Editing Brian and Ed Krassenstein

{{Short description|American writers/businessmen}}
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'''Brian Krassenstein''' and '''Ed Krassenstein''' are American twin brothers who are writers, entrepreneurs, and social media personalities. They reside in [[Fort Myers, Florida]], and graduated from [[Rutgers University]] in 2004 with degrees in economics.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Laviola |first=Erin |date=2019-05-24 |title=Krassenstein Brothers: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know |url=https://heavy.com/news/2019/05/krassenstein-brothers-ed-brian/ |access-date=2022-04-08 |website=Heavy.com |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-01-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220122141835/https://heavy.com/news/2019/05/krassenstein-brothers-ed-brian/ |url-status=live }}{{better source needed|date=April 2022}}</ref>

They gained fame during the [[presidency of Donald Trump]] by frequently making anti-Trump replies to [[Social media use by Donald Trump#Twitter/X|Trump's Twitter account]]<ref name="The Daily Beast 2019" /> The Krassensteins were [[Twitter suspensions|suspended from Twitter]] in 2019 for allegedly operating fake accounts.<ref name="The Daily Beast 2019">{{cite news |last1=Sommer |first1=Will |date=23 May 2019 |title=Twitter Bans #Resistance-Famous Krassenstein Brothers for Allegedly Operating Fake Accounts |website=The Daily Beast |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/twitter-bans-resistance-famous-krassenstein-brothers-for-allegedly-operating-fake-accounts |url-status=live |access-date=24 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190523235852/https://www.thedailybeast.com/twitter-bans-resistance-famous-krassenstein-brothers-for-allegedly-operating-fake-accounts |archive-date=23 May 2019}}</ref> They denied these allegations. In December 2022, their accounts were reinstated.<ref name="thedailybeast-2022-12-14">{{Cite news |last=Sommer |first=Will |date=2022-12-14 |title=Banned Twitter Users Plot Their Return Under Elon Musk |language=en |work=The Daily Beast |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/banned-twitter-users-plot-their-return-under-elon-musk |access-date=2022-12-15 |archive-date=2022-12-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221214134141/https://www.thedailybeast.com/banned-twitter-users-plot-their-return-under-elon-musk |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Early life==
{{Primary sources section|date=April 2022}}
The Krassensteins were born and raised in a Jewish household<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tweet from Brian Krassenstein|url=https://twitter.com/krassenstein/status/1657842571379351552 |access-date=2023-05-15 |website=Twitter |quote=I consider myself more agnostic but have grown up Jewish and still consider myself Jewish.|language=en}}</ref> in [[Somers Point, New Jersey]]. They graduated from [[Mainland Regional High School (New Jersey)|Mainland Regional High School]] in 2000. According to Brian, they launched their first business at the age of 15, selling baseball cards on the internet, before moving onto running Internet forums in the early 2000s.<ref>{{YouTube|id=hdGXZCyM_BU|time=2536}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Krassenstein |date=February 7, 2022 |title=Krassenstein on Diamond |url=https://diamondapp.com/posts/5fff74d1c265a5978dc808f2e6ce92cbd6452fc1c97a748f7c6ec52555acc079 |access-date=April 15, 2022 |website=diamondapp.com |archive-date=April 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220415133301/https://diamondapp.com/posts/5fff74d1c265a5978dc808f2e6ce92cbd6452fc1c97a748f7c6ec52555acc079 |url-status=live }}{{Self-published source|date=April 2022}}</ref> In college, they started a business running online communities addressing topics such as video games, automobiles, and investing.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ed Krassenstein |url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm10004402/bio |access-date=2022-04-14 |website=IMDb |archive-date=2023-03-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230310201718/https://www.imdb.com/name/nm10004402/bio |url-status=live }}{{better source needed|date=April 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-05-08 |title=The Story of Me |url=http://edkrassenstein.com/2018/05/08/the-story-of-me-ed-krassenstein/ |access-date=2022-04-14 |website=Eddie Krassenstein |language=en-US |archive-date=2020-11-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109033726/http://edkrassenstein.com/2018/05/08/the-story-of-me-ed-krassenstein/ |url-status=live }}{{Self-published source|date=April 2022}}</ref>

==Twitter / X==

The Krassenstein brothers gained prominence as activists on Twitter, particularly within the "[[The Resistance (American political movement)|Resistance]]" movement, by consistently challenging the presidency of Donald Trump.<ref name="vicenews-2018-12">{{cite news |date=December 13, 2018 |title=Meet The Krassensteins, The Superstar Bros Of #Resistance Twitter |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Np-FxttU80Y |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220318212635/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Np-FxttU80Y |archive-date=March 18, 2022 |access-date=March 18, 2022 |work=Vice News |language=en}}</ref> They frequently responded to Trump's tweets, drawing the attention and support of several prominent U.S. political figures, including members of Congress such as [[Eric Swalwell]], [[Ayanna Pressley]], [[Amy Klobuchar]] and [[Cory Booker]], as well as political commentators like [[Van Jones]] and [[Megyn Kelly]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=9 March 2019 |title=Who are the Krassenstein twins, and why are they here? |url=https://spectatorworld.com/topic/krassenstein-twins/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230310201731/https://thespectator.com/topic/krassenstein-twins/ |archive-date=2023-03-10 |access-date=2022-05-26 |website=The Spectator World |language=en-US}}</ref>. The brothers regularly engaged in public debates with political figures and influencers, including [[Marjorie Taylor Greene]] and [[Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez]], on contentious topics such as [[Transgender rights movement|transgender rights]], [[critical race theory]], and [[gun control]].

