John Locher/ AP Images

[Update, 8/31 5:45 p.m.: The managing editor of the Review-Journal has responded to the allegations in this post. Read his response below.]


Plutocratic bologna Sheldon Adelson attempted to keep his purchase of the Las Vegas Review-Journal a secret. It was less than two months before it was reported that he had begun axing stories investigating the true cost of a publicly financed stadium to lure the Raiders to Vegas (a charge later denied by the newspaper’s interim editor). Adelson, you see, is the single largest investor in the recently unveiled stadium project.




Well, Adelson’s the second largest investor. The largest would be the taxpayers. The deal on the table is $750 million in public money, an American record—or no team. This stadium is Adelson’s baby through-and-through, and it appears he’s wielding his reporters to gather intel. Or as a cudgel.

Local journalist Jon Ralston has published a Review-Journal internal memo instructing reporters to query all political candidates about their stance on public financing for the Raiders’ stadium.

This astonishing request was made in a memo two weeks ago from Assistant City Editor Don Ham: All of you who are handling state Senate, state Assembly and Clark County Commission races for the tab should make sure to ask this very timely question of the candidates. This question is NOT going to be added to the question asked of candidates for the online election package, though. Should public money, in the form of room taxes, be used to build a proposed stadium in Las Vegas. Why or why not? Any questions, see me. Thanks.

That’s definitely weird. Here’s Ralston:

Notice the capitalization of the word NOT. What in the world does that mean? Why ask a question of candidates that will not be used in the paper? Are they getting a head count for Adelson? Reminding candidates the newspaper could be used as a bludgeon?


Adelson is one of the nation’s most politically active billionaires, and is donating to numerous local, state, and national races. His power comes from his wealth, and his wealth will increase with an NFL stadium paid for by taxpayers, and it’s undoubtedly valuable for him to know just which candidates will be on his side, and which ones could use a little pressure.

All this for a $1.9 billion stadium that most Las Vegas residents don’t want to spend public money on. Luckily for Adelson, they won’t get to vote on it.


Update: From Glenn Cook, managing editor of the Review-Journal: