Report: FTC Expands Investigation into Advertising Boycotts Against Conservative Media

February 9, 2026
4:31 pm

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The FTC just turned up the heat on 16 news rating outfits, probing them for what looks like coordinated advertiser boycotts targeting center-right and conservative media. This isn't some minor slap on the wrist—it's an expansion of an ongoing investigation that's already got Big Tech and corporate ad giants sweating. Think about it: organizations like NewsGuard and Gannett's Ad Impact have been accused of slapping low trust labels on outlets like The Daily Wire, Fox News, and even gun-friendly voices like NRA-ILA or Guns.com, scaring off Madison Avenue dollars. The result? Conservative creators and commentators see their revenue streams choked off, all under the guise of combating misinformation. But let's call it what it is: a sneaky censorship cartel masquerading as journalism hygiene. For the 2A community, this hits harder than a mag dump at the range. Pro-gun media—podcasts like Steven Crowder's, YouTube channels dissecting AR-15 builds, or blogs breaking down Supreme Court wins like Bruen—rely on ad revenue to stay in the fight. When these raters blacklist them for promoting dangerous rhetoric (code for defending your Second Amendment rights), sponsors bolt, forcing creators to beg for Super Chats or Patreon scraps. We've seen it play out: Remember how Glock and Sig Sauer ads vanished from conservative sites after 2020 election fact-checks? This FTC probe could crack that open, potentially fining boycotters millions and forcing a level ad playing field. Implications? More funding for 2A advocacy, unfiltered range reviews reaching wider audiences, and a blueprint to sue the next wannabe censor. The real win here is momentum. With FTC Chair Lina Khan's antitrust hawkery now eyeing woke collusion, gun owners should cheer this as payback for years of deplatforming. Rally your networks, amplify the story, and keep the pressure on—because when advertisers can't afford to blackball us, our message rings louder. This isn't just about media; it's about arming the information war to protect the right to bear arms. Stay vigilant, patriots.

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For the 2A community, this hits harder than a mag dump at the range. Pro-gun media—podcasts like Steven Crowder’s, YouTube channels dissecting AR-15 builds, or blogs breaking down Supreme Court wins like Bruen—rely on ad revenue to stay in the fight. When these raters blacklist them for promoting dangerous rhetoric (code for defending your Second Amendment rights), sponsors bolt, forcing creators to beg for Super Chats or Patreon scraps. We’ve seen it play out: Remember how Glock and Sig Sauer ads vanished from conservative sites after 2020 election fact-checks? This FTC probe could crack that open, potentially fining boycotters millions and forcing a level ad playing field. Implications? More funding for 2A advocacy, unfiltered range reviews reaching wider audiences, and a blueprint to sue the next wannabe censor.

The real win here is momentum. With FTC Chair Lina Khan’s antitrust hawkery now eyeing woke collusion, gun owners should cheer this as payback for years of deplatforming. Rally your networks, amplify the story, and keep the pressure on—because when advertisers can’t afford to blackball us, our message rings louder. This isn’t just about media; it’s about arming the information war to protect the right to bear arms. Stay vigilant, patriots.

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