After President Trump blocked the Krassenstein brothers on Twitter, they were included in a lawsuit filed by the [[Knight First Amendment Institute v. Trump|Knight First Amendment Institute]] against Trump. The lawsuit argued that Trump's Twitter account functioned as a [[public forum]] and that blocking users violated their [[First Amendment to the United States Constitution|First Amendment]] rights. In August 2018, following a federal court ruling, Trump unblocked the Krassensteins and numerous other critics.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Trump Quietly Unblocks More Critics on Twitter |url=https://www.pcmag.com/news/trump-quietly-unblocks-more-critics-on-twitter |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220419192931/https://www.pcmag.com/news/trump-quietly-unblocks-more-critics-on-twitter |archive-date=2022-04-19 |access-date=2022-04-19 |website=PCMAG |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Greene |first=Tristan |date=2018-05-23 |title=Federal Judge rules Trump can't block people on Twitter |url=https://thenextweb.com/news/federal-judge-rules-trump-cant-block-people-on-twitter |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220419192930/https://thenextweb.com/news/federal-judge-rules-trump-cant-block-people-on-twitter |archive-date=2022-04-19 |access-date=2022-04-19 |website=TNW {{!}} Politics |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Krassenstein |first=Eddie |date=2018-08-12 |title=Trump is Asked to Unblock Over 41 Additional Twitter Accounts, in Accordance with the First Amendment |url=https://hillreporter.com/trump-is-asked-to-unblock-over-41-additional-twitter-accounts-in-accordance-with-the-first-amendment-5574 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220419193651/https://hillreporter.com/trump-is-asked-to-unblock-over-41-additional-twitter-accounts-in-accordance-with-the-first-amendment-5574 |archive-date=2022-04-19 |access-date=2022-04-19 |website=HillReporter.com |language=en-US}}{{Self-published source|date=April 2022}}</ref>

In 2018, Brian raised $12,083 for the legal defense fund of former [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] deputy director [[Andrew McCabe]] by promoting a [[GoFundMe]] campaign on Twitter. "I just want to take a minute to thank each and every member of the DOJ and FBI who have come under attack by our President," Brian tweeted, having raised more money for McCabe's defense than any other individual social media user.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Andrew McCabe legal defense fund stops taking donations after 'overwhelming' response |url=https://www.wwltv.com/article/news/nation-now/andrew-mccabe-legal-defense-fund-stops-taking-donations-after-overwhelming-response/465-41e16db4-8a0c-4e91-be59-0bb133ad8f61 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220428020331/https://www.wwltv.com/article/news/nation-now/andrew-mccabe-legal-defense-fund-stops-taking-donations-after-overwhelming-response/465-41e16db4-8a0c-4e91-be59-0bb133ad8f61 |archive-date=2022-04-28 |access-date=2022-04-19 |website=wwltv.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

