Popular Information obtained public records proving that numerous books banned as "pornography" in Florida — and condemned by Ron DeSantis — were not actually pornographic. One of the books banned as pornography was The Sleeping Beauty, an illustrated version of the classic fairy tale published in 1977. Popular Information's report was featured by MSNBC, the Orlando Weekly, The Guardian, and numerousmediaoutlets in Australia.
Popular Information broke the news that Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R) secretly purchased a $600,000 home in Nashville. Our reporting forced Sexton to admit his family lives in Nashville and raised serious questions about whether Sexton can legally represent a district two hours away. The news generated a flurry of national and localmediacoverage, including a lengthy piece in the Tennessean, the state's largest paper. A non-profit watchdog group called for state and federal criminal investigations into Sexton's conduct.
Today, however, I want to hear from you. What's on your mind? What topics should be on Popular Information's radar? You can leave your thoughts in the discussion thread linked below, starting now. I’ll be dropping by later today to answer any questions.
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Look into the African-American guy who ran for mayor in a tiny town in AL, won the election but has been prevented from taking office for three years by the previous unelected mayor, who also conspired to prevent African-Americans elected to the city council from taking their seat.
TL;DR Tiny town in AL, 130 or so residents, never held elections. They hold the first one, African-Americans run, they win and they're prevented from taking office. AL state govt is not doing anything. I found out via Underthedesknews on Tiktok who picked up the story yesterday.
The DOJ has its hands full but , really , this is major . Are people reluctant to protest this , because of retribution . I think its time for Federal Law to rule on some despicable work by people taking liberties with ‘ States Rights’ . States should be protecting Civil Rights . When they fail to do so and actually undermine the Constitution.
Newburn, Alabama & the should-be mayor's name is Patrick Braxton. He's been locked out of the office going on three years. The state of Alabama has done nothing to help.
I would LOVE to know who and what is behind the No Labels PAC. Where is all this money coming from? And why are "they" funding the so-called Problem Solvers Caucus in the U.S. House? It is this kind of "dark money" in our politics that should have us ALL concerned, and a little pissed-off!! Thanks
“According to internal documents obtained by the Daily Beast in 2018, No Labels has been backed by billionaire investors and corporate executives, among them the late Republican mega-donor David Koch, former AIG CEO Hank Greenberg, billionaire hedge-fund manager Paul Singer, as well as top Trump supporters such as PayPal founder Peter Thiel, businessman Foster Friess and Home Depot founder Ken Langone.
The New Republic also recently obtained a document showing that Texas real estate magnate and GOP patron Harlan Crow gave $130,000 to No Labels between 2019 and 2021. The document shows that Crow — who ProPublica recently revealed has lavished conservative U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas with gifts, including luxury vacations and a home for his mother — is considered a “whale” level donor by the organization.”
I'm with you, cathy b. And it's more than the federal level, too. Here in the once-great state of Ohio, the level of corruption in Columbus knows no bounds. Even when one of their own is convicted of blatant corruption, they just keep on keepin' on. Sickening to say the least.
The Kushners, completely unqualified " senior advisors" to the Trump WH.
She receives endless unethically acquired Chinese trademarks, he tells us the Russian hacking is no big deal, the PPE is not ours and they both profit to the tune of over $600 million while they " work" for government
yep, vs Hunter actually paying his late unpaid taxes plus penalties and still gets legal criminal penalty for it when normal citizens do NOT! Regular citizens also NEVER get charged for the particular gun crime he is now charged with. He was held to a much higher standard than avg citizens. Meanwhile, Ivanka has a cool 2B from the richest arabs on the planet.
I watched a documentary somewhere or maybe a frontline story (?) on Kushner father and son. Cringy w personal relationship to Netanyahu. Dad served time, Trump pardoned.
What happened to the investigation into the US Postmaster. The reports a couple of years ago made it seem like a slamdunk. There were accusations about DeJoy and his campaign contributions through his employees through his business prior to getting the appointment.
What became of the plan to purchase EV’s for the largest fleet of vehicles nationwide? I read that he overturned the plan (contract?) but unsure where it ended up.
Thank you, I found that Time article. Lots of info and sounds like he has done some good and the accusations were investigated and dropped. I didn't read that he wants to privatize the PO but some Republicans do.
While he was postmaster, mailboxes were being removed from all over the country to make it harder to give and receive mail. Including in rural areas and including in areas where there are primarily seniors, who vote !
And the giant automated sorting machines were removed from many smaller post offices, making it necessary for those locations to send the mail elsewhere (to more regional or central offices) for sorting, stamping, sending on. Thus, slowing it all down. :-(
While he was postmaster, mailboxes were being removed from all over the country to make it harder to give and receive mail. Including in rural areas and including in areas where there are primarily seniors
USA press and some citizens need to grow up about their attitudes to addiction. The reaction to the charges against Hunter Biden has been political but also infantile.The word is out. Addiction is world-wide problem in which every citizen has a stake.
cocaine. Cocaine is the only thing that produces that D. tRump attitude. No other substance. I tutored students loaded up on Adderall, and that doesn't cover what tRump is like. Cocaine.
There's already too much to cover, but things that especially piss me off:
1. Corporate supression of unionization efforts
2. The atrocity of health care: tied to employment (lose your job, lose your coverage), pre-existing condition denial, government subsidizing already profitable pharmacutical companies, etc.
How about facts about accomplishments for the current President? Not the click bait we see, or the snippets. "Americans still "struggling"" is a favorite of every News outlet, but is it true? If so WHY?
What is controllable what isn't? What's realistic, what's not? ; ) Thanks for ALL you do!!
yep, past seven yrs saw the transition of most local media and print media being bought, including for pennies on dollar, by "hedge funds" and so forth. Many have been liquidated, wiped out. The local tv and especially radio has so many stations of those one or two rightwing major co's, with shows like Huge Hewitt's, it's jarringly orwellian or franky much worse, bcuz they r skilled disinformationists.
IXMM-Spot on! It’s a frightening reality for us and makes the lies harder to fight. But enough people see what trump et al are. When the rights of LGBTQIA, racial hatred, removal of womens rights, book banning happened…it did open the eyes of many. We’re at a turning point. We must project confidence & put out Dem accomplishments to stop their distractions.
A brilliant and practical idea! There's SO MUCH we don't know. Are there ways that Biden has accomplished something important for women and children that is not fully known and appreciated (that would impress voters)?
