On July 29, The Daily Dot published an exclusive from staff writer Mikael Thalen confirming inflammatory comments by the Executive Director of the Heritage Oversight Project Mike Howell about SiegedSec, an activist hacking group of self-proclaimed “gay furries” who managed to obtain data tied to his right-wing organization.
The Heritage Foundation is a leading conservative think tank with significant influence on public policy. Its Project 2025 initiative, which it claims to have disbanded, is an extensive ambitious plan for a potential second Trump presidency, aiming to reshape federal agencies, cut regulations, and enforce conservative social policies. The plan has sparked controversy as critics argue that Project 2025 could undermine federal institutions and roll back protections on social issues, which is why SiegedSec targeted the foundation.
In releasing obtained data, SiegedSec aimed to oppose these policies and highlight the group’s controversial stances.
‘While many media outlets do a great job providing an overview, the Dot has a knack for diving deep into niche online topics long before they become mainstream.’
Thalen, leveraging his extensive connections in the hacking community, began his reporting on SiegedSec in June 2023 when the group took credit for a breach of a government website in Texas in retaliation for the state’s stance on gender-affirming care. The Daily Dot continued its dedication to this beat when Thalen broke the news that the group obtained data relating to the Heritage Foundation’s media arm. Shortly after, SiegedSec released a conversation with Howell where he made a series of threats and inflammatory remarks, including that “Closeted Furries will be presented to the world for the degenerate perverts they are.”
“You cannot hide,” he elaborated. “Your means are minuscule compared to mine. You now can either turn yourself in or you can cooperate.”
These messages were initially unverified, and Thalen understood the story’s impact depended on authenticating them. “The story took an interesting turn when SiegedSec leaked an alleged chat log from an employee at the Heritage Foundation who was making some pretty shocking remarks,” said Thalen. “Again, without verification, the story would not have been as impactful.”
Given the inflammatory tone and string of insults in the text, Thalen expected a full-throated denial. “Luckily, in my case, the Heritage Foundation employee responded to a post I sent him on X and openly admitted that he had made the remarks as highlighted by SiegedSec, which is something that rarely happens in that way,” Thalen shared. “It’s not often that someone will proudly admit to making such remarks. Usually, individuals or companies shy away from admitting to potentially embarrassing behavior, at least initially.”
Thalen shared that the Daily Dot’s dedication to exploring niche communities was crucial to the success of this story. “While many media outlets do a great job providing an overview, the Dot has a knack for diving deep into niche online topics long before they become mainstream. The SiegedSec story was definitely an example of that. We have been writing about the group’s hacks since the beginning and have led the way in our coverage.”
Editor David Covucci highlighted how the Daily Dot’s mission allowed for this story to be reported on. “I think [this story] is right up our alley with some of the best journalism we do, sharing things from deep within the web that organizations would prefer to keep quiet. We’ve worked hard to prove ourselves as a trusted and responsible publication when handling sensitive data.”
The Daily Dot’s parent company, Fragment Media Group, aims to serve underserved communities by providing in-depth, impactful journalism, exemplified by the Daily Dot’s dedication to covering niche web communities that have a broad impact worldwide. “This story is an exemplar of the deep roots the Daily Dot has in the data and hacking community,” said Covucci. “We’ve worked hard to prove ourselves as a trusted and responsible publication when handling sensitive data, so I appreciate that they turn to us.”
“I think it truly goes to show just how well the Daily Dot has its fingers on the pulse of the internet,” Covucci added.
The Daily Dot’s Executive Editor Whitney Jefferson echoed this sentiment. “Through stories like this, Fragment reinforces its dedication to championing communities that often go unheard, no matter where they are, ensuring that their voices are amplified and their stories are shared,” she said.
