The Global Story How did a Chinese spiritual movement build a US media empire?
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Dec 4, 2025 Brandy Zadrozny, an investigative reporter known for her in-depth analysis of the Epoch Times and Falun Gong, dives into the intriguing rise of a Chinese spiritual movement turned U.S. media empire. She reveals how the Epoch Times evolved from a newsletter into a major conservative outlet with Pentagon ties, fueled by heavy ad spending and pro-Trump messaging. Brandy discusses the implications of its funding sources, the organizational links to Falun Gong, and the effects on trust in media, shedding light on a complex intersection of religion, politics, and journalism.
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Paid Ads Fueled Rapid Political Rise
- The Epoch Times spent millions on pro-Trump ads and rose quickly in U.S. politics.
- That ad spending revealed a strategic pivot from a small immigrant newsletter to a political player.
Founder Fled China And Rebuilt In The U.S.
- Li Hongzhi founded Falun Gong and later left China for the U.S. after a harsh crackdown.
- His movement's leader became central to building media and cultural arms abroad.
Three Interconnected Media Arms
- Falun Gong built three interlinked media arms: Epoch Times, Shen Yun, and NTDTV.
- They share boards, money, staff, and a common mission guided by Li Hongzhi.