One blog already focused on this topic (and how to use the positive news to win elections) is Hopium Chronicles By Simon Rosenberg, https://simonwdc.substack.com/archive
I’ve mentioned it before but the antics of Republicans in Ohio around the August special election making it much harder for citizens to pass ballot initiatives to amend the constitution needs scrutiny. I’m interested in this topic specifically as it relates to the slew of representatives elected in 2018 (known as “Team Householder” candidates) who are still in office. They were elected using money funneled from former speaker Larry Householder’s illegal dealings and are now at the forefront of the current assault on freedom in the state.
I'm concerned that Sherrod Brown's seat could be in danger if the inordinate amount of money owned by Matt Dolan's family goes dark and therefore dishonest in their campaign for Senate.
This is happening in Idaho as well. They have been pushing for ballet initiative restrictions since the public voted for Medicaid expansion. After the new wave took office this session, they immediately started to claw back Medicaid and are working to restrict public opposition.
Greg Abbot in Texas has vetoed everything sent his way recently. They are in a special session which is almost over but he is threatening to call them in for more and refuse to sign anything, veto everything until they pass a school voucher bill. I would be pretty sure he is getting paid off by someone.
Leonard Leo's dark money network recently grew by $1.6 billion from one donor. Anything that can be reported about how they are enhancing their already frightening capacity and what they are doing with the money would advance the public interest.
Recently the Tampa Bay Times ran an article about how Ron DeSantis used Leonard Leo and the Federalist Society to stack the Florida Supreme Court with right wing extremists. We now have. 6-1 right wing court.
Keep a spotlight on the murder and disappearance of indigenous women in our country. I find it appalling.
Also, why does 30% of the Navajo Nation still lack access to clean, safe drinking water? In 2023? In the wealthiest country on earth?
We owe a great debt to the native tribes in our country. In the desert southwest, access to clean, safe water that doesn’t have to be trucked in is a good start to repaying that debt. So is taking the murder and disappearance of indigenous women seriously.
The NC Governor just vetoed a bill that would enrich payday lenders and title lenders (raising the maximum interest rate to 33%). Because of the party switch (and because some Dems went along with the higher interest rate), the legislature probably will override the veto. A win for predatory lenders, not so much for desperate people who need quick cash.
As an Alabamian who finds Tommy Tuberville's idiotic behavior a total embarrassment, I'd like to know who is behind his stonewalling of officers' confirmation. He's not smart enough to do this by himself.
I hope you can amplify the #StopCopCity movement in Atlanta, Georgia! The Guardian and Atlanta Community Press Collective are two sources of information.
Please take a look at Gov Greg Abbott who receives a nice check for his accident which crippled him yet he signed a law which now caps the amount others can receive in a similar event.
After reading the superb suggestions thus far, I have to agree with all of them.
I fully agree with a deep dive into the state legislative folks. Instead of picking a state, just go down the alphabet. Hit all the red states first, that will give them plenty to do as you then pick apart the blue states.
As for the federal level. Take the House Republicans starting at the top, with Marjorie Taylor Greene, then Kevin McCarthy, L. Boebert, and so on, right down the line.
A deep dive needs to be done to all of their ‘extracurricular activities’, non-paid taxes, unclaimed incomes/expenses on taxes. Who their sleeping with, other than their spouses, everything. Get down and dirty with it all.
I empathize but have to disagree with the Red-Blue state ordering. Recently read Thom Hartmann'shttps://hartmannreport.com/p/is-it-time-for-big-business-to-sit-8ed
He revealed an important development in Maine! A plan for the two major electric power plants to be bought and run by the citizens of Maine ran into enormous financial blowback from corporate powers that despise any attempt to interfere with their grift and greed. They were "helped" by a progressive Democrat and a conservative Republican who were enlisted to do this shameful bidding. So, Daniel, I very much want to protect and support what's happening in Maine and Washington (State). Hartmann's piece today, GOP: "How Dare You Tell the Truth!" reveals treachery accosting Disinformation Researchers at the University of Washington.
I have to agree with you. I was not aware of these happenings. I would like to explain main key I said the Red states first, then Blue states. If he picks the teeth out of the state and federal elected officials of the Ted states first, that will tie them all up explaining away (lying) to their constituents, and America, about why they missed paying taxes, took bribes, received kickbacks, and have been sleeping with everything willing in their respective capitals.
Then, he can do the same to the blue states.
Honestly, doesn’t matter to me how he does it. I just think if he can get all the first on these peopke, it will be a lot easier to get them out of office.
I'd really like to know what has happened in East Palestine Ohio. What has happened to the railroad workers shafted in their efforts to have reasonable work hours, paid sick leave, and basic safety regulations upheld? Also, will Norfolk Southern face any real consequences for their grotesque mismanagement?
I would like to see an in depth report on public education. Specifically around the systematic undermining of public schools. Books like “A Nation at Risk” which began the push against public education in the eighties under President Reagan to the legislation “No Child Left Behind” to today’s continued book banning etc. have all contributed to this harmful trend. Public education is the great equalizer especially for the poor and marginalized members of our society. The effort to undo public education has had far reaching negative effects on our society.
We need to oppose the far right with in-depth articles that expose and name the actual people (sociopaths) who write the legislation that Republicans pass. Who are they? Where does their money come from? What organizations (Federalist Society, for example) are involved. Are they white nationalists? Oligarchs? It's not enough siimply to see the idiotic politicians (MTG, Boebert, DeSantis and all the rest). We need to expose the vast conspiracy in the same way that Jane Mayer did in Dark Money. And we must make it a drum beat! We are getting nowhere unless we expose and attempt to shame the fascists behind the fascists.
Elon Musk continues his anti-trans tirades on Twitter. Yesterday he tweeted, "The words 'cis' or 'cisgender' are considered slurs on this platform."
Not sure if Popular Info can uncover anything new, as it's now pretty widely reported that one of his children changed her name after transitioning and has said she wants nothing more to do with him. Perhaps just some public exposure on the Q of "Why is Elon Musk so consistently attacking trans people?"
Musk is the product of apartheid. He doesn’t like anyone not like him. Peeling back the layers of his moral and business corruption would be a good start.
You’re great at traversing the maze of political corruption and hypocrisy. I suggest more of the same, at the state level, like in TN. Pick a state, any state, sadly.
