Crooked Bough News Round-up

— Following 2018 break from GOP, Victoria’s Secret founder continues to donate big to Republicans

 

at 8/18/22 12:00am

Leslie Wexner, the subject of the new Hulu docuseries “Victoria’s Secret: Angels and Demons,” was once called the wealthiest GOP donor in Ohio. Now he’s writing big checks to both Republicans and Democrats.

— ‘Dark money’ group pushing ‘woke heat-maps’ targeting schools has ties to Christian education foundation

 

at 8/18/22 12:00am

Liberty Alliance USA and a circle of “dark money” groups have connections to the Stanley M. Herzog Charitable Foundation, a Christian education organization.

— Federal campaign spending on child care expenses grows in 2022 midterms

 

at 8/17/22 12:00am

Twenty-four candidates vying for House seats in 2022 collectively spent $168,000 in campaign funds on child care through June 30.

— Gov. Ron DeSantis on pace to break gubernatorial fundraising record

 

at 8/16/22 12:00am

Amid rumblings of a potential 2024 presidential bid, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ (R) political operation raised $165.6 million since 2019, the year he took office.

— FEC approves Google pilot program allowing political fundraising emails to bypass spam filters

 

at 8/11/22 12:00am

The FEC greenlit a Google pilot program, letting political groups bypass Gmail’s spam algorithm and send fundraising emails straight to users’ inboxes.

— Trump-backed Tudor Dixon to face off against Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in Michigan gubernatorial race

 

at 8/10/22 12:00am

Tudor Dixon won the GOP nomination to challenge Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in Michigan but was not the top fundraiser in a crowded primary.

— Russian media organ agrees to pay millions to U.S. conspiracy theorist for Kremlin propaganda

 

at 8/9/22 12:00am

Justice Department filings show a U.S. conspiracy theorist registered as a foreign agent of a Russian propaganda organ in a multimillion-dollar production contract.

— Joe Manchin cuts climate deal with Democrats but remains backed by family orbit of oil and gas

 

at 8/5/22 12:00am

The West Virginia senator received big bucks from son-in-law’s employer, Enterprise Products Partners.

— Gen Z candidates running have collectively raised over $734,000 for 2022 state races

 

at 8/5/22 12:00am

Gen Z candidates have collectively raised over $734,000 for state races so far this election cycle, an OpenSecrets analysis of campaign finance filings found.

— Senate races attract nearly $1 billion ahead of 2022 midterms

 

at 8/4/22 12:00am

U.S. Senate candidates running in 2022 midterms have collectively raised over $970 million for their campaigns.

— Thiel-backed Masters to face Kelly after Arizona’s record-setting GOP Senate primary

 

at 8/3/22 12:00am

Arizona’s Senate GOP primary attracted a record $15.7 million in outside spending, largely benefitting political newcomer Blake Masters.

— “Pop-up” super PAC spent over $2.4 million in weeks leading up to three states’ GOP congressional primaries

 

at 8/3/22 12:00am

Conservative Americans PAC spent $2.4 million on three states’ primaries but the “pop-up” super PAC won’t have to disclose its donors until after voters decide their party nominees.

— Corporate donations to GOP political groups boosted candidates behind anti-abortion rights laws in the states

 

at 8/2/22 12:00am

Corporations bankrolled GOP political groups that boosted candidates behind state laws restricting abortion rights.

— Planned Parenthood Action Fund sets new second quarter lobbying record amid fallout of Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade

 

at 8/2/22 12:00am

Planned Parenthood spent an unprecedented sum lobbying on second quarter lobbying around the time of the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade overturn.

— Adam Schiff outraises other Democratic House Speaker hopefuls

 

at 8/1/22 12:00am

Lawmakers vying to lead the House Democrats if Speaker Nancy Pelosi retires after the midterms have raised millions.

— Democrats leadership and corporate interests help Rep. Henry Cuellar fend off primary challenge

 

at 8/1/22 12:00am

The South Texas congressman’s donors list includes the oil and gas industry and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s campaign committee.

— Federal lobbying spending is on track to set a new record in 2022

 

at 8/1/22 12:00am

Lobbyists raked in $2 billion through Q2 2022 for the first time ever.

— Campaign finance watchdog alleges WinRed processed billions in political contributions without disclosing operating expenses

 

at 7/29/22 12:00am

It is “virtually impossible” that WinRed processed billions of dollars in contributions without incurring