Brian and Ed Krassenstein, twin brothers from Fort Myers, Florida, have built a public persona as vocal critics of former President Donald Trump and staunch supporters of Democratic causes. Through their massive social media presence, particularly on Twitter (now X), and their news outlet, the Democratic Informer, they position themselves as champions of truth and justice. However, a closer examination reveals a pattern of hypocrisy, selective outrage, and a questionable past that undermines their credibility. This article explores their documented lies, their biased treatment of Democrats and Republicans, and the shady money-making schemes that have shadowed their rise to prominence.
A History of Spreading Misinformation
The Krassensteins have been accused of spreading falsehoods, often to advance their anti-Republican narrative. One notable instance occurred in 2024 when Brian Krassenstein falsely claimed that House Republicans were ignoring critical issues like egg prices to focus on “blaming Biden government officials.” This ignored the broader context of inflation under the Biden administration, which drove egg prices up by over 8% from November to December 2024, as reported by the Consumer Price Index. Critics pointed out that the Krassensteins conveniently omitted these economic realities to paint Republicans as out-of-touch, a tactic that aligns with their pattern of selective storytelling.
Another example involves their handling of the Tara Reade allegations against Joe Biden in 2020. The Krassensteins published articles on their Hill Reporter website that heavily scrutinized Reade’s claims, citing her social media posts and inconsistencies in her story. While their reporting was well-sourced, it stood in stark contrast to their reluctance to similarly dissect allegations against Republican figures, such as those involving Trump. This selective skepticism suggests a willingness to bend the truth or amplify certain narratives when it suits their political agenda.
Their Twitter ban in 2019 for allegedly operating fake accounts and purchasing interactions further fuels skepticism about their integrity. Although they denied these charges, the suspension—coupled with claims from figures like Jacob Wohl, who alleged he intentionally bought fake followers to get them banned—raises questions about the authenticity of their online influence. The Krassensteins’ insistence that they never purchased interactions is hard to reconcile with their rapid rise to prominence, which relied heavily on suspiciously high engagement rates.
Hypocritical Views: Democrats vs. Republicans
The Krassensteins’ political commentary reveals a glaring double standard in their treatment of Democrats and Republicans. They have consistently portrayed Democrats as morally superior, often excusing or downplaying their missteps while condemning Republicans for similar or lesser offenses. For instance, Ed Krassenstein once tweeted, “You can’t be a Christian and also support a married man who lies about having sex with a porn star,” referring to Trump. Yet, when faced with allegations of impropriety against Democratic figures, such as Bill Clinton’s past scandals, the brothers remain conspicuously silent or quick to deflect.
Their rhetoric often paints Republicans as inherently corrupt or hypocritical, while Democrats are framed as victims of unfair attacks. In one quote, Ed Krassenstein stated, “It’s no longer a question of if the American President is a Traitor, but rather if Republican voters are still Americans.” This inflammatory language dismisses millions of voters as unpatriotic while ignoring divisive actions by Democratic leaders. Their failure to call out figures like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez or Ilhan Omar with the same vigor they apply to Marjorie Taylor Greene underscores their partisan lens.
The Krassensteins also demonstrate hypocrisy in their approach to free speech. After their Twitter accounts were reinstated in 2022 following Elon Musk’s acquisition of the platform, they criticized Musk for allegedly allowing antisemitism and racism to proliferate. Yet, they benefited from the same relaxed moderation policies that enabled their return. Their selective outrage over “hate speech” appears to target only those who challenge their worldview, while they remain silent on inflammatory rhetoric from their allies.
1/ Are you also sick of the Krassensteins pretending to be moral authorities while calling Trump the devil himself?
— Dr. Simon Goddek (@goddeketal) May 16, 2025
And did you know they owed their fame to running teen groupie accounts and making their living scamming people and selling teen p0rn domains?
A THREAD 🧵 pic.twitter.com/VXafgNejkx
Shady Money-Making Schemes
Perhaps the most damning aspect of the Krassensteins’ story is their history of questionable financial ventures. In 2016, federal agents raided their Fort Myers homes, seizing nearly $450,000 in assets tied to their websites, TalkGold.com and MoneyMakerGroup.com. These sites promoted so-called high-yield investment programs (HYIPs), which the Securities and Exchange Commission describes as unregistered and often fraudulent schemes, typically operating as Ponzi schemes. Prosecutors alleged that the brothers knowingly profited from these scams, with Homeland Security investigator Michael Adams claiming there was “reasonable cause” to believe they conspired to commit wire fraud.
Let the record reflect that Ed Krassenstein is contractually obligated to say he trusts the FBI because in 2018 they seized $495,000 from his Fort Myers home, illicit earnings made advertising crypto scams for Russian organized crime. Ed and his brother forfeited this money to… pic.twitter.com/fkCD2wK8ur
— Bad Hombre (@joma_gc) August 29, 2024
The Krassensteins maintain they were unaware of the fraudulent nature of the schemes they promoted, arguing they merely sold advertising space, much like Google or Facebook. They avoided criminal charges by forfeiting the seized assets, but their explanation strains credulity given their deep involvement in the HYIP community. The brothers’ claim that they removed ads upon discovering the scams is contradicted by the scale of their operations, which allegedly duped thousands of investors.
Good morning, truth warriors. In the last few days, I've gone through the internet archives and found multiple instances of the Krassensteins caught in lies.
— Dr. Simon Goddek (@goddeketal) August 28, 2024
I'll be dropping a thread about it today. This will be the final nail in the coffin.
Are you ready for it? 🍿 pic.twitter.com/kKpbg91oKW
More recently, in 2024, the Krassensteins faced accusations of owning domains linked to adult websites. Right-wing writer Dr. Simon Goddek published screenshots suggesting they purchased “teen porn” domains, though the brothers clarified that these were part of a bulk domain brokerage business between 2001 and 2011, with less than 0.2% being adult-oriented. While they denied developing these domains into active sites, the revelation further tarnished their reputation, especially given their public stance as moral crusaders.
1/15 Exposing the Krassensteins: In the last few weeks, I’ve dove deep into the darkest corners of the internet archives to conduct an investigative dive on Ed and Brian Krassenstein. What I uncovered is truly shocking.
— Dr. Simon Goddek (@goddeketal) August 29, 2024
🧵A MEGA THREAD pic.twitter.com/GZ3gZdP8et
Their current ventures, including the Democratic Informer and cryptocurrency-related activities, continue to raise eyebrows. Posts on X have speculated that their political activism may be driven by undisclosed financial incentives, with some alleging ties to the Democratic National Committee or other entities. While these claims lack definitive proof, the Krassensteins’ history of profiting from questionable schemes lends plausibility to such suspicions.
Final Thoughts
Brian and Ed Krassenstein have crafted an image as principled defenders of truth, but their actions tell a different story. Their willingness to spread selective narratives, coupled with their hypocritical treatment of political figures, reveals a deep-seated bias that undermines their credibility. Their past involvement in fraudulent schemes and questionable online activities further erodes any claim to moral authority. While they may resonate with those who share their political leanings, their track record suggests they are less interested in truth than in advancing an agenda—and profiting along the way. The American public deserves commentators who hold all sides to the same standard, not opportunists who exploit division for personal gain.
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