The mystery of $ 50 million “condoms to Hamas”

I am not becoming Semaphor’s Fact-Check SPalist. Other people Do it for other quality news organizations. They have plenty of time and probably many goals.

The mystery of the $ 50 million condoms stuck out to me, in the midst of all the stories growing from this week’s OMB financing freezer, because it was believed so quickly even before the White House pointed to some evidence to back up it. David Friedman, Trump’s first ambassador to Israel, responded To the Leavitt declaration by calculating how many condoms may have been in the purchase, and suggested that “Hamas would fill them with helium to carry bombs across the border.” Chris Rufo, the learned and activist whose antidi work has been extremely influential in the new administration, quoted it as a example Of why “permanent bureaucrats” should be replaced by the private sector Suschildren.

It was an early test of something new and useful for Trump: New media that will share what the administration is saying. Autism Capital, a popular X account often careful by Elon Musk, Printed Leavitt’s remark as fact revealed by DOGE. (“Tip of icebergs,” Added Musk.) When Fox News covered the claim it cited an x post From the new spokesman for the Tammy Bruce State Department to stop “$ 102 million in unjustified funding to a contractor in Gaza, including money for birth control.”

The natural next question – which contractor? – Was not answered in that story. When the Ministry of State named a contractor after other journalists’ questions, the IMC said the claim was wrong. And there is really no evidence that this returned administration. Its prerequisite that as much funding should be stopped as possible until the new team can determine if it meets Trump’s goal is completely uncontroversial among Republicans.

But was this the best way to sell it? There is a healthy industry in DC to find the craziest sounding federal expenses, highlighting That and asking why taxpayers should finance it. A very valid source of mediassepis is that stories can become viral before the details are confirmed; “Story before Facts,” As City Journal expressed it on a righteous Summary Of how early reporting (and Joe Biden) crushed Jacob Blake history, inflaming racial tension in Kenosha, Wisconsin, before the 2020 election.