Quite honestly- these day you can pick a state, any state, any local election, any school board even and there will be corruption. The way things have turned out, the pride of doing something for the good of everyone has gone out of the window. It once was a sense of pride to be in office. Now it is a sense of what can I get out of this. Things have gone from bad to worse. It doesn’t seem to be getting much better. tRUMP crossed the line of good and made it “okay” to be dishonest and selfish. Nixon was an embarrassment, 45 was much much worse and still is.
I wish there were more information about Angela Paxton, the wife of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. She is in the Texas Senate, and I believe I just read that she will Not recuse herself from his impeachment trial. I wonder what she has done, and what she is currently doing to try to make sure that her husband cannot be held accountable for the securities fraud and abuse of office he is accused of. It also seems very strange that he has been accused of crimes for years, and Texas judges keep letting him get away with it. Which makes me wonder about the judges.
Denial of science. Recent pillory of Dr. Peter Hotez for promoting vaccines is only part of the problem. The questioning of Rachel Wolensky at congressional hearing. The republicans want to go back to the middle ages and are defunding NIH and other science. If you can address this it would be great.
Tommy Tuberville.....what the hell? He's not smart enough to do anything on his own, so who's pulling his strings? He's a total embarrassment to at least some of us in Alabama.
How can we as readers, aside from voting make a difference? How do we get media outlets to print and report on the positives that happen in our current administration, and with the country, such as the last article about crime going down?
How do we as readers confront the lies, misinformation that are pumped daily into our media sources?
I get my news from various sources, 2 who are Tik-Tok creators, along with a couple subscriptions like this one, I watch PBS, and that is about it. I trust their investigative resources.
A recurring theme is child sexual abuse, trafficking, a huge percent of these perpetrators are conservative lawmakers, ministers, youth pastors, priests, lawmakers. Literally dozens, every month! Why isn't this literally everywhere on all media outlets? Even if there are liberal, democrat independents involved? The Republicans tout themselves as the party of * Family Values * moral high ground, they diminish the LGBTQ community, women, people of color yet I very seldom see them called out on the abuses going on or god forbid the divorce rate! Or did we all know how low the price of diesel fuel is right now? Is that being played on media outlets? That inflation is steadily improving, that blue states do better economically and subsidize red states? And can we stop doing this? My biggest frustration is that the good news is never OUT there in bold capping! Too many people have no idea. How do we change this?
I urge people watch Shiny Happy People on Amazon Prime. The evangelicals are playing the long game, they have wanted to co-opt our government for decades and it seems to be working.
As a gay man, married, what is happening in this country right now due to religious influence, is making me scared and sick to my stomach.
Thanks for your inspiring work, Judd. You have a whipsmart staff, too, and best wishes to them!
I am still processing the latest debt ceiling resolution. I observe that that the entire negotiation was in bad faith between both parties and that the opposition between Democratic leadership and Republicans on the ceiling is a sham. Democrats set the conditions for this hostage taking to regularly recur and use it as cover for their willingness to assuage their wealthy donors. For instance, including additional IRS funding in the infrastructure bill, which was clawed back in the deficit negotiation, was nothing more than a bargaining chip from the start. We need to keep exposing these actors and hold them accountable, because two years from now we’ll be right back there.
I’m interested in the status of lawsuits that challenge state book banning, state restrictions on abortion and state restrictions on medical care for trans youth. I’m also, as always, interested in where and on what the department of education spends its money.
Thank you for all of your excellent research and reporting. You are making a huge difference in getting the truth out to the world. Under our noses, Republicans did an excellent job of taking over many local and state government entities. Many of us were caught blindsided. Now they are working to influence our children as young as middle school on their beliefs on abortion, LGBTQ, climate issues, immigration etc. We are not paying attention! In our town, Dixon, Illinois, the Young America's Foundation, owners of the Reagan Boyhood Home are hosting endless workshops for young people on how to talk like a conservative. Other similar groups are gaining strong traction all over the US. Most people are totally unaware that these "nice" "attractive" "well-sponken" "neighborly" young organizers are dangerous! Can you help us spread the word? They have millions of dollars and we pass the hat for money. Help!!!!
It is a cold story, but one that might bear fruit (or just turn out to be a dead-end), but I would love to see an investigation into Russian presence at NRA conventions, beginning in the 1990s, and their use of those events to suborn or gather compromising material on lawmakers and political influencers.
Maria Butina, the Russian spy who infiltrated the NRA and inserted herself in GOP political corruption, and was the first person Trump called on at their convention ( how odd) to answer very stupidly, a dumb question, now providing "shelter" for Tara Read in Russia.
I believe The Daily Beast wrote about this story.
The woman who has accused Joe Biden of advances with zero evidence to back it up. He has denied it many times over.
You can't make this crap up.
It's literally Fox News Joe Biden hunt.
Why is every GOP member repeating Russian propaganda blather idiocy ? How stupid they think we are...
Read the article in the Atlantic about the “woman buying a mountain for God”, there was mention of the suspicious “apostolic ministries” funding including “offshore inventors” hiding funds from government oversight for “voting the wrong way”. The article was focused on this particular woman, but left many questions about who is funding this stuff.
Interesting article in NYTimes re: local officials who retaliate against local newspapers for covering corruption by withdrawing legal notice contracts and giving them to papers on the fringe of the area or out of the area altogether. Bet there's a lot more.
The reported delay by FBI/DOJ on the top level 1/6 instigators is important. I am wondering if there's a similar hesitation to investigate domestic terrorism - I know there are First Amendment issues with prosecuting but the threat seems significant. Yahoo just reported on corporate support for cultural awareness but did not acknowledge the discrepancies between public statements and political donations. I love your work and I use Twitter (mostly) to amplify the related messages to corporations.
I would like your insights about the most effective activist organizations readers can join. I have volunteered and canvassed for various political campaigns but would like to join an organization working to combat misinformation and hate speech. In particular, I want to regulate Big Tech and dismantle their monopolies. Any ideas?
We need to look into laws that protect public from ALL media that intentionally lies and distributes information known to be false. Where is the protection? It is not freedom of speech to endanger the public by calling mass murder at schools a hoax etc, then to present it on news. There is video/audio footage of trump impeding help for capital police & inciting sedition. Yet he is speaking on national tv. It will be difficult to end this desecration of democracy unless all people have access to the truth.