In May 2019, Twitter suspended the accounts of both Krassenstein brothers. At the time of their suspension, Ed Krassenstein's account had an estimated 925,802 followers, while Brian Krassenstein's account had approximately 698,039 followers, according to [[Social Blade]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Ed Krassenstein's Twitter Stats Summary Profile (Social Blade Twitter Statistics) |url=https://socialblade.com/twitter/user/edkrassen |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210909213744/https://socialblade.com/twitter/user/edkrassen |archive-date=9 September 2021 |access-date=9 September 2021 |website=socialblade.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Brian Krassenstein's Twitter Stats Summary Profile (Social Blade Twitter Statistics) |url=https://socialblade.com/twitter/user/krassenstein |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210909212748/https://socialblade.com/twitter/user/krassenstein |archive-date=9 September 2021 |access-date=9 September 2021 |website=socialblade.com}}</ref> Ed later revealed to ''The Daily Beast'' that his higher follower count was partly due to originally creating his account as a [[Justin Bieber]] fan account before rebranding it under his own name.<ref name="dailybeast-2018-05" /> Twitter justified the suspension by alleging that the brothers were using fake accounts in violation of the platform’s terms of service.<ref name="The Daily Beast 2019" /> In response, both Brian and Ed took to their [[Facebook]] accounts to protest the ban, calling on Twitter to provide evidence of their alleged misconduct or to reinstate their accounts.<ref name="cnet-2019">{{cite news |last1=Brown |first1=Shelby |date=May 28, 2019 |title=Anti-Trump Krassenstein brothers rail against Twitter ban |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/anti-trump-krassenstein-brothers-rail-against-twitter-ban/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220626065238/https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/anti-trump-krassenstein-brothers-rail-against-twitter-ban/ |archive-date=June 26, 2022 |access-date=March 18, 2022 |work=CNET |language=en}}</ref><ref name="variety-2019-05-24">{{cite news |last1=Spangler |first1=Todd |date=May 24, 2019 |title=Twitter Permanently Bans Anti-Trump Krassenstein Brothers, Who Deny They Broke Platform's Rules |url=https://variety.com/2019/digital/news/twitter-bans-ed-brian-krassenstein-brothers-fake-accounts-1203225266/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220318213535/https://variety.com/2019/digital/news/twitter-bans-ed-brian-krassenstein-brothers-fake-accounts-1203225266/ |archive-date=March 18, 2022 |access-date=March 18, 2022 |work=Variety}}</ref><ref name="rollingstone-2019-05-24">{{cite magazine |last1=Taibbi |first1=Matt |date=May 24, 2019 |title=Avenatti, Wohl and the Krassensteins Prove Political Media Is a Hucksters' Paradise |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/avenatti-wohl-krassensteins-prove-political-media-is-hucksters-paradise-839032/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220318214607/https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/avenatti-wohl-krassensteins-prove-political-media-is-hucksters-paradise-839032/ |archive-date=March 18, 2022 |access-date=March 18, 2022 |magazine=Rolling Stone}}</ref>

Following their Twitter bans, the Krassenstein brothers reported that they were approached by [[pro-Trump]] conspiracy theorist [[Jacob Wohl]], who had also been banned from the platform. Wohl reportedly proposed that they join forces to combat what he described as internet censorship. In a post on his personal Instagram account, Wohl claimed that he had intentionally purchased fake followers for the Krassensteins in an effort to get their accounts suspended from Twitter.<ref name="newsweek-2019-05-24">{{cite news |last1=Croucher |first1=Shane |date=May 24, 2019 |title=Krassenstein brothers say Jacob Wohl wanted to team up against Twitter after their ban |url=https://www.newsweek.com/twitter-bans-krassenstein-brothers-jacob-wohl-1434918 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220318214607/https://www.newsweek.com/twitter-bans-krassenstein-brothers-jacob-wohl-1434918 |archive-date=March 18, 2022 |access-date=March 18, 2022 |work=Newsweek |language=en}}</ref>

After Twitter banned Brian and Ed, Brian's wife Heidi joined Twitter as "Mrs. Krassenstein". Despite speculation that her account was a front for Brian or Ed, Heidi told ''The Daily Beast'' that she was running the account herself.<ref name="dailybeast-2020-05-30">{{cite news |last1=Sommer |first1=Will |date=May 30, 2020 |title=America's Most Infamous Resistance Bros Want Back In |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-krassenstein-brothers-americas-most-infamous-resistance-bros-want-back-in |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220318211430/https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-krassenstein-brothers-americas-most-infamous-resistance-bros-want-back-in |archive-date=March 18, 2022 |access-date=March 18, 2022 |work=The Daily Beast |language=en}}</ref> Heidi quit Twitter in November 2020, following the general projection of [[Joe Biden]] as the winner of the [[2020 United States presidential election|presidential election]].<ref name="jezebel-2020-11-18">{{cite news |last1=Reese |first1=Ashley |date=November 18, 2020 |title=The Krassenstein Clan Is Calling It Quits After Doing the Brave Work of Tweeting At Trump A Lot |url=https://jezebel.com/the-krassenstein-clan-is-calling-it-quits-after-doing-t-1845709145 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220111000629/https://jezebel.com/the-krassenstein-clan-is-calling-it-quits-after-doing-t-1845709145 |archive-date=January 11, 2022 |access-date=March 18, 2022 |work=Jezebel |language=en-us}}</ref>

In December 2022, after [[Elon Musk]] took over, several former Twitter employees who quit the company after Musk's takeover encouraged the Krassensteins to email Ella Irwin, Musk's new head of Trust and Safety, to see about getting their accounts back.  Within an hour they had their accounts reinstated, according to Brian.<ref name="thedailybeast-2022-12-14" />

