RedState

RedState
Name	RedState
Type	Political blog
Founded	2004
Founders	Erick Erickson
Headquarters	Atlanta, Georgia
Language	English

RedState is an American political blog and news site focused on conservative commentary, reporting, and activism. Founded in 2004, it became a prominent platform for conservative commentators, campaign operatives, and activists associated with the Republican Party, Tea Party movement, and various conservative causes. The site has hosted contributions from a range of figures across American politics and has been involved in electoral politics, media disputes, and debates within the conservative movement.

History

The site's origins trace to conservative commentator Erick Erickson and the early-2000s conservative blogosphere that included The Drudge Report, National Review, The Weekly Standard, Townhall, and Hot Air. Over time, contributors included figures connected to the Republican Party, Tea Party movement, Heritage Foundation, and grassroots activists linked to events like the Tea Party protests and the 2009 United States debt-ceiling crisis. RedState intersected with campaigns and operatives associated with entities such as Karl Rove, Grover Norquist, Sarah Palin, Michele Bachmann, Newt Gingrich, and Mitt Romney. The site competed in readership with outlets like Breitbart News, The Daily Caller, The Washington Examiner, Politico, and The Huffington Post, while engaging with mainstream broadcasters including Fox News, CNN, MSNBC, ABC News, and CBS News.

Throughout the 2010s, the platform reflected tensions between establishment conservatives connected to John McCain, George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, and insurgent factions tied to Rand Paul, Ted Cruz, Donald Trump, and activists associated with Americans for Prosperity and Club for Growth. Legal, editorial, and business shifts involved stakeholders such as TPG Capital-affiliated investors, media executives from GateHouse Media and private-equity firms, and editorial figures who had previously worked with publications like The New York Post and The Wall Street Journal.

Editorial stance and content

RedState's editorial stance is rooted in American conservative commentary, drawing on traditions associated with William F. Buckley Jr., Barry Goldwater, Ronald Reagan, and modern conservative intellectuals at institutions like the American Enterprise Institute, Cato Institute, and Manhattan Institute. Contributors comprise columnists, campaign operatives, and commentators who reference policy debates involving laws such as the Affordable Care Act, decisions from the Supreme Court of the United States including cases argued before justices like John Roberts and Clarence Thomas, and legislative conflicts in the United States Congress involving leaders such as Mitch McConnell and Nancy Pelosi.

Content types include opinion pieces, investigative posts, endorsements in primaries and general elections, and coverage of culture-war flashpoints involving figures like Brett Kavanaugh, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Joe Biden. The site has also published reporting on political operatives connected to Cambridge Analytica-era data controversies, digital strategy debates with consultants from Cambridge Analytica-adjacent firms, and commentary on foreign-policy matters referencing events such as the Iraq War, Afghanistan War, the Iran nuclear deal, and tensions involving Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping.

Influence and reception

RedState influenced Republican primaries, grassroots mobilization, and conservative media narratives, engaging with activists aligned with Club for Growth, FreedomWorks, Americans for Prosperity, and leaders like Grover Norquist and Steve Bannon. The site’s positions drew attention from elected officials including Donald Trump, Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, John McCain, and state-level politicians in swing states such as Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Media reception ranged from praise in conservative circles alongside The National Review and The Federalist to criticism from outlets like The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Guardian.

Scholars and journalists studying media influence referenced RedState in analyses alongside platforms such as Breitbart News, Slate, Vox, The Intercept, and academic centers at Harvard University, Stanford University, Columbia University, and Georgetown University. Political strategists from campaigns operated by figures like Karl Rove, Paul Manafort, and Kellyanne Conway monitored the site for grassroots sentiment and rapid-response narratives.

Operations and business model

The site's operations have combined advertising revenue, subscription models, donations, and event-related fundraising tied to conservative coalitions. Financial and corporate links have intersected with media conglomerates and investors including News Corp, Gannett, Sinclair Broadcast Group, Private equity firms, and venture funds that invest in digital media. RedState has organized conferences and events that featured speakers from across the conservative movement such as Ann Coulter, Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, Laura Ingraham, Ben Shapiro, and elected officials like Paul Ryan and Mike Pence.

Editorial staffing and contributor networks included former staffers from outlets like The Washington Examiner, Daily Caller, National Review Online, and mainstream newspapers including The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times. Technology and distribution strategies leveraged platforms run by Google, Facebook, Twitter, Apple News, and email providers tied to newsletter strategies pioneered by commentators such as Andrew Sullivan and Glenn Greenwald.

Controversies and notable incidents

The site has been involved in controversies over editorial decisions, reporting accuracy, and political campaigns, drawing scrutiny from journalists at The New York Times, The Washington Post, and PolitiFact. Notable incidents included internal disputes involving contributors affiliated with figures like Erick Erickson and disputes during presidential cycles involving Donald Trump supporters and opponents such as Ted Cruz and Mitt Romney. The platform also featured posts that intersected with debates over social-media moderation policies from companies such as Facebook (Meta), Twitter (X), and legal questions debated in contexts like New York v. Sullivan-related libel considerations and congressional hearings led by committees such as the House Judiciary Committee and Senate Judiciary Committee.

Coverage decisions and comment moderation led to public debates involving conservative media rivals including Breitbart News and The Blaze, and drew attention from nonprofit watchdogs like Media Matters for America and The Media Research Center. Election-related episodes referenced contested results in the 2016 United States presidential election and discussions around the 2020 United States presidential election, with interactions involving political operatives, state officials, and media personalities who appeared on networks such as Fox News Channel and MSNBC.

Category:American political blogs