A newspaper distributed in Michigan, The Michigan Independent, has incorrectly referred to progressive U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed as a veteran. This publication received a significant grant in 2024 from the Foundation to Promote Open Society, a philanthropic organization founded by George Soros.
The headline in the August 2026 edition of The Michigan Independent read, "El-Sayed — veteran, doctor, and former health official — is Democratic Senate pick." Photos of the headline circulated on social media, and Fox News Digital obtained a physical copy of the paper in Michigan.
The American Independent Foundation, a Washington D.C.-based non-profit, is listed on the paper. According to IRS filings, this foundation received $500,000 from Soros’ Foundation to Promote Open Society in 2024. Soros is a well-known donor to progressive and Democratic causes.
El-Sayed's campaign has strongly refuted the newspaper's characterization. "Abdul has never claimed to be a veteran, he never would out of his respect for those who served, and any outlet or group writing about our campaign should do their homework and not allow this to happen again," said Cole Wozniak, a spokesperson for El-Sayed, in a statement to Fox News Digital.
The story in The Michigan Independent did not mention El-Sayed being a veteran, nor did it clarify that while he holds an M.D., he has not practiced as a physician. The American Independent did not respond to requests for comment from Fox News Digital.
The network of state-based newspapers, including The Michigan Independent, is funded in part by George Soros. Twelve other state-specific outlets are part of this network, reportedly including papers in swing states like Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Some of these outlets share featured stories. For instance, The Ohio Independent and The Pennsylvania Independent both featured a story titled "Report: Trump and Big Oil see financial windfall as Americans pay more at pump."
An affiliated organization, American Independent Media, is a 501(c)(4) that operates these state-based websites. Its stated mission is to "use journalism to educate the public, giving them the information they need about local and federal issues." David Brock, founder of Media Matters, is also connected to this network. His organization, American Bridge, donated $23.5 million to American Independent Media in 2024 through its 501(c)(4) arm, the AB Foundation. The story about El-Sayed was written by Alyssa Burr, identified as the Michigan Politics Reporter at The American Independent. Her previous work includes roles at MLive Media Group and The New York Times.