The American Leader

The American Leader supports left-of-center National Popular Vote (NPV) initiative, ³ the critical race theory-influenced concept of environmental justice, and the expansion of Obamacare. ⁴ The organization also believes that “climate change is driving migration all over the world” and opposes voter identification requirements, claiming they suppress voter turnout. ^{5 6}

History and Leadership

The American Leader was founded in 2019 in Arlington, Virginia by George Linzer. ^{1 1}

As of April 2022, Linzer is the American Leader’s publisher and executive director. On the American Leader’s website, Linzer promotes a study by the left-of-center Center for American Progress Action Fund criticizing Republicans as “climate change deniers.” ⁷ He has claimed that changes in climate will cause global migration trends that will challenge wealthy countries to “share resources that are under increasing stress.” ⁸ He has said that media bias is “not a sin that needs to be debated or eradicated.” ⁹ Linzer did consulting work with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from 1986 to 1988. ¹⁰

In 2020, Linzer hosted a discussion about how broadcast media can restore trust in media by censoring purported “disinformation and misinformation.” ¹¹

Activities and Funding

The American Leader is a left-of-center online publication that engages in media criticism, ² “works to build a stronger democracy,” and focuses its efforts on left-of-center policy positions relative to the U.S. national debt and climate issues. ^{1 2}

The American Leader supports the critical race theory-influenced concept of environmental justice and the expansion of Obamacare, ⁴ expresses the view that “climate change is driving migration all over the world,” ¹² supports expansion of vote-by-mail, and opposes voter identification, claiming it can be perceived as a voter suppression tactic. ^{5 6}

The American Leader believes “racism is so baked into [American] culture that it often challenges desires to exterminate it.” ¹³ The American Leader wants to change the world so that the critical race theory-influenced concepts of diversity and social equity are the norm so that resistance to them is viewed as “unpatriotic.” ¹⁴ In a post outlining the group’s national priorities, George Linzer said Republicans “value partisan victory over the nation’s well-being” and claimed that voter ID requirements “confuse[] voters, reduce[] trust in elections, and distract[] voter attention.” ¹⁵

The American Leader also prominently features individuals involved in policy that it identifies as “leaders.” These include left-wing Patriotic Millionaires founder Erica Payne, FixUS founder Maya MacGuineas, Voters Not Politicians founder Katie Fahey, campaign manager of The Committee for Ranked Choice Voting Kyle Bailey, Grapevine Health founder Lisa Fitzpatrick, National Vote at Home Institute director Amber McReynolds, left-leaning David Becker of the Center for Election and Innovation Research (CEIR), Advocatia founders Ryan Brebner and Laura Robbins, former independent presidential candidate Ross Perot, and others. ¹⁶

In a post on with The American Leader, Payne said that the Reagan-era view of wealth creation is “implicitly if not overtly racist.” ¹⁷

The American Leader’s content partners include the left-of-center Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget and the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress (CSPC). ¹⁸ It is also a grantor of left-of-center MisInfoCon. ¹⁹

The American Leader supports the National Popular Vote (NPV) initiative, which would eliminate the electoral college system and elect the President by popular vote, ²⁰ and encourages supporters to use Vote411, a project of the left-of-center League of Women Voters Education Fund (LWVEF), and Project Vote Smart to get election information. ²¹

Funding

The American Leader accepts gifts, grants, and sponsorships from individuals, organizations, and foundations. According to its website, The American Leader may also accept donations from government entities, political parties, elected officials, or candidates actively seeking public office. ^{22 23}