Overview

• Media Matters has accrued roughly $15 million in legal liabilities stemming from Elon Musk’s defamation lawsuit, FTC demands and Republican state investigations.
• X filed fraud and defamation claims after the watchdog’s 2023 report accused the platform of placing major brand ads next to extremist content.
• Probes by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey were blocked or dropped but still generated nearly $2 million in defense costs.
• The Federal Trade Commission opened a probe into alleged collusion between Media Matters and other liberal groups to coordinate advertiser boycotts on X.
• Media Matters turned down X’s settlement proposal that would require it to shut down and has shifted legal work to limit mounting law firm bills.