Capitalism Institute

U.S. right

Background

Capitalism Institute was launched in 2011 by Shaun Connell, a self-described conservative entrepreneur who has built and sold multiple internet publications. The site's stated mission is to offer 'a principled, credible defense' of capitalism and free-market economics, drawing on classical liberal and conservative economic thought. Connell went on to found Conservative Tribune in 2013, which he later sold to Liftable Media (owned by Floyd Brown, co-founder of Citizens United), and then launched Conservative Institute in 2017, among other properties under his Connell Media umbrella. American Digest Media, another Connell entity, handles day-to-day management of Capitalism Institute. The organization reports no outside funding and has operated on advertising revenue. Connell has publicly described himself as a 'never Trump' conservative, yet Capitalism Institute's editorial output during the Trump second term has consistently framed administration actions favorably—covering Trump's media-accountability settlements and foreign-policy moves as wins—while focusing criticism on mainstream press coverage of Trump. The site has not been reviewed by major press-credibility trackers such as Media Bias/Fact Check, and detailed fact-check records are limited, keeping its accuracy rating difficult to assess independently.

Sources

1. About Us - Capitalism Institute
2. Capitalism Institute: News and Analysis (homepage)
3. Shaun Connell Bio
4. About Us - Connell Media
5. American Digest Media
6. About Us - Conservative Institute

Profile compiled 2026-07-16; refreshed when ownership, funding, or the administration changes.

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