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Since I'm subscribed to several hundred right-wing email lists, I'm going to just start an ongoing thread of grift emails.
Ben Shapiro for guns and gold. 
"we've set aside an exclusive I Stand with Trump mug just for you. But, we can only set it aside for 24 hours."
Here's a thread on conservatives promoting penny stocks.
Here's the discredited (mediamatters.org/blog/2015/03/1…) financial firm Stansberry Research fearmongering about "a raging Socialist movement" and "America's new political star, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez" to try to sell stuff (via Herman Cain's newsletter).
Herman Cain's newsletter is home to a lot of scammy emails (mediamatters.org/blog/2019/01/3… …) including this classic (mediamatters.org/blog/2013/07/2…):
Glenn Beck touts his "short course in cryptocurrency education and investing exclusively for my audience." His pitch has big numbers ("Between 2016 and 2018, the average return on Teeka's 36 cryptocurrency recommendations was 3,218%... enough to turn $500 into over $16,000.")
The Media Research Center claims to be "the nation’s premier media watchdog" -- it also sends out scammy emails:
Also via the MRC: "'Secret' TRUMP Deal: $40,983 for each taxpayer." 🤔 (That email is from a division within the sketchy Agora Financial motherjones.com/politics/2015/…)
Another Agora-affiliated email, this time sent to The Daily Caller's list: "Secure Your Bitcoin ... This Is Urgent ... You’re running out of time to easily turn a small stake into $30,000, $40,000 or more!"
Same company also to The Daily Caller's list: "5 Words that can create crypto-millions ... There’s a lot of money on the line, and there’s no time to waste.")
A 2017 @mmfa piece about Gingrich Productions sending sponsored emails claiming that "cancer was cured back in 1925" and such cures can be found in the Bible. (Callista Gingrich went from co-running this company to ambassador to the Vatican.) mediamatters.org/blog/2017/05/1…
ANOTHER Trump ambassador, Scott Brown, had a scammy email list (he terminated his relationship with his vendor after criticism). mediamatters.org/blog/2014/02/0…
An Agora company doing the same HRC-centric email since May 2017; the Feb. 2019 email begins: "A Washington insider just posted this brand new footage of Hillary after Trump's Inauguration... and I have to warn you: it's downright disturbing." #brandnew
This is a real throwback from the Obama years (also from the Agora network): "Fort Knox is Empty (the Gold's Missing)." It appeared in lists for Gingrich Productions, RedState, Glenn Beck, and Townhall, among others.
I get a lot of emails for Glenn Beck's real estate endorsement business (his company reportedly gets "a 25 percent referral fee" from real estate agents inman.com/2015/06/30/rig…). Here's an email titled "Lower taxes in red states have people moving":
Thanks for reading and the feedback. Given the interest, I'll keep tweeting out grift emails periodically along with related content. If you have questions about this topic too feel free to reach out at ehananoki@mediamatters.org.
(And thankfully that work account does not get the majority of the grift emails; it goes to a separate account I created over five years ago for this topic. I initially tried with my work account but it unsurprisingly became unwieldy, though I still get related emails.)
Dick Morris is a first-ballot inductee in the Grifter Hall of Fame and his emails over the years helped start the grifter research project. I've been getting scammy emails from him for nearly a decade. Here are three typical ones from 2010:
Here was part of Morris' scheme: He used his now-former Fox News position to build up his email list, which he then rented to entities, including political candidates and disreputable companies (mediamatters.org/research/2010/…). AND ...
He then promoted his email sponsors on Fox (mediamatters.org/blog/2013/02/0…). They let him go shortly after he embarrassed himself during the '12 election but his efforts live on. Here's a recent Agora-affiliated email he sent: "They Lied To Us About Alzheimer's For 72 Years"
David Horowitz email: "The radical Left is using your tax dollars to indoctrinate your children and grandchildren with Islamic propaganda. If you don't want your children and grandchildren pledging allegiance to 'Allah,' you must act now. ... give whatever you can today."
Horowitz email from May 2016 about Syrian refugees claims that "more Muslim refugees mean more terrorist attacks. It's an inescapable fact of history. ... So please, help me expose the threat of importing Muslim refugee terror by giving what you're able as soon as you can."
