Sludge

Sludge

@sludge.bsky.social

A non-partisan, independent news outlet exposing the moneyed interests that control U.S. politics. Get our newsletter: https://readsludge.com/

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Sludge
@sludge.bsky.social

NEW: AIPAC’s super PAC, United Democracy Project, paid Democratic firms Impact Research and GQR $53,300 on Oct. 13 for polling and research, according to a pre-general FEC filing released today, as UDP spends to defeat Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan.

Sludge
@sludge.bsky.social

NEW: Helen Milby raises money for House Democrats’ largest ideological bloc. She also runs a nonprofit bringing Big Tech executives into private meetings with congressional staff and advises a tech industry group seeking to shape the party’s AI agenda. readsludge.com/2026/10/21/t...

readsludge.comThe Democratic Fundraiser Opening Doors for Big TechHelen Milby raises money for the New Democrats, runs a nonprofit connecting tech executives with Congress, and advises the industry-backed Chamber of Progress as it seeks to shape the party’s AI agend...
Sludge
@sludge.bsky.social

Tech billionaire John Doerr pitched Chuck Schumer directly that stronger antitrust rules would chill the VC industry by scrutizining acquisitions. He set up a dark money group funneling $10 million to Schumer- and Democratic-aligned nonprofits—and his firm announced a $3.5 billion AI-focused fund.

readsludge.comTech Billionaire John Doerr Funnels Millions to Democrats Through New 'Dark Money' GroupThe billionaire chair of Kleiner Perkins, who co-founded the industry lobby TechNet, set up a nonprofit, Incaendo, that gave more than $10 million to Democratic dark money groups last year.
Sludge
@sludge.bsky.social

One of the top spenders to defeat the California billionaire tax measure, John Doerr, formed a new dark money group giving to Democratic dark money hubs, according to a Sludge review of tax records. 👀

readsludge.comTech Billionaire John Doerr Funnels Millions to Democrats Through New 'Dark Money' GroupThe billionaire chair of Kleiner Perkins, who co-founded the industry lobby TechNet, set up a nonprofit, Incaendo, that gave more than $10 million to Democratic dark money groups last year.
Sludge
@sludge.bsky.social

New: John Doerr, the tech billionaire whose VC firm Kleiner Perkins is heavily invested in AI companies, set up a dark money nonprofit that has sent more than $10 million to Democratic Party dark money groups, according to tax filings reviewed by Sludge.

readsludge.comTech Billionaire John Doerr Funnels Millions to Democrats Through New 'Dark Money' GroupThe billionaire chair of Kleiner Perkins, who co-founded the industry lobby TechNet, set up a nonprofit, Incaendo, that gave more than $10 million to Democratic dark money groups last year.
Sludge
@sludge.bsky.social

Doerr, whose firm holds stakes in AI companies like Anthropic and is putting billions more into AI startups, is a co-founder of industry lobby TechNet, which pushes Congress to preempt state regulations on AI. He's also a top donor to defeat California's one-time billionaire tax measure, Prop 40.

Sludge
@sludge.bsky.social

California and most of its cities have been banned from offering public campaign financing systems since 1988. A ballot measure, Prop 4, would let the state and localities set up small-dollar matches to level the playing field.

readsludge.comProp 4 Would Let California Cities Curb Big Money With Small DonationsThe California ballot measure would let cities, counties, and the state match small donations with public funds. Backers led by the League of Women Voters say it’s a counterweight to wealthy donors.
Sludge
@sludge.bsky.social

New: California's Proposition 4 would let cities, counties, and the state match small donations with public funds. (A 1988-passed ban covers much of the state.) A coalition of 160+ groups led by the League of Women Voters of California says it will help candidates compete without wealthy donors.

readsludge.comProp 4 Would Let California Cities Curb Big Money With Small DonationsThe California ballot measure would let cities, counties, and the state match small donations with public funds. Backers led by the League of Women Voters say it’s a counterweight to wealthy donors.
Sludge
@sludge.bsky.social

NEW: A super PAC backing Mary Peltola is funded entirely by a pop-up dark money group, per new FEC filing. Her campaign declined to say if she would ask the groups to reveal its donors, despite her pledge to fight dark money. readsludge.com/2026/10/15/p...

readsludge.comPop-Up Dark Money Group Funnels Millions Into Super PAC Backing PeltolaPeltola pledges to fight dark money, but her campaign did not say whether she would urge the groups backing her to reveal their funding sources.
Sludge
@sludge.bsky.social

NEW: Susan Collins’ joint fundraising committee just filed its Q3 report. Finance industry donors dominate the top of the list, including exes from Jane Street. Blue Owl, Vector Capital, and more investment firms.