Elon Musk began following the Krassensteins on X (formerly Twitter) and regularly engaged with them in political discussions on various topics, including diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), and [[George Soros]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Carnevale |first=Robert |date=2023-07-13 |title=Twitter Creator's $37,000 Payday Punctuates Platform's Shared Ad-Revenue Payments |url=https://www.thewrap.com/twitter-creators-payments-ad-revenue-plan/ |access-date=2024-09-05 |website=TheWrap |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hall |first=Alexander |date=2024-01-18 |title=Mark Cuban mocks X under Elon Musk as his 'little echo chamber,' defends DEI stance |url=https://www.foxbusiness.com/media/mark-cuban-mocks-x-elon-musk-echo-chamber-defends-dei-stance |access-date=2024-09-05 |website=FOXBusiness |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Tassi |first=Paul |title=Elon Musk's Big Twitter Blue Creator Payments Are Loaded With Caveats |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/paultassi/2023/07/14/elon-musks-big-twitter-blue-creator-payments-are-loaded-with-caveats/?sh=64372c267b8f |access-date=2024-09-05 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref> In one instance, Musk proposed the idea of hosting an X Space, where he, the Krassensteins and [[Alexander Soros|Alex Soros]], son of billionaire George Soros, would debate on various topics.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Olinga |first=Luc |date=2023-06-11 |title=Elon Musk Sends a Message to Soros |url=https://www.thestreet.com/technology/elon-musk-sends-a-message-to-soros |access-date=2024-09-05 |website=TheStreet |language=en-us}}</ref> Musk’s discussions with the Krassensteins also ventured into lighter, more personal territory. During one interaction, Ed Krassenstein baited Musk into revealing his weight amid discussions about a potential cage fight with [[Mark Zuckerberg]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Teh |first=Cheryl |title=Elon Musk says he weighs 300 pounds, and if the Zuckerberg cage match becomes a long fight, Zuck will 'win on endurance' |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-zuck-cage-fight-weight-may-win-on-endurance-2023-8 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230807092145/https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-zuck-cage-fight-weight-may-win-on-endurance-2023-8 |archive-date=2023-08-07 |access-date=2024-09-05 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US}}</ref>

When X implemented its ad-revenue sharing program, the Krassensteins emerged as prominent recipients. This initiative, introduced by Elon Musk, was designed to reward content creators based on their engagement and follower count on the platform.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tassi |first=Paul |title=Elon Musk's Big Twitter Blue Creator Payments Are Loaded With Caveats |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/paultassi/2023/07/14/elon-musks-big-twitter-blue-creator-payments-are-loaded-with-caveats/?sh=64372c267b8f |access-date=2024-09-05 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref>

== Business ventures ==

=== Investing forums ===
Beginning in 2003 or earlier, the Krassensteins began operating [[Internet forum|web forums]] such as TalkGold and MoneyMakerGroup. In August 2017, Homeland Security Special Agent Michael Adams of the [[United States Department of Justice]] alleged that these websites were devoted to the promotion of [[high-yield investment program]]s (HYIPs).<ref name="behindmlm-2017-10-03">{{cite news |title=MoneyMakerGroup and TalkGold owners accused of wire fraud |url=https://behindmlm.com/mlm/moneymakergroup-and-talkgold-owners-accused-of-wire-fraud/ |access-date=March 18, 2022 |work=BehindMLM |date=October 3, 2017 |archive-date=March 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220318211658/https://behindmlm.com/mlm/moneymakergroup-and-talkgold-owners-accused-of-wire-fraud/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Markay |first=Lachlan |date=2018-05-22 |title=Feds Seized a Fortune From #Resistance Icons Accused of Boosting Online 'Ponzi Schemes' |language=en |work=The Daily Beast |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/feds-seized-a-fortune-from-resistance-icons-accused-of-boosting-online-ponzi-schemes |access-date=2022-04-08 |archive-date=2022-03-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220318211433/https://www.thedailybeast.com/feds-seized-a-fortune-from-resistance-icons-accused-of-boosting-online-ponzi-schemes |url-status=live }}</ref> The brothers wrote on Web-Life, one of their sites, that they ran "the ONLY safelist for HYIP".<ref name="behindmlm-2017-10-03" />

The [[United States Department of Justice]] (DOJ) raided the Krassenstein brothers' homes and web site operations in 2017, pulling TalkGold and MoneyMakerGroup offline on or around August 22. In a civil asset forfeiture complaint, the DOJ accused the Krassensteins of obtaining property that was considered to be "traceable to proceeds of [[wire fraud]]." Investigators temporarily seized their phones and internet devices, and later seized their homes, a rental property and other investments.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="behindmlm-2017-10-03" /><ref name="complaint-pdf">{{Cite web |title=Krassenstein Complaint {{!}} PDF |url=https://www.scribd.com/document/379699705/Complaint |access-date=2022-04-08 |website=Scribd |language=en |archive-date=2022-04-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220408161625/https://www.scribd.com/document/379699705/Complaint |url-status=live }}</ref> Adams claimed that the Krassensteins were paid huge sums of money by individuals engaged in illegal activities, and that they knew that the funds had been criminally derived. Ed Krassenstein denied any wrongdoing and said that he and his brother only sold advertising space to companies that they did not know to be fraudulent. He told ''The Daily Beast'' that he and his brother were not promoting anything and that the purpose of their websites was "to help people find out which online business opportunities were legitimate and which were not."<ref name="behindmlm-2017-10-10">{{cite news |date=October 5, 2017 |title=No criminal charges pending against Krassenstein brothers |work=BehindMLM |url=https://behindmlm.com/mlm/no-criminal-charges-pending-against-krassenstein-brothers/ |access-date=March 18, 2022 |archive-date=March 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220318211701/https://behindmlm.com/mlm/no-criminal-charges-pending-against-krassenstein-brothers/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="dailybeast-2018-05" />

