Rockbridge funds covert journalism while maintaining independence facade

Rockbridge Network operates with $75 million budget through Firebrand Action, incorporated in 2022 to handle journalism influence operations without disclosure requirements under Chris Buskirk's leadership.

Reuters investigation confirmed Firebrand Action funds "investigative journalism" published by aligned media outlets according to internal prospectus documents, but could not identify specific articles despite extensive reporting.

Chris Buskirk serves as Firebrand Action president while simultaneously publishing American Greatness, creating conflicts between his donor coordination role and supposedly independent editorial content.

JBJames Blair served as Firebrand Action secretary before joining Trump campaign as communications director, demonstrating revolving door between dark money operations and official political roles.

1789 Capital invested $15 million in Tucker Carlson's media company immediately after his Fox News departure, ensuring continuous platform access for expelled mainstream voices through donor networks.

Rockbridge polling data has appeared in RealClearPolitics and FiveThirtyEight averages during election cycles without disclosure of partisan Silicon Valley funding sources to readers.

The network creates "parallel economy" ventures specifically designed to bypass mainstream business and media gatekeepers that might expose their billionaire influence operations.

American Greatness website, edited by Buskirk, publishes Jan. 6 conspiracy theories and military coup defenses while maintaining access to mainstream media outlets through Buskirk's respectable public persona.