I've been following them (and the ensuing drama) since about mid-January, shortly after they really came on the scene with the late night chats, etc. As with anything, do your own research and come to your own conclusions, but there is substantial evidence that their original military photos are, in fact, original and they work in conjunction with the DVIDS team who they were accused of "stealing" content from. Now, as things have continued to unfold, there seem to be even more layers of this. u/EchoLight sent an email to the DVIDS team to ask about their association with GeorgeNews and their thoughts on GN's use of the content (you can likely do some digging and still find EchoLight's report to us here about what he learned--in fact, just search his posts for everything related to his research into GN). DVIDS said that GN is not associated with them but did not seem at all concerned about their use of the content (it is evidently in the public domain anyway). BUT, we have since learned from GN that the individuals on the GeorgeNews team are primarily known in their individual capacity professionally, NOT as "GeorgeNews". Only a relatively few people know who is actually behind GN. So, essentially, the individuals from GeorgeNews who took the pictures and work in conjunction with DVIDS would have been known to DVIDS, but NOT by the name "GeorgeNews". Does that make sense? They have also posted screen shots of their press credentials for various events, etc, and many other details that cause a number of us to continue believing they are legit. Again, do your own digging--there is quite a bit of info here on GAW, and EchoLight's chat compilations--read them all and in order--really are required reading to hear what GN has to say about themselves and about various events taking place. If you follow BardsFM, the interchanges between the two of them on the YT chats and Scott's positive comments about GN on his shows ​are pretty significant, IMHO.

As for their merchandise--the order comes from a print shop in PA, and I have really liked the stuff I got from them (I like the "God Wins" product line). At least some (not sure about all) of the blank items do seem to come from China originally and then the print shop in PA prints and ships the final order. Any claims that their orders are printed and shipped from China is fake news, if that accusation was going around.

I hope that helps! There are still lots of questions about who is behind GN and how they fit into the big picture, but if they are paytriots, they're really bad at it (since they're always telling people that they are self-funded and will NEVER ask for money, etc), and if they're LARPs, they're the best I've ever seen. There is just a quiet confidence about the way they present their information--they don't go into a lot of speculation about what is or may be happening (like most of the podcasters/influencers do--not saying it's wrong to do, but GN comes across differently), and they also never make wild, unverifiable claims of things that are supposedly happening (like some others do--everyone's in a mask, or dead/CGI/doubles, etc, etc). The things they DO state as fact, there's just a sense that they are truly in a position to KNOW, not guess. Time will tell, and it's always technically possible that they're not legit, but from all I've looked into, I believe they have a real and significant role in what's going on behind the scenes, and I believe we will eventually find out what that is.