Conservative outlet Daily Wire is taking its operations from Los Angeles to Nashville, Tennessee.
The outlet’s editor emeritus, Ben Shapiro, made the announcement Tuesday night, citing that “terrible governance has consequences.” Daily Wire co-founder Jeremy Boreing also said the move was because of the declining quality of life in the California city.
“We’ve been asked over and over and over again when we would leave California. The answer: now. See you in Nashville, gang!” Shapiro tweeted. “I’ve lived my entire life in California. Within weeks, we’ll be taking our 75 jobs and leaving. We’re not the first. And we certainly won’t be the last. Terrible governance has consequences.”
I’ve lived my entire life in California. Within weeks, we’ll be taking our 75 jobs and leaving. We’re not the first. And we certainly won’t be the last. Terrible governance has consequences.
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) September 16, 2020
Boreing told Deadline that the 75 employees working for the outlet were given until Oct. 1 to decide if they want to make the move. So far, he said about 80% of the media company’s employees have agreed to do so. High income taxes in the state and failure of public leadership to address housing problems were also part of the company’s decision to move.
“The dream of California and the weather were enough to draw us all here and keep us here, even when it was hard,” Boreing said. “But it’s hubris to think you can keep making it worse and worse for people and that somehow the idea of temperate winters will be enough to make them stay forever.”
Boreing said he plans to move to Nashville in November, the month of the general election, and many employees will follow. The outlet is currently headquartered in Sherman Oaks, a neighborhood in California.
“We were shocked by the reception when we announced the move,” Boreing said. “But, of course, our employees see all of the same challenges we see, and it’s even harder for them to afford this place,” said Boreing.
The site’s most prominent talents confirmed they are among those moving, including conservative commentators Michael Knowles, who also co-hosts the Verdict podcast with Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, and Matt Walsh.
Where should I live in Nashville?
— Michael Knowles (@michaeljknowles) September 16, 2020
In all seriousness, we’re excited to make the move. We lived in Kentucky for a few years. Our twins were born there. We loved the culture and the people and are happy to return to that kind of environment.
— Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) September 16, 2020
In its five-year lifespan, the conservative outlet has accumulated over 3.85 billion page views and 136,000 subscribers, according to a statement from Boreing earlier this summer. Part of the company’s success is because of its social media presence.
“Since inception, the Daily Wire has accumulated over 30 million followers, 3 billion video views, and 180 million hours of video watched across all our platforms,” Jon Lewis, the website’s executive vice president, told the Blaze.
