Simon Pacheco Steps Out as Mass Daily News Founder

Simon Pacheco, a 36-year-old software engineer from Boston, has been identified as the founder and sole operator of Mass Daily News, a right-wing website that relies heavily on AI to generate much of its content. Until now, Pacheco had worked to keep his identity concealed, but recent reporting by The Boston Globe has tied him to the site, which has become notorious for its influential and often controversial coverage of Boston and Massachusetts politics.

From Anonymous Account to Viral Website

Pacheco’s digital presence began years earlier through the Twitter (later X) account @AntiWuCoalition, known for issuing relentless critiques of Boston Mayor Michelle Wu. His posts, often attacking Wu personally and politically—at times even calling for her resignation—laid the groundwork for his next project. Pacheco transitioned from social media commentator to publisher, launching Mass Daily News in July 2025, while obscuring his personal role by registering Mass Daily Media LLC in Wyoming without his name attached.

Controversial Headlines and Social Media Reach

Mass Daily News quickly gained prominence for its incendiary stories. An April 2026 article alleging that “cash-strapped Boston” offered up to $500 for yoga, massages, and hair salons to "LGBTQ+ migrants" while teachers faced layoffs went viral. This headline triggered widespread attention, leading other outlets like the Boston Herald, New York Post, and Fox News to pick up the story. The nonprofit at the center of the controversy eventually returned a $7,500 grant to Boston amid a media firestorm and threats to its leadership. Throughout, Pacheco’s site and social media channels have drawn tens of thousands of followers, fueling recurring viral media cycles around City Hall and Beacon Hill.

Operation and Criticism of Mass Daily News

Pacheco says he works alone, producing most Mass Daily News content during nights and weekends as a hobby. He utilizes AI chatbots to scan for topics, draft posts under the byline “MDN Staff,” and push stories to X, Instagram, and Facebook, often within 20 minutes and without independent reporting. Although Pacheco sometimes corrects errors made by AI, his articles are recognized less for traditional journalism than for their rapid, highly shareable content. Critics argue the site represents “pink slime”—a term for websites imitating local news but offering little original reporting—with a strong bias and incomplete facts.

Matthew Baum, a Harvard Kennedy School professor, described Mass Daily News as a "classic pink slime website with overt political goals," exploiting the style of news to attract unsophisticated media consumers. Others, like Boston-based writer and activist Chip Goines, argue the site injects misinformation and divisiveness into local discourse.

Pacheco’s Editorial Perspective and Response

Pacheco asserts that Mass Daily News maintains an "editorial voice" and sees itself as a "social-first, Massachusetts tabloid." He denies that the publication is designed to misinform, and notes he occasionally reaches out for comment and issues corrections as needed. While regretful over some personal attacks from his prior social media activities—specifically a now-deleted 2024 post related to Wu's pregnancy—he insists the tone at Mass Daily News differs. Pacheco said, "I would never write that in Mass Daily News," emphasizing his disagreement with Wu’s policies rather than any personal animus.

City Hall, meanwhile, is wary. Veronica Yoo, a spokesperson for Mayor Wu, challenged Pacheco to either back his claims with facts or cease hiding behind anonymity, pledging that the administration would focus on "delivering results for residents, rather than outrage, clickbait, or fearmongering."

AI, Influence, and the Future of Digital Journalism

Mass Daily News has at times broken stories later picked up by mainstream outlets. The page has also amplified topics circulating in right-wing media—including criticism of city programs to fund political advocacy training for immigrants. Candidates like John Deaton and Brian Shortsleeve have contributed op-eds and, according to public records, Shortsleeve has paid for advertising on the site. Pacheco stresses the significant "human in the loop" component of his editorial process, and notes his long-term aim is to hire freelancers rather than replace journalists with AI entirely.

Yet, as policy director Jonathan Cohn of Progressive Mass observed, the Mass Daily News model represents the "corrosive impact that AI can have on the journalism space," raising concerns about the role of automated content in shaping public debate. As digital journalism continues to evolve, sites like Mass Daily News demonstrate how individual operators—armed with AI and a clear editorial perspective—can rapidly influence political narratives and discourse.

Source: boston.com.