From "we can only set it aside for 24 hours" on Tuesday to "Hurry – Continue your donation streak BEFORE MIDNIGHT to claim your free I Stand with Trump mug!"
Grifter content posted today: The "master of 'scam PACs'" helped create an anti-Ocasio-Cortez PAC (and he wants your money) mediamatters.org/blog/2019/03/0…
"New Trump Alert: Cut Your Taxes to ZERO! ... This loophole can be used by anyone if they follow several simple steps revealed in the new book The Trump Tax Cut."
When I think Alex Jones and Infowars, I think napping in a hammock.
In case you're curious what the subject lines of some of the Infowars Store emails look like:
Search: "InfowarsStore" "Wall" (idea h/t @RottenInDenmark)
This is a pretty shameless GOP fundraising email given the problems (vox.com/policy-and-pol…) in NC-9: "They want a do-over, and the state Democrat-controlled election board is going to give it to them. When is the last time Republicans got a do-over when we lost an election?"
A sample of 4Patriots (thinkprogress.org/the-inside-sto…) subject lines sent through Glenn Beck and Newsmax: "Attack On America Imminent?"; "North Korea: Nuclear Attack Imminent"; "Seniors Will Need This to Survive"; and "'Our Death Toll Would Be Staggering.'"
"Your FREE Pot Stock Guide Is Ready for Download" (previously: mediamatters.org/blog/2014/12/0…)
The NRCC mug saga continues:
Grifter content posted today: The right-wing grift industry has found a new favorite target: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez mediamatters.org/blog/2019/03/1…
Finally got my invitation to the Official Wall Defense Task Force.
Grifter group from Brian Kolfage (mediamatters.org/blog/2018/12/2…, via @natijomartinez): "As part of our launch, we want to give you an exclusive first look at our exclusive limited release Collector's Edition Challenge Coins!"
Constitutional Rights PAC, a shady group that heavily funnels money back to its consultants (nytimes.com/2015/10/24/us/…), is trying to capitalize on Tucker Carlson: "Stand with Tucker, today!"
Accuracy in Media, which has pushed the birther conspiracy theory and anti-LGBTQ rhetoric (mediamatters.org/research/2012/…), wants money "to empower our mission of exposing and countering Fake News, especially now when so much is at stake."
This subject line doesn't make any sense except in the context of huckstering to anti-CNN conservatives: "CNN Refuses to Air Historic War Footage"
Another Glenn Beck cryptocurrencies email. "If you want to double (even triple) the return you make on your investments this year – without putting your life savings at risk – this is the most important email you’ll ever read."
Wow. Bargain. (The "free Trump 2020 coin" costs $19.95 at checkout; I also don't know why the pictures of the coins in the email and landing pages are different.)
The NRA continues its attempts (mediamatters.org/blog/2019/03/1…) to raise money off of @AOC: "Reject AOC's socialist hatred. Stand with the NRA."
Fired CNN commentator Ed Martin is also trying to get in on the socialist scare grift. (There's been a lot of right-wing infighting over Martin's group: rightwingwatch.org/post/eagle-for…, via @petemont)
"Will you please step forward to help fill our tanks for the long and difficult ride ahead with a generous March End of Quarter contribution of $25, $50, $75, $100 or even more to Bikers For Trump today???"
Accuracy in Media is asking for money to counter the "blatant, hateful, disrespectful propaganda" of SNL.
"50% Off - Gold Plated Trump Bills ... Even if you're not into collecting money, who could pass up Trump's winning smile? If you don't want to keep it in your wallet, wouldn't this look AMAZING in a frame right next to the TV!?"
"TheBlaze Exclusives ... The FEDERAL RESERVE BANK and the US TREASURY are planning the perfect heist! Everyone is in on it – except for you."
Light reading from Dick Morris' email list this morning:
"Show you're proud to be an American."
Another cheery email for Dick Morris' list: "Billionaire's Horrifying Prediction: '30 Million Will Perish.'"
"AOC hates our rides ... Will you chip in $10, $25, $50 or more right now to help Bikers for Trump fight alongside our President and stop AOC and the Democrats from eliminating our right to ride?"
Patriot Gold Group email via Dick Morris' list: "Trump Train 2020 colliding with Dems wanting to take your retirement."
