotyping the opposition as communists, Black Lives Matter supporters and LGBTQ+ allies. ...... also attributed a fake mission statement to the grassroots advocacy organization Red Wine and Blue, which opposes Issue 1, falsely claiming it aims to require the teaching of “critical race theory” and ban schools from teaching kids “that there is such a thing as biological sex.”
......
An internet search for The Buckeye Reporter reveals it is one of more than a thousand pseudo-local news outlets created by an Illinois-based network known as Metric Media or Pipeline Media, which churns out content promoting Republican candidates and ballot issues across the country.
https://apnews.com/article/abortion-righ...052b6d511a
Updated 1:50 AM GMT+8, August 8, 2023
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Supporters of a ballot question in Ohio that would make it harder to change the state constitution and could determine the fate of abortion rights there say a yes vote will provide a “defense against out-of-state meddling.”
Opponents argue that a yes vote would give “special interests the winning advantage.”
But an analysis of campaign finance data shows that as both sides lambast out-of-state interests, they are largely funded by such donors.
......
It’s increasingly common across the nation to see a large influx of out-of-state money in state-level races
......
Some of the messaging from the outside groups has been deceptive. A fake newspaper distributed throughout the state has spread misleading claims about the opposition while conspiracy theorists hosted a get-out-the-vote event.
......
an eight-page local newspaper, titled “The Buckeye Reporter.” ...... a closer look revealed the mailer was far from unbiased journalism. The articles emphasized prominent elected Republicans who supported Issue 1, while stereotyping the opposition as communists, Black Lives Matter supporters and LGBTQ+ allies. ...... also attributed a fake mission statement to the grassroots advocacy organization Red Wine and Blue, which opposes Issue 1, falsely claiming it aims to require the teaching of “critical race theory” and ban schools from teaching kids “that there is such a thing as biological sex.”
......
An internet search for The Buckeye Reporter reveals it is one of more than a thousand pseudo-local news outlets created by an Illinois-based network known as Metric Media or Pipeline Media, which churns out content promoting Republican candidates and ballot issues across the country.
https://apnews.com/article/abortion-righ...052b6d511a