If that article is not a spoof, it marks the end of democracy. It literally means a return to monarchy. As corporations assume more soveriegnty, the fascist oligarchy becomes the nobility, the royalty, the owners and rulers. The people return to the peasantry, without votes, without economic or political power. I suppose there's no going back. Citizens United was the point of no return. When we lost the Court, we lost the game.
Check into Louisiana Legislature haphazardly finishing up their Session, and slashing State Health-related Funds to the tune of perhaps $500 Million -plus, (once Federal funds lost by this insanity are factored in).
The Head of Health Programs in LA initially thought the slashing, when he first heard of the debacle, was a joke.
A Special Session (to correct this mess) is likely being cobbled together, as I write.
The children who crashed in the Amazon were indigenous who were being evacuated from their home village due to violent political strong-arming of their family by outside developers. What's up with that?
in interested in how James Cromer and Jim Jordan can use the oversite and jusicial committee websites to push their agenda against the current administration and how they can post articles from right wing news sources like FOX news on those sites as information to back up their claims i feel that this is a misuse of taxpayer money and resources
The Chicago Fraternal Order of Police and the Chicago Police Department. Such uneven policing in this city with the usual dividing lines -- color and income. Hard to deny data but not a lot of local media spending time required to really prove it. Needs to be done before a new chief of police hired. Thank you.
Chicago police union pres, John Catanzara s a full on MAGA nut case. He whined liked a baby brat that people had to wear masks at the height of Covid-19. A corrupt monstrous asshole.
Look into Gov. Ron DeSantis' recent approval/vetoes bc it seems he's alright spending taxpayer money on shameless shenanigans (*cough* Disney fued & bussing immigrants *cough*) while denying the hard-hit blue-leaning counties with much needed funding.
Sam, I suggest blue leaning counties secede and establish their own cooperative government where they can stand on their own and prosper! Take in those.. er.. immigrants and their diversity and strength shall allow for a dynamic Wakanda like nation to rise up in America! Cheers brother!
TV created trump and his cult. MSM TV continues to disinform and manipulate opinion. trump and his cult are tv addicts, and tv is becoming more stupid and shallow by the day and leading many people into a dishonest and angry wasteland. TV addiction and corporate control of our airwaves needs more criticism and more accountability for its dishonesty. Thank you for all your great reporting!
Check out the just released documentary "Americonned". Outlines the destruction of the US middle class, increase in homelessness and the consolidation of wealth to the top 1%.
We have a situation in Oregon with the State Senate Republicans and their six week walkout, bringing our biennial Legislature to a halt by denying the constitutionally mandated Quorum. A ballot measure was passed by over 68% of Oregon voters declaring 10 unexcused absences would preclude electeds from running again. Someone (who?) is bankrolling a Court challenge to this. Might this be worth investigating? Thanks!
There are rumors that Chick-fil-A, notorious for the donations their owner made to anti-LBGTQ groups (some I believe were in African countries that killed gays) has stopped it's anti-LBGTQ crusade. Is this true? Are there other stores that have been boycotted for their political or social-cause donations that have changed their ways? Some clarification would be valuable. We appreciate your reporting, Judd!!
Please write about the profiteering and absolutely abhorrent behavior from Jared and Ivanka Kushner, the two unqualified " senior advisors" to the most corrupt, incompetent WH in history.
The pulling of the Bible from the purse, ( her asinine, fake idea) while they gassed and helicopter swiped peaceful protestors, the scores of unethically acquired Chinese trademarks, while Trump simultaneously was demanding we use and save ZTE Chinese tech company, which was declared a national security threat by the Pentagon, and removed from all government and military facilities?
A coincidence? Probably not.
If one thing this people are, " masters of the obvious" applies.
How about $2.5 billion payday for someone even the Saudi's find to be inept ?
The $ passed with Qtar and Kushner ?
All her emails on an unsecured server a la " lock her up " ad nauseam,
Kushner using What's App so all his correspondence can't be tracked,
His involvement with Cambridge Analytica ?
They're lying to the United States about COVID and PPE while hundreds of thousands of people died ?
Why is there zero accountability for these truly awful self enriching grifters ?
Look into the African-American guy who ran for mayor in a tiny town in AL, won the election but has been prevented from taking office for three years by the previous unelected mayor, who also conspired to prevent African-Americans elected to the city council from taking their seat.
A closer look into MTG would be welcome too.
mtg 4 sure!
What in creation went wrong with her???
I always thought a small amount of empathy was distributed at birth but...
I offer up MTG as evidence that a cretinous redneck's family tree has no branches.
fnord
My Daddy would've said they needed chlorine in the gene pool
Not psychopaths.
OMG! First I've heard of this. WTAH?
TL;DR Tiny town in AL, 130 or so residents, never held elections. They hold the first one, African-Americans run, they win and they're prevented from taking office. AL state govt is not doing anything. I found out via Underthedesknews on Tiktok who picked up the story yesterday.
The DOJ has its hands full but , really , this is major . Are people reluctant to protest this , because of retribution . I think its time for Federal Law to rule on some despicable work by people taking liberties with ‘ States Rights’ . States should be protecting Civil Rights . When they fail to do so and actually undermine the Constitution.
The Federal Government out to step in .
Media could actually tell the truth.
yep, time for feds to start a total political reconstruction of the deep south.
Time for the DOJ to step in…
Newburn, Alabama & the should-be mayor's name is Patrick Braxton. He's been locked out of the office going on three years. The state of Alabama has done nothing to help.
Yes. This.
Regarding MTG, one of our "members" wrote a fascinating and detailed report on her (on his sub stack). I think his first name is Abraham
Yes, yes, yes. This story is right up PI's alley
I would LOVE to know who and what is behind the No Labels PAC. Where is all this money coming from? And why are "they" funding the so-called Problem Solvers Caucus in the U.S. House? It is this kind of "dark money" in our politics that should have us ALL concerned, and a little pissed-off!! Thanks
I want money out of politics, with short, substantive, publicly financed campaigns. Other democracies do it.
Here here.
Add Joe Cunningham's "Democrat washing" role in this spoiler group, please!
Here’s some info for you, and I know Judd would do a great expose! https://www.commondreams.org/news/no-labels-funded-by-billionaires
Thanks for the link, Kate. I'll check it out!
