Status: 🔴 A conservative news outlet founded and wholly owned by fossil fuel billionaire Phil Anschutz, the Washington Examiner serves as a powerful media platform amplifying anti-trans legislation, conservative politics, and climate denial. As part of Anschutz’s Clarity Media Group, the Examiner is a key component of his influence infrastructure — combining his fortune in oil and gas with a major media voice in the nation’s capital.
The Washington Examiner is a conservative news magazine based in Washington, D.C., consisting of a website and a weekly printed magazine with a circulation of approximately 90,000 (as of 2021).[1] It was launched in 2005 by Phil Anschutz through his Clarity Media Group subsidiary MediaDC, after he purchased a chain of suburban D.C. newspapers in 2004.[1:1]
The Examiner covers national politics, policy, and cultural issues from a conservative perspective, and targets an influential audience of government officials, political professionals, and opinion leaders. Anschutz founded the outlet with the explicit goal of creating a conservative competitor to The Washington Post.[2]
The Washington Examiner is owned outright by Phil Anschutz through MediaDC, a subsidiary of Clarity Media Group — itself part of the Anschutz Corporation, Anschutz’s privately held conglomerate.[3] Anschutz’s $16.9 billion fortune originates primarily from oil, gas, and fossil fuel investments, including the Union Pacific Railroad (massive coal shipper) and natural gas interests.[4]
The Examiner is one of several media properties Anschutz owns or has owned, including:[1:2]
This media network, combined with Anschutz’s extensive political donations to anti-LGBTQ+ organizations — including $110,000 to Alliance Defending Freedom, $30,000 to Family Research Council, and $50,000 to National Christian Foundation — creates an interlocking system of influence that spans media, litigation, and lobbying.[4:1][5]
The Washington Examiner regularly publishes content opposing transgender rights, including coverage that:[6]
The Examiner’s role in Anschutz’s media portfolio is particularly significant given Anschutz’s fossil fuel fortune. The outlet’s coverage of climate change regularly:[6:1]
This creates a complementary relationship between the Examiner’s editorial coverage and Anschutz’s core business interests in fossil fuels.
2004: Anschutz purchases Journal Newspapers Inc., a chain of suburban D.C. papers (Montgomery Journal, Prince George’s Journal, Fairfax Journal, Arlington Journal) for an undisclosed amount.[1:3]
February 1, 2005: The papers are rebranded as the Washington Examiner with a logo and format similar to Anschutz’s other newspaper, the San Francisco Examiner.[1:4]
2005–2013: Published as a free daily tabloid focused on local news and conservative political commentary. The paper gained attention for its “Fugitive of the Week” feature, which helped law enforcement arrest over 50 wanted fugitives.[1:5]
June 2013: Daily newspaper edition ceases. The publication converts to a weekly magazine focused on national politics.[1:6]
2020: The Examiner faces a $40 million defamation lawsuit from former Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore over coverage of sexual misconduct allegations (most claims later dismissed).[1:7]
Ongoing: The Examiner continues as a digital-first publication with a weekly print magazine distributed to policymakers and political professionals in Washington.
The Washington Examiner’s opinion section has published anti-trans commentary from multiple writers, most notably:
In addition to direct anti-trans commentary, the Examiner provides a platform for conservative writers who regularly frame trans rights as a “culture war” issue and oppose gender-affirming care, trans sports participation, and other trans rights measures.[6:2]
The Washington Examiner represents the media amplification arm of Phil Anschutz’s influence infrastructure. Its role in the fossil fuel-to-anti-trans pipeline is distinct from organizations like Alliance Defending Freedom (litigation) or the Council for National Policy (networking):