The brothers were never arrested or charged with a crime.<ref name="dailybeast-2018-05" /> The federal investigators later explained that the Krassensteins' websites allowed for the publication of ads for companies that were scams, and that a criminal organization from Russia was allegedly behind the ads. The DOJ investigated whether the brothers were actively involved in what the department described as Ponzi schemes.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="ir-2018-03-16">{{cite news |last1=Krassenstein |first1=Brian |last2=Krassenstein |first2=Ed |date=March 16, 2018 |title=Our Civil Asset Forfeiture Nightmare - By Brian Krassenstein & Edward Krassenstein |url=http://ir.net/news/politics/128264/ed-krassenstein-brian-krassenstein/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220105165220/http://ir.net/news/politics/128264/ed-krassenstein-brian-krassenstein/ |archive-date=January 5, 2022 |access-date=April 10, 2022 |work=Independent Reporter}}{{Self-published source|date=April 2022}}</ref><ref name="dailybeast-2018-05">{{cite news |last1=Markay |first1=Lachlan |title=Feds Seized a Fortune From #Resistance Icons Accused of Boosting Online 'Ponzi Schemes' |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/feds-seized-a-fortune-from-resistance-icons-accused-of-boosting-online-ponzi-schemes |access-date=March 18, 2022 |work=The Daily Beast |date=May 22, 2018 |language=en |archive-date=March 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220318211433/https://www.thedailybeast.com/feds-seized-a-fortune-from-resistance-icons-accused-of-boosting-online-ponzi-schemes |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="complaint-pdf" />

The Krassensteins settled their case with the federal government. They consented to [[asset forfeiture]] of about $450,000 from the sale of a rental property.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="behindmlm-2017-10-10" /> 

=== 3DPrint.com ===
The Krassensteins co-founded 3DPrint.com, a 3D printing and [[3D printing|additive manufacturing]] resource, together in December 2013. In October 2014, the business received an equity investment from Sagamore LLC, and in September 2015, the Krassensteins sold the business to [[Mecklermedia|MecklerMedia]] in conjunction with New York-based Sagamore III LLC.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=3DPrint.com Announces Investment and Promotional Agreements |url=https://www.sharecg.com/nbc/articles/1/1314673/3DPrint.com-Announces-Investment-Promotional-Agreements |access-date=2022-04-19 |website=www.sharecg.com |language=en |archive-date=2023-03-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230310201730/https://www.sharecg.com/nbc/articles/1/1314673/3DPrint.com-Announces-Investment-Promotional-Agreements |url-status=live }}</ref>  The sale included a 25% equity stake in another website the brothers ran, 3DPrintBoard.  The Krassensteins remained involved with 3DPrint as the directors of ad sales after the site was acquired.<ref>{{Cite press release |date=2015-09-14 |title=MecklerMedia Announces Acquisition of 3DPrint.com and Creates the First Worldwide Advertising Network for Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing |url=https://additivemanufacturing.com/2015/09/14/mecklermedia-announces-acquisition-of-3dprint-com-and-creates-the-first-worldwide-advertising-network-for-additive-manufacturing-and-3d-printing/ |access-date=2022-04-19 |website=Additive Manufacturing (AM) |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-12-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221205203624/https://additivemanufacturing.com/2015/09/14/mecklermedia-announces-acquisition-of-3dprint-com-and-creates-the-first-worldwide-advertising-network-for-additive-manufacturing-and-3d-printing/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Hill Reporter ===
In 2018, the Krassensteins, along with James Kosur, co-founded [[Hillreporter.com|Hill Reporter]], an online political news portal.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hill Reporter |url=https://tracxn.com/d/companies/hillreporter.com/ |access-date=2022-04-19 |website=tracxn.com |language=en |archive-date=2023-03-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230310201727/https://tracxn.com/d/companies/hill-reporter/__0Ic9XEO82Jem-7RwZTybPL4nEZRx678NWJWAiOPdnGs |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mikelionis |first=Lukas |date=2018-11-20 |title=Michael Avenatti touts unverified video he claims will refute 'bogus' allegations of domestic violence |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/michael-avenatti-touts-unverified-video-he-claims-will-refute-bogus-allegations-of-domestic-violence |access-date=2022-05-26 |website=Fox News |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-05-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220526185130/https://www.foxnews.com/politics/michael-avenatti-touts-unverified-video-he-claims-will-refute-bogus-allegations-of-domestic-violence |url-status=live }}</ref>  They sold the website to Roman Romanuk, an ad tech businessman, in 2019.<ref name="dailybeast-2020-05-30" /><ref name="hillreporter-2019">{{cite news |last1=Walker |first1=Chris |date=October 10, 2019 |title=Meet HillReporter.com's New Owner — Roman Romanuk |work=Hill Reporter |url=https://hillreporter.com/meet-hillreporter-coms-new-owner-roman-romanuk-47897 |access-date=March 18, 2022 |archive-date=January 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220119022853/https://hillreporter.com/meet-hillreporter-coms-new-owner-roman-romanuk-47897 |url-status=live }}{{Self-published source|date=April 2022}}</ref>