No Labels also support Ron DeSantis -- they are NOT good news as a 3rd party and will almost insure that trump gets the nomination !
Dark Money for sure, including Harlan Crow:
“According to internal documents obtained by the Daily Beast in 2018, No Labels has been backed by billionaire investors and corporate executives, among them the late Republican mega-donor David Koch, former AIG CEO Hank Greenberg, billionaire hedge-fund manager Paul Singer, as well as top Trump supporters such as PayPal founder Peter Thiel, businessman Foster Friess and Home Depot founder Ken Langone.
The New Republic also recently obtained a document showing that Texas real estate magnate and GOP patron Harlan Crow gave $130,000 to No Labels between 2019 and 2021. The document shows that Crow — who ProPublica recently revealed has lavished conservative U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas with gifts, including luxury vacations and a home for his mother — is considered a “whale” level donor by the organization.”
https://mainebeacon.com/collins-chaired-corporate-group-is-trying-to-get-on-maines-2024-ballot/
I am a whole lot pissed off. No fan of the 1% neither personal or corporate
I'm with you, cathy b. And it's more than the federal level, too. Here in the once-great state of Ohio, the level of corruption in Columbus knows no bounds. Even when one of their own is convicted of blatant corruption, they just keep on keepin' on. Sickening to say the least.
There is soooo much to look into re the corruption and hypocrisy taking place. None is new, this has been going on since time began.
One area I would like to shed a little sunlight on is Jared Kushner's deall with the Saudis.
Keep it up!
Please add Stephen Mnuchin to your expose!!
Yes, as a New Yorker, we all knew 666 Fifth Ave was a disaster and Jared needed to unload it or face foreclosure. Saudis to the rescue.
The Kushners, completely unqualified " senior advisors" to the Trump WH.
She receives endless unethically acquired Chinese trademarks, he tells us the Russian hacking is no big deal, the PPE is not ours and they both profit to the tune of over $600 million while they " work" for government
Yes, and that is only what we know thus far.
Yet, the one being flagged by the MSM and GOP as a violator of the Hatch Act is Biden's Press secretary: A Democrat, and a woman, and one of color.
yep, vs Hunter actually paying his late unpaid taxes plus penalties and still gets legal criminal penalty for it when normal citizens do NOT! Regular citizens also NEVER get charged for the particular gun crime he is now charged with. He was held to a much higher standard than avg citizens. Meanwhile, Ivanka has a cool 2B from the richest arabs on the planet.
Yet, the one being flagged by the MSM and GOP as a violator of the Hatch Act is Biden's Press secretary: A Democrat, and a woman, and one of color.
& pls investigate “the Ivankas” making millions when working as senior advisors in the WH
Did anyone else read that the $2 billion was for Jared to invest, and that Jared is paid $25 million a year to manage it?
Yes
The Princes advisors told him this was not a good idea because they were aware he is unqualified.
This is obviously a thank you
I watched a documentary somewhere or maybe a frontline story (?) on Kushner father and son. Cringy w personal relationship to Netanyahu. Dad served time, Trump pardoned.
dad served time for serious crime too! Not just any sorta crime!
What happened to the investigation into the US Postmaster. The reports a couple of years ago made it seem like a slamdunk. There were accusations about DeJoy and his campaign contributions through his employees through his business prior to getting the appointment.
What became of the plan to purchase EV’s for the largest fleet of vehicles nationwide? I read that he overturned the plan (contract?) but unsure where it ended up.
I read an article from Time recently about DeJoy, and he might not be the bad guy we think he is.
No, he only wants to privatize our postal service--that we cannot live without--for his own financial benefit.
Thank you, I found that Time article. Lots of info and sounds like he has done some good and the accusations were investigated and dropped. I didn't read that he wants to privatize the PO but some Republicans do.
While he was postmaster, mailboxes were being removed from all over the country to make it harder to give and receive mail. Including in rural areas and including in areas where there are primarily seniors, who vote !
And the giant automated sorting machines were removed from many smaller post offices, making it necessary for those locations to send the mail elsewhere (to more regional or central offices) for sorting, stamping, sending on. Thus, slowing it all down. :-(
happened particularly before the election, that year and the yr prior.
While he was postmaster, mailboxes were being removed from all over the country to make it harder to give and receive mail. Including in rural areas and including in areas where there are primarily seniors
Thank you for taking the time to look into this further, @Sharon Shaner
USA press and some citizens need to grow up about their attitudes to addiction. The reaction to the charges against Hunter Biden has been political but also infantile.The word is out. Addiction is world-wide problem in which every citizen has a stake.
& doesn’t Don (don’t JackassJr) Trump have a drug problem too? He usually appears high in his rants.
cocaine. Cocaine is the only thing that produces that D. tRump attitude. No other substance. I tutored students loaded up on Adderall, and that doesn't cover what tRump is like. Cocaine.
*Don (don’t call him) JackassJr) Trump
That may just be his natural charm
Really enjoy your work.
There's already too much to cover, but things that especially piss me off:
1. Corporate supression of unionization efforts
2. The atrocity of health care: tied to employment (lose your job, lose your coverage), pre-existing condition denial, government subsidizing already profitable pharmacutical companies, etc.
How about facts about accomplishments for the current President? Not the click bait we see, or the snippets. "Americans still "struggling"" is a favorite of every News outlet, but is it true? If so WHY?
What is controllable what isn't? What's realistic, what's not? ; ) Thanks for ALL you do!!
This is due to ultra right wing owning almost all media conglomerates. This must be addressed!
yep, past seven yrs saw the transition of most local media and print media being bought, including for pennies on dollar, by "hedge funds" and so forth. Many have been liquidated, wiped out. The local tv and especially radio has so many stations of those one or two rightwing major co's, with shows like Huge Hewitt's, it's jarringly orwellian or franky much worse, bcuz they r skilled disinformationists.
IXMM-Spot on! It’s a frightening reality for us and makes the lies harder to fight. But enough people see what trump et al are. When the rights of LGBTQIA, racial hatred, removal of womens rights, book banning happened…it did open the eyes of many. We’re at a turning point. We must project confidence & put out Dem accomplishments to stop their distractions.
A brilliant and practical idea! There's SO MUCH we don't know. Are there ways that Biden has accomplished something important for women and children that is not fully known and appreciated (that would impress voters)?
