Journalists do check the credentials of the people they include in articles like this. They don't just take randos at their word. These people are anonymous to

Journalists do check the credentials of the people they include in articles like this. They don't just take randos at their word. These people are anonymous to you but not to the journalist. If you simply don't believe the writer that's a totally different issue - but people at major outlets like Politico don't just invent sources and stories out of whole cloth like you suggest.