=== NFTz ===
In August 2021, the Krassensteins, along with Martijn van Halen, Wouter van Halen, and Bas van Halen, co-founded NFTz.me, an [[Non-fungible token|NFT]] marketplace and community built on the [[DeSo]] [[blockchain]]. NFTz received funding from the DeSo Foundation's Octane Fund.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Introducing the Octane Fund Winter 2022 Cohort |url=https://www.deso.org/blog/octane-fund-w22-cohort |access-date=2022-04-19 |website=www.deso.org |archive-date=2022-01-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120154751/https://www.deso.org/blog/octane-fund-w22-cohort |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=NFTz Team |url=https://nftz.zone/team |access-date=2022-04-19 |website=nftz.zone |archive-date=2022-05-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220525214417/https://nftz.zone/team |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Krassensteins purchased the first NFT created by [[Tiffany Trump]], Donald's daughter. She then bought an NFT that the brothers created.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Klee |first=Miles |date=2022-12-14 |title=Trump's Cringiest Reply Guys Are Out of Twitter Jail. Their New Target Is Elon Musk |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/krassenstein-brothers-twitter-elon-musk-1234646852/ |access-date=2022-12-15 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-12-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221214213246/https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/krassenstein-brothers-twitter-elon-musk-1234646852/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Writing==

The Krassensteins wrote extensively for their own web site, 3DPrint, between December 2013 and September 2015.  They did the same for ''Hill Reporter'' in 2018 and 2019.

In August 2018, the Krassensteins published a parody book, mocking the Trump family, titled 
''How the People Trumped Ronald Plump''. Initially they had attempted to crowdfund the book as a children's book in 2017, but their Kickstarter campaign raised just 42% of its goal. The book itself 
received mixed reviews. Many Twitter users and several journalists criticized Benny Rahdiana's illustrations of characters such as Ronald Plump (designed to resemble [[Donald Trump]]), Weave Bannon ([[Steve Bannon]]), Loudimir Tootin ([[Vladimir Putin]]), and Robert Moral ([[Robert Mueller]]).<ref name="dailydot-2018-07-31">{{cite news |last1=Covucci |first1=David |title=Anti-Trump children's book 'Ronald Plump' gets roasted on Twitter |url=https://www.dailydot.com/debug/krassenstein-ronald-pump-trump-childrens-book/ |access-date=March 18, 2022 |work=The Daily Dot |date=July 31, 2018 |archive-date=April 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220428132736/https://www.dailydot.com/debug/krassenstein-ronald-pump-trump-childrens-book/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Arthur |date=2017-10-17 |title=Hysterical 'Ronald Plump' Children's Book That "Even Trump Can Read' Hits Kickstarter |url=http://ir.net/news/politics/127828/hysterical-ronald-plump-childrens-book-even-trump-can-read-hits-kickstarter/ |access-date=2022-04-19 |website=Independent Reporter |language=en-US |archive-date=2021-07-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210722212959/http://ir.net/news/politics/127828/hysterical-ronald-plump-childrens-book-even-trump-can-read-hits-kickstarter/ |url-status=live }}{{Self-published source|date=April 2022}}</ref> Before the book was published, critics found fault with its depictions of Mueller, as a shirtless superhero, and of a woman resembling [[Elizabeth Warren]] being carried in a burlap sack. ''[[The Washington Free Beacon]]'' referred to the book as a “widely celebrated children's book.”<ref name="dailydot-2018-08-20">{{cite news |last1=Covucci |first1=David |title=Anti-Trump bros defend children's book by posting topless selfies |url=https://www.dailydot.com/debug/ed-brian-krassenstein-twitter-book/ |access-date=March 18, 2022 |work=The Daily Dot |date=August 20, 2018 |archive-date=March 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220318211837/https://www.dailydot.com/debug/ed-brian-krassenstein-twitter-book/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The brothers responded to criticisms of Mueller's depiction by posting numerous illustrations of shirtless superheroes and also a shirtless photo of themselves, which ''The Daily Dot'' referred to as “topless selfies”.<ref name="dailydot-2018-08-20" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=August 19, 2018 |title=Brian Krassenstein on Twitter |url=https://twitter.com/krassenstein/status/1031348309414305792 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331223340/https://twitter.com/krassenstein/status/1031348309414305792 |archive-date=March 31, 2019 |access-date=April 19, 2022 |website=Brian Krassenstein on Twitter: "I'm not afraid...}}{{Self-published source|date=April 2022}}</ref>