One blog already focused on this topic (and how to use the positive news to win elections) is Hopium Chronicles By Simon Rosenberg, https://simonwdc.substack.com/archive
Thank you!!
I’ve mentioned it before but the antics of Republicans in Ohio around the August special election making it much harder for citizens to pass ballot initiatives to amend the constitution needs scrutiny. I’m interested in this topic specifically as it relates to the slew of representatives elected in 2018 (known as “Team Householder” candidates) who are still in office. They were elected using money funneled from former speaker Larry Householder’s illegal dealings and are now at the forefront of the current assault on freedom in the state.
YES!! And, the antics of the so-called "Secretary of State". Who is it that bought Frank LaRose?
I'm concerned that Sherrod Brown's seat could be in danger if the inordinate amount of money owned by Matt Dolan's family goes dark and therefore dishonest in their campaign for Senate.
This is happening in Idaho as well. They have been pushing for ballet initiative restrictions since the public voted for Medicaid expansion. After the new wave took office this session, they immediately started to claw back Medicaid and are working to restrict public opposition.
Greg Abbot in Texas has vetoed everything sent his way recently. They are in a special session which is almost over but he is threatening to call them in for more and refuse to sign anything, veto everything until they pass a school voucher bill. I would be pretty sure he is getting paid off by someone.
As well as AG Paxton and his wife who refused to recuse herself from his trial. Go figure.
Leonard Leo's dark money network recently grew by $1.6 billion from one donor. Anything that can be reported about how they are enhancing their already frightening capacity and what they are doing with the money would advance the public interest.
Recently the Tampa Bay Times ran an article about how Ron DeSantis used Leonard Leo and the Federalist Society to stack the Florida Supreme Court with right wing extremists. We now have. 6-1 right wing court.
Keep a spotlight on the murder and disappearance of indigenous women in our country. I find it appalling.
Also, why does 30% of the Navajo Nation still lack access to clean, safe drinking water? In 2023? In the wealthiest country on earth?
We owe a great debt to the native tribes in our country. In the desert southwest, access to clean, safe water that doesn’t have to be trucked in is a good start to repaying that debt. So is taking the murder and disappearance of indigenous women seriously.
Any more info on that stunning party switch in N.C.?
Agree! Was there money-changing-hands involved in this shocking -- and consequential -- change by the faux Democratic legislator?
The NC Governor just vetoed a bill that would enrich payday lenders and title lenders (raising the maximum interest rate to 33%). Because of the party switch (and because some Dems went along with the higher interest rate), the legislature probably will override the veto. A win for predatory lenders, not so much for desperate people who need quick cash.
As an Alabamian who finds Tommy Tuberville's idiotic behavior a total embarrassment, I'd like to know who is behind his stonewalling of officers' confirmation. He's not smart enough to do this by himself.
I hope you can amplify the #StopCopCity movement in Atlanta, Georgia! The Guardian and Atlanta Community Press Collective are two sources of information.
Great idea!
Please take a look at Gov Greg Abbott who receives a nice check for his accident which crippled him yet he signed a law which now caps the amount others can receive in a similar event.
He is so beyond dirty
After reading the superb suggestions thus far, I have to agree with all of them.
I fully agree with a deep dive into the state legislative folks. Instead of picking a state, just go down the alphabet. Hit all the red states first, that will give them plenty to do as you then pick apart the blue states.
As for the federal level. Take the House Republicans starting at the top, with Marjorie Taylor Greene, then Kevin McCarthy, L. Boebert, and so on, right down the line.
A deep dive needs to be done to all of their ‘extracurricular activities’, non-paid taxes, unclaimed incomes/expenses on taxes. Who their sleeping with, other than their spouses, everything. Get down and dirty with it all.
What groups they are getting kickbacks from? Why?
I empathize but have to disagree with the Red-Blue state ordering. Recently read Thom Hartmann'shttps://hartmannreport.com/p/is-it-time-for-big-business-to-sit-8ed
He revealed an important development in Maine! A plan for the two major electric power plants to be bought and run by the citizens of Maine ran into enormous financial blowback from corporate powers that despise any attempt to interfere with their grift and greed. They were "helped" by a progressive Democrat and a conservative Republican who were enlisted to do this shameful bidding. So, Daniel, I very much want to protect and support what's happening in Maine and Washington (State). Hartmann's piece today, GOP: "How Dare You Tell the Truth!" reveals treachery accosting Disinformation Researchers at the University of Washington.
I have to agree with you. I was not aware of these happenings. I would like to explain main key I said the Red states first, then Blue states. If he picks the teeth out of the state and federal elected officials of the Ted states first, that will tie them all up explaining away (lying) to their constituents, and America, about why they missed paying taxes, took bribes, received kickbacks, and have been sleeping with everything willing in their respective capitals.
Then, he can do the same to the blue states.
Honestly, doesn’t matter to me how he does it. I just think if he can get all the first on these peopke, it will be a lot easier to get them out of office.
I'd really like to know what has happened in East Palestine Ohio. What has happened to the railroad workers shafted in their efforts to have reasonable work hours, paid sick leave, and basic safety regulations upheld? Also, will Norfolk Southern face any real consequences for their grotesque mismanagement?
I would like to see an in depth report on public education. Specifically around the systematic undermining of public schools. Books like “A Nation at Risk” which began the push against public education in the eighties under President Reagan to the legislation “No Child Left Behind” to today’s continued book banning etc. have all contributed to this harmful trend. Public education is the great equalizer especially for the poor and marginalized members of our society. The effort to undo public education has had far reaching negative effects on our society.
This is covered well by Diane Ravitch's blog, and the Network for Public Education.
https://dianeravitch.net/
https://networkforpubliceducation.org/
We need to oppose the far right with in-depth articles that expose and name the actual people (sociopaths) who write the legislation that Republicans pass. Who are they? Where does their money come from? What organizations (Federalist Society, for example) are involved. Are they white nationalists? Oligarchs? It's not enough siimply to see the idiotic politicians (MTG, Boebert, DeSantis and all the rest). We need to expose the vast conspiracy in the same way that Jane Mayer did in Dark Money. And we must make it a drum beat! We are getting nowhere unless we expose and attempt to shame the fascists behind the fascists.
A very good point. What radiclized the school board in Bucks Cty Pa?