Sludge
@sludge.bsky.social

The FEC opinion letting super PACs coordinate canvassing with candidates that Wiener is using came from a 2024 request by Elias Law Group. The firm's leader, Marc Elias, also requested the 2010 opinion that created super PACs.

The Washington Sun@washingtonsun.com

The congressional campaign of Scott Wiener and its coordinated super PAC are pushing their relationship to legal extremes — sharing staff, a fundraising consultant, a pollster and a headquarters, according to a Washington Sun review of spending documents.

washingtonsun.comPelosi’s Potential Successor Is Pushing the Limits of Super PAC CoordinationSpending records raise questions about Democrat Scott Wiener’s open coordination with Families for an Affordable San Francisco.
Sludge
@sludge.bsky.social

NEW: Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), the Senate's top investor in data center companies, is one of two Democrats leading the push for a permitting deal that would make it easier to build the energy infrastructure the industry needs to expand. readsludge.com/2026/10/14/s...

readsludge.comSenate’s Top Data Center Investor Backs Environmental Rollbacks to Power the IndustrySen. Sheldon Whitehouse holds millions in data center stocks while helping negotiate a bill that would limit states’ water-quality reviews and restrict court challenges to energy projects.

Sludge reposted

David Moore
@davidrussellmoore.bsky.social

Bit of a sad morning for Josh Vlasto, the ex-Schumer press secretary who co-leads AI industry super PAC Leading the Future. Democratic megadonor Ron Conway had Jay Carney tell Politico that he regrets his $500k donation to help form the a16z / OpenAI group. Thoughtful of him, just before election.

readsludge.comAI Industry Picks up Crypto’s Big Money PlaybookA new AI industry group, Leading the Future, has amassed $100 million from heavy hitters like Andreessen Horowitz and OpenAI with aims to knock off candidates who favor stricter regulation.
Sludge
@sludge.bsky.social

Alan Armstrong left pipeline giant Williams Co. for the Senate in March. Williams’ board counted him as employed through July, preserving $2.8M in stock awards. In June, still an employee for award purposes, he introduced a bill limiting states’ power to block pipelines. Williams backed it.

Sludge
@sludge.bsky.social

NEW: Former Williams CEO-turned-senator Alan Armstrong is advancing legislation to limit states’ power to block pipelines. He holds tens of millions in Williams stock, including performance-based awards that pay out after he leaves office. readsludge.com/2026/10/09/p...

readsludge.comPipeline CEO Turned Senator Wants to Limit States’ Power to Block PipelinesSen. Alan Armstrong holds tens of million in stock in Williams Companies, the company he led, plus performance awards that could pay him up to $32.5 million. Williams has publicly backed his bill.

Sludge reposted

David Moore
@davidrussellmoore.bsky.social

Corporate powerhouses and billionaires are flooding politics with money to shape policy—and to pick their favorite next legislators. Sludge and The Lever are uncovering how this influence works—now you can get full access to our scoops, two for the price of one. 🤯

Sludge
@sludge.bsky.social

NEW: Rep. Michael McCaul has repeatedly worked to expand the government's counter-drone programs while his spouse trade stock in CACI International, a leading counter-drone contractor. readsludge.com/2026/10/06/r...

readsludge.comRep. McCaul's Wife Trades Stock in a Counter-Drone Contractor Profiting From His LawsCACI stock has risen more than 70% since Linda McCaul's first purchase, as the contractor wins counter-drone contracts, including a spot on a $1.5 billion DHS program operating under her husband's 201...

Sludge reposted

David Moore
@davidrussellmoore.bsky.social

Data center interests are throwing events for the Congressional Black Caucus—and donating to their groups—ahead of potential legislation in the next Congress. Here's how Big Tech woos lawmakers, even as local opposition to pollution (think Memphis and xAI) builds. New @sludge.bsky.social:

readsludge.comBlack Caucus Groups Take $1.6 Million From Big Tech as Caucus Weighs Data Center StanceBeyond the money, the groups have hosted executives from Meta, Exelon and Entergy at their conferences, and caucus aides toured a data center with a think tank that has received funding from Google, M...
Sludge
@sludge.bsky.social

NEW: The Congressional Black Caucus is working toward a consensus on data centers. Its nonprofits have taken $1.6 million from Big Tech and hosted execs from Meta, Microsoft, and Entergy. Aides recently toured a data center with a tech-funded think tank. readsludge.com/2026/10/02/b...

readsludge.comBlack Caucus Groups Take $1.6 Million From Big Tech as Caucus Weighs Data Center StanceBeyond the money, the groups have hosted executives from Meta, Exelon and Entergy at their conferences, and caucus aides toured a data center with a think tank that has received funding from Google, M...