In October 2018, the Krassensteins were the first to report on a smear campaign alleging sexual assault against special counsel [[Robert Mueller]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Birnbaum |first=Emily |date=2018-10-30 |title=Special counsel asks FBI to investigate conspiracy against Mueller |url=https://thehill.com/policy/national-security/413873-fbi-asked-to-investigate-claims-women-were-offered-money-to-allege/ |access-date=2022-05-26 |website=The Hill |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-05-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220526185130/https://thehill.com/policy/national-security/413873-fbi-asked-to-investigate-claims-women-were-offered-money-to-allege/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The scheme was perpetrated by political operative [[Jacob Wohl]] and radio host [[Jack Burkman]]. The Krassensteins also tipped off Mueller about the allegations, and Mueller referred the scheme to the FBI for investigation.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-11-01 |title=The Bizarro Plot To Smear Robert Mueller Has Some Crazy Jewish Angles |url=https://forward.com/news/413315/the-plot-against-robert-mueller-featuring-a-seth-rich-conspiracy-theorist/ |access-date=2022-05-26 |website=The Forward |language=en |archive-date=2022-05-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220526185132/https://forward.com/news/413315/the-plot-against-robert-mueller-featuring-a-seth-rich-conspiracy-theorist/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Mueller refers alleged scheme targeting him to FBI for investigation |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/mueller-refers-sex-assault-scheme-targeting-him-fbi-investigation-n926301 |access-date=2022-05-26 |website=NBC News |date=30 October 2018 |language=en |archive-date=2018-11-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181102200410/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/mueller-refers-sex-assault-scheme-targeting-him-fbi-investigation-n926301 |url-status=live }}</ref> The Krassensteins connected Wohl to a company called Surefire Intelligence, which allegedly perpetrated the scheme and which allegedly made a threatening phone call to the Krassensteins.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lanard |first=Noah |title=A woman claimed a GOP lobbyist was paying for fake allegations against Robert Mueller. Does she even exist? |url=https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2018/10/a-woman-claimed-a-gop-lobbyist-was-paying-for-fake-allegations-against-robert-mueller-does-she-even-exist/ |access-date=2022-05-26 |website=Mother Jones |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-05-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220522085813/https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2018/10/a-woman-claimed-a-gop-lobbyist-was-paying-for-fake-allegations-against-robert-mueller-does-she-even-exist/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Krassensteins were both contributors for ''[[The Independent]]'', writing several op-ed pieces for the publication in 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ed Krassenstein |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/author/ed-krassenstein |access-date=2022-04-19 |website=The Independent |language=en |archive-date=2022-04-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220419190900/https://www.independent.co.uk/author/ed-krassenstein |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Brian Krassenstein |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/author/brian-krassenstein |access-date=2022-04-19 |website=The Independent |language=en |archive-date=2022-04-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220419190902/https://www.independent.co.uk/author/brian-krassenstein |url-status=live }}</ref>

In November 2019, the Krassensteins published an article based on a months-long investigation into an alleged smear campaign directed at Congresswoman [[Ilhan Omar]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Attacking Ilhan Omar as 'Qatari Asset' is part of smear campaign to tarnish Democratic Party ahead of 2020 elections, claims report |url=https://meaww.com/attacking-ilhan-omar-qatari-asset-campaign-tarnish-democratic-party-2020-polls-report |access-date=2022-04-19 |website=meaww.com |date=13 December 2019 |language=en |archive-date=2022-04-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220419190900/https://meaww.com/attacking-ilhan-omar-qatari-asset-campaign-tarnish-democratic-party-2020-polls-report |url-status=live }}{{Better source needed|date=April 2022}}</ref> The Krassensteins' report stated that the operation was being perpetrated by two different countries—the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia—as well as multiple prominent GOP figures.  They also correctly predicted that a man named [[Abdullah Muhammad Al-Saleh|Abdullah Al-Saleh]] would emerge as a witness in the scheme.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rosiak |first=Luke |date=2019-11-27 |title=Here's The Wild Story Involving Ilhan Omar, The 'Imam of Peace' and the Krassenstein Brothers |url=https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/heres-wild-story-involving-ilhan-omar-imam-peace-and-krassenstein-brothers-100487 |access-date=2022-04-19 |website=The National Interest |language=en |archive-date=2022-04-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220419022658/https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/heres-wild-story-involving-ilhan-omar-imam-peace-and-krassenstein-brothers-100487 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2020, the Krassensteins used a [[Medium (website)|Medium]] blog to publish a series of articles about Tara Reade, who had made [[Joe Biden sexual assault allegation|sexual assault allegations]] against then-presidential candidate Joe Biden. The articles dove into the question of whether Reade had once written a blog post that was translated into Russian, suggested that her story was inconsistent and showed that Reade had praised Biden for his actions in helping stop sexual assault on multiple occasions. Journalist Claire Goforth of ''The Daily Dot'' wrote that the articles were meant to discredit Reade's allegations. They were spread widely by Biden's supporters.<ref name="dailydot-2020-05-18">{{cite news |last1=Goforth |first1=Claire |title=How 2 ex-Twitter grifters helped build Joe Biden's defense against Tara Reade |url=https://www.dailydot.com/debug/krassensteins-return-reade-articles/ |access-date=March 18, 2022 |work=The Daily Dot |date=May 18, 2020 |archive-date=March 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220318211824/https://www.dailydot.com/debug/krassensteins-return-reade-articles/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Robinson |first=Nathan J. |date=2020-04-10 |title=Evaluating Tara Reade's Allegation Against Joe Biden |language=en |work=Current Affairs |url=https://www.currentaffairs.org/2020/04/evaluating-tara-reades-claims |access-date=2022-04-19 |issn=2471-2647 |archive-date=2020-04-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200426064521/https://www.currentaffairs.org/2020/04/evaluating-tara-reades-claims |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=McBride |first=Jessica |date=2020-03-27 |title=Tara Reade: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know |url=https://heavy.com/news/2020/03/tara-reade/ |access-date=2022-04-19 |website=Heavy.com |language=en-US |archive-date=2021-10-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211010153420/https://heavy.com/news/2020/03/tara-reade/ |url-status=live }}{{better source needed|date=April 2022}}</ref>