Elon Musk continues his anti-trans tirades on Twitter. Yesterday he tweeted, "The words 'cis' or 'cisgender' are considered slurs on this platform."
Not sure if Popular Info can uncover anything new, as it's now pretty widely reported that one of his children changed her name after transitioning and has said she wants nothing more to do with him. Perhaps just some public exposure on the Q of "Why is Elon Musk so consistently attacking trans people?"
Musk is the product of apartheid. He doesn’t like anyone not like him. Peeling back the layers of his moral and business corruption would be a good start.
Looks like he's taking it personally!
You’re great at traversing the maze of political corruption and hypocrisy. I suggest more of the same, at the state level, like in TN. Pick a state, any state, sadly.
Are the Russian sanctions actially working? and if so, how quickly will the full effects be felt.?
Why hasn’t Steve Bannon gone to jail yet for contempt of congress?
Why haven’t the law enforcement officers wounded on January 6 filed lawsuits against Trump?
Has Starbucks management begun to take good faith meetings with unions yet?
Quite honestly- these day you can pick a state, any state, any local election, any school board even and there will be corruption. The way things have turned out, the pride of doing something for the good of everyone has gone out of the window. It once was a sense of pride to be in office. Now it is a sense of what can I get out of this. Things have gone from bad to worse. It doesn’t seem to be getting much better. tRUMP crossed the line of good and made it “okay” to be dishonest and selfish. Nixon was an embarrassment, 45 was much much worse and still is.
I wish there were more information about Angela Paxton, the wife of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. She is in the Texas Senate, and I believe I just read that she will Not recuse herself from his impeachment trial. I wonder what she has done, and what she is currently doing to try to make sure that her husband cannot be held accountable for the securities fraud and abuse of office he is accused of. It also seems very strange that he has been accused of crimes for years, and Texas judges keep letting him get away with it. Which makes me wonder about the judges.
Thank you for all your work!
Denial of science. Recent pillory of Dr. Peter Hotez for promoting vaccines is only part of the problem. The questioning of Rachel Wolensky at congressional hearing. The republicans want to go back to the middle ages and are defunding NIH and other science. If you can address this it would be great.
Tommy Tuberville.....what the hell? He's not smart enough to do anything on his own, so who's pulling his strings? He's a total embarrassment to at least some of us in Alabama.
Here is what I'd like to see.
How can we as readers, aside from voting make a difference? How do we get media outlets to print and report on the positives that happen in our current administration, and with the country, such as the last article about crime going down?
How do we as readers confront the lies, misinformation that are pumped daily into our media sources?
I get my news from various sources, 2 who are Tik-Tok creators, along with a couple subscriptions like this one, I watch PBS, and that is about it. I trust their investigative resources.
A recurring theme is child sexual abuse, trafficking, a huge percent of these perpetrators are conservative lawmakers, ministers, youth pastors, priests, lawmakers. Literally dozens, every month! Why isn't this literally everywhere on all media outlets? Even if there are liberal, democrat independents involved? The Republicans tout themselves as the party of * Family Values * moral high ground, they diminish the LGBTQ community, women, people of color yet I very seldom see them called out on the abuses going on or god forbid the divorce rate! Or did we all know how low the price of diesel fuel is right now? Is that being played on media outlets? That inflation is steadily improving, that blue states do better economically and subsidize red states? And can we stop doing this? My biggest frustration is that the good news is never OUT there in bold capping! Too many people have no idea. How do we change this?
I urge people watch Shiny Happy People on Amazon Prime. The evangelicals are playing the long game, they have wanted to co-opt our government for decades and it seems to be working.
As a gay man, married, what is happening in this country right now due to religious influence, is making me scared and sick to my stomach.
Thanks for your inspiring work, Judd. You have a whipsmart staff, too, and best wishes to them!
I am still processing the latest debt ceiling resolution. I observe that that the entire negotiation was in bad faith between both parties and that the opposition between Democratic leadership and Republicans on the ceiling is a sham. Democrats set the conditions for this hostage taking to regularly recur and use it as cover for their willingness to assuage their wealthy donors. For instance, including additional IRS funding in the infrastructure bill, which was clawed back in the deficit negotiation, was nothing more than a bargaining chip from the start. We need to keep exposing these actors and hold them accountable, because two years from now we’ll be right back there.
Agree agree agree republicans are paid to win and the democrats are paid by same people/companies to lose
That’s well said. It makes me think of the New York State Democratic Party leadership and how they threw the midterms to the GOP.
I’m interested in the status of lawsuits that challenge state book banning, state restrictions on abortion and state restrictions on medical care for trans youth. I’m also, as always, interested in where and on what the department of education spends its money.
relentless focus on Koch industries and Charles Koch subverting democracy
Thank you for all of your excellent research and reporting. You are making a huge difference in getting the truth out to the world. Under our noses, Republicans did an excellent job of taking over many local and state government entities. Many of us were caught blindsided. Now they are working to influence our children as young as middle school on their beliefs on abortion, LGBTQ, climate issues, immigration etc. We are not paying attention! In our town, Dixon, Illinois, the Young America's Foundation, owners of the Reagan Boyhood Home are hosting endless workshops for young people on how to talk like a conservative. Other similar groups are gaining strong traction all over the US. Most people are totally unaware that these "nice" "attractive" "well-sponken" "neighborly" young organizers are dangerous! Can you help us spread the word? They have millions of dollars and we pass the hat for money. Help!!!!
It is a cold story, but one that might bear fruit (or just turn out to be a dead-end), but I would love to see an investigation into Russian presence at NRA conventions, beginning in the 1990s, and their use of those events to suborn or gather compromising material on lawmakers and political influencers.
Most definitely NOT a cold story.
Maria Butina, the Russian spy who infiltrated the NRA and inserted herself in GOP political corruption, and was the first person Trump called on at their convention ( how odd) to answer very stupidly, a dumb question, now providing "shelter" for Tara Read in Russia.
I believe The Daily Beast wrote about this story.
The woman who has accused Joe Biden of advances with zero evidence to back it up. He has denied it many times over.
You can't make this crap up.
It's literally Fox News Joe Biden hunt.
Why is every GOP member repeating Russian propaganda blather idiocy ? How stupid they think we are...
Read the article in the Atlantic about the “woman buying a mountain for God”, there was mention of the suspicious “apostolic ministries” funding including “offshore inventors” hiding funds from government oversight for “voting the wrong way”. The article was focused on this particular woman, but left many questions about who is funding this stuff.
