Entity: Rebel Media / Rebel News

Basic Information

Type: Right-wing media platform
Status: Active
HQ: Canada
Founder: Ezra Levant
Former name: The Rebel Media (rebranded to Rebel News)
Political role: Host platform for Shillman Fellows (counter-jihad network)

Role in Ecosystem

Rebel Media (now Rebel News) is a Canadian right-wing media platform that served as the host organisation for Robert Shillman's fellowship programme. It employed Tommy Robinson, Katie Hopkins, Laura Loomer, and Raheem Kassam as "Shillman Fellows" — funded by US tech billionaire Robert Shillman and managed by the David Horowitz Freedom Center.

Rebel Media is the key node in the transatlantic counter-jihad funding pipeline:

Robert Shillman (US tech billionaire)
  → David Horowitz Freedom Center (manages fellowships)
    → Rebel Media / Rebel News (hosts fellows)
      → Tommy Robinson (£85k fellowship)
      → Katie Hopkins (fellowship)
      → Laura Loomer (fellowship)
      → Raheem Kassam (fellowship)

Money IN (Funding Received)

Date	From	Amount	Type	Confidence	Source
2015-ongoing	Robert Shillman / DHFC	Unknown (significant)	Fellowship funding	CONFIRMED	Wikipedia, Observer
Ongoing	Subscriptions / donations	Unknown	Viewer funding	REPORTED	Platform
Ongoing	Advertising	Unknown	Revenue	REPORTED	Platform

Money OUT (Funding Given)

Date	To	Amount	Type	Confidence	Source
2017-2018	Tommy Robinson	~£85,000	Fellowship salary (1 year)	CONFIRMED	The Observer
2017-2018	Katie Hopkins	Unknown	Fellowship salary	CONFIRMED	Wikipedia
2017-2018	Laura Loomer	Unknown	Fellowship salary	CONFIRMED	Wikipedia
2017-2018	Raheem Kassam	Unknown	Fellowship salary	CONFIRMED	Wikipedia

Known Associations

Person/Org	Relationship	Evidence
Ezra Levant	Founder	Public knowledge
Robert Shillman	Fellowship funder	Wikipedia, Observer
David Horowitz Freedom Center	Fellowship manager	Al Bawaba
Tommy Robinson	Former fellow/employee	Observer
Katie Hopkins	Former fellow	Wikipedia
Laura Loomer	Former fellow	Wikipedia
Raheem Kassam	Former fellow	Wikipedia

Significance

Rebel Media is the operational hub of the transatlantic counter-jihad network:

US money → Canadian platform → UK/European influencers
Provided legitimacy and reach to far-right content creators
Fellowship model obscured direct donor-recipient relationship
Created interconnected web of influencers who amplified each other
Tommy Robinson's transformation from street agitator to media figure happened here

Research Notes

Key questions:

Ezra Levant: Full profile, other political funding?
Canadian corporate structure: Registration, financial filings?
Current fellows: Who are the current Shillman Fellows at Rebel News?
Revenue model: How much does Rebel News make from subscriptions/donations?
Other UK connections: Any other UK-based content creators?

Last Updated

Date: 2026-06-14