==Media appearances==
{{Primary sources|section|date=April 2022}}

On December 12, 2018, ''[[Vice News Tonight]]'' included a segment on Brian and Ed Krassenstein entitled "Meet the Krassensteins, the superstar bros of #Resistance Twitter." The segment followed the brothers on the day that former Trump attorney Michael Cohen was sentenced to prison.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Meet the Krassensteins, the superstar bros of #Resistance Twitter |url=https://video.vice.com/en_us/video/meet-the-krassensteins-the-superstar-bros-of-resistance-twitter/5c11ad00be40772111788648 |access-date=2022-04-19 |website=Vice News |language=en |archive-date=2022-06-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220610083756/https://video.vice.com/en_us/video/meet-the-krassensteins-the-superstar-bros-of-resistance-twitter/5c11ad00be40772111788648 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Krassensteins played themselves in several episodes of a ''A Fowl American'', an animated series of web shorts by [[Greg Cipes]] and Kevin Coulston.<ref>{{cite AV media |last1=Cipes | first1=Greg |last2=Coulston | first2=Kevin |title=The Krassenstein Bros Podcast: Moosterious Caller |work=A Fowl American |via=YouTube |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IabuUYnLHpI |language=en |access-date=2022-04-19 |archive-date=2022-04-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220419190900/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IabuUYnLHpI |url-status=live }}{{Self-published source|date=April 2022}}</ref>

From January to September 2019, the brothers hosted ''KrassenCast: Defending What's Left'', a podcast about political news. Guests on their show included 2020 presidential candidates [[Andrew Yang]], [[Marianne Williamson]], and [[Seth Moulton]]; 2020 Senate candidate [[Jaime Harrison]]; and U.S. Representative [[Ro Khanna]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Krassencast: Defending What's Left |url=https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/krassencast-defending-whats-left-ed-brian-XzxNYJnlj1G/ |access-date=2022-04-19 |website=Listen Notes |date=30 September 2019 |language=en}}{{Self-published source|date=April 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Krassencast Archives |url=https://hillreporter.com/tag/krassencast |access-date=2022-04-19 |website=HillReporter.com |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-08-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220812150523/https://hillreporter.com/tag/krassencast |url-status=live }}{{Self-published source|date=April 2022}}</ref>

In January 2024, the Krassensteins participated in a live debate, hosted by ''ZeroHedge'', alongside [[Destiny (streamer)|Destiny]], where they faced off against right-wing commentators [[Alex Jones]] and [[Glenn Greenwald]]. The debate focused on the events surrounding the [[January 6 United States Capitol attack]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vespa |first=Matt |date=2024-01-23 |title=Glenn Greenwald Brutally Eviscerates All the Narratives Peddled By the Left About January 6 |url=https://townhall.com/tipsheet/mattvespa/2024/01/23/watch-a-progressive-reporter-shred-a-bunch-of-leftists-over-january-6-n2634049 |access-date=2024-09-05 |website=townhall.com |language=en}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://briankrassenstein.com Brian's official web site]
* [http://eddiekrassenstein.com/ Ed's official web site]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Krassenstein, Brian and Ed}}
[[Category:American mass media company founders]]
[[Category:2010s in Internet culture]]
[[Category:American children's writers]]
[[Category:21st-century American Jews]]
[[Category:Brother duos]]
[[Category:Rutgers University alumni]]
[[Category:Writers from Florida]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from Florida]]
[[Category:Jewish American children's writers]]
[[Category:Jews from New Jersey]]
[[Category:Twitter accounts]]