Interesting article in NYTimes re: local officials who retaliate against local newspapers for covering corruption by withdrawing legal notice contracts and giving them to papers on the fringe of the area or out of the area altogether. Bet there's a lot more.
The reported delay by FBI/DOJ on the top level 1/6 instigators is important. I am wondering if there's a similar hesitation to investigate domestic terrorism - I know there are First Amendment issues with prosecuting but the threat seems significant. Yahoo just reported on corporate support for cultural awareness but did not acknowledge the discrepancies between public statements and political donations. I love your work and I use Twitter (mostly) to amplify the related messages to corporations.
Please look into the huge tax deductions for oil and gas drilling programs. These programs incentivize accredited investors to support dirty energy.
Congress needs to remove these tax incentives (85-93% deduction of investment, and a 15% depletion allowance on the revenue stream for 20-30 years.)
If we are serious about combatting climate change, we must make green programs more tax advantaged.
I would like your insights about the most effective activist organizations readers can join. I have volunteered and canvassed for various political campaigns but would like to join an organization working to combat misinformation and hate speech. In particular, I want to regulate Big Tech and dismantle their monopolies. Any ideas?
We need to look into laws that protect public from ALL media that intentionally lies and distributes information known to be false. Where is the protection? It is not freedom of speech to endanger the public by calling mass murder at schools a hoax etc, then to present it on news. There is video/audio footage of trump impeding help for capital police & inciting sedition. Yet he is speaking on national tv. It will be difficult to end this desecration of democracy unless all people have access to the truth.
How about covering the Democrats working with Republicans to literally allow corporations to vote in Joe Biden's home state?
With Democrats like these, who needs Republicans?
https://www.levernews.com/the-city-poised-to-allow-corporations-to-vote/
If that article is not a spoof, it marks the end of democracy. It literally means a return to monarchy. As corporations assume more soveriegnty, the fascist oligarchy becomes the nobility, the royalty, the owners and rulers. The people return to the peasantry, without votes, without economic or political power. I suppose there's no going back. Citizens United was the point of no return. When we lost the Court, we lost the game.
Love what you do.
Check into Louisiana Legislature haphazardly finishing up their Session, and slashing State Health-related Funds to the tune of perhaps $500 Million -plus, (once Federal funds lost by this insanity are factored in).
The Head of Health Programs in LA initially thought the slashing, when he first heard of the debacle, was a joke.
A Special Session (to correct this mess) is likely being cobbled together, as I write.
JARED KUSHNER AND IVANKA TRUMP
The children who crashed in the Amazon were indigenous who were being evacuated from their home village due to violent political strong-arming of their family by outside developers. What's up with that?
in interested in how James Cromer and Jim Jordan can use the oversite and jusicial committee websites to push their agenda against the current administration and how they can post articles from right wing news sources like FOX news on those sites as information to back up their claims i feel that this is a misuse of taxpayer money and resources
The Chicago Fraternal Order of Police and the Chicago Police Department. Such uneven policing in this city with the usual dividing lines -- color and income. Hard to deny data but not a lot of local media spending time required to really prove it. Needs to be done before a new chief of police hired. Thank you.
Chicago police union pres, John Catanzara s a full on MAGA nut case. He whined liked a baby brat that people had to wear masks at the height of Covid-19. A corrupt monstrous asshole.
Look into Gov. Ron DeSantis' recent approval/vetoes bc it seems he's alright spending taxpayer money on shameless shenanigans (*cough* Disney fued & bussing immigrants *cough*) while denying the hard-hit blue-leaning counties with much needed funding.
Sam, I suggest blue leaning counties secede and establish their own cooperative government where they can stand on their own and prosper! Take in those.. er.. immigrants and their diversity and strength shall allow for a dynamic Wakanda like nation to rise up in America! Cheers brother!
So you're OK with the frivolous use of taxpayer funds (to which those counties contribute) & then blatant retaliation/favouritism? Cool, cool.
Regardless of what side of the aisle you believe I'm on I can recognize a spade & call it such.
That kind of tit for tat bs is entirely what's wrong with this nation's politics.
Cheers brother!
TV created trump and his cult. MSM TV continues to disinform and manipulate opinion. trump and his cult are tv addicts, and tv is becoming more stupid and shallow by the day and leading many people into a dishonest and angry wasteland. TV addiction and corporate control of our airwaves needs more criticism and more accountability for its dishonesty. Thank you for all your great reporting!
Check out the just released documentary "Americonned". Outlines the destruction of the US middle class, increase in homelessness and the consolidation of wealth to the top 1%.
We have a situation in Oregon with the State Senate Republicans and their six week walkout, bringing our biennial Legislature to a halt by denying the constitutionally mandated Quorum. A ballot measure was passed by over 68% of Oregon voters declaring 10 unexcused absences would preclude electeds from running again. Someone (who?) is bankrolling a Court challenge to this. Might this be worth investigating? Thanks!
There are rumors that Chick-fil-A, notorious for the donations their owner made to anti-LBGTQ groups (some I believe were in African countries that killed gays) has stopped it's anti-LBGTQ crusade. Is this true? Are there other stores that have been boycotted for their political or social-cause donations that have changed their ways? Some clarification would be valuable. We appreciate your reporting, Judd!!
Please write about the profiteering and absolutely abhorrent behavior from Jared and Ivanka Kushner, the two unqualified " senior advisors" to the most corrupt, incompetent WH in history.
The pulling of the Bible from the purse, ( her asinine, fake idea) while they gassed and helicopter swiped peaceful protestors, the scores of unethically acquired Chinese trademarks, while Trump simultaneously was demanding we use and save ZTE Chinese tech company, which was declared a national security threat by the Pentagon, and removed from all government and military facilities?
A coincidence? Probably not.
If one thing this people are, " masters of the obvious" applies.
How about $2.5 billion payday for someone even the Saudi's find to be inept ?
The $ passed with Qtar and Kushner ?
All her emails on an unsecured server a la " lock her up " ad nauseam,
Kushner using What's App so all his correspondence can't be tracked,
His involvement with Cambridge Analytica ?
They're lying to the United States about COVID and PPE while hundreds of thousands of people died ?
Why is there zero accountability for these truly awful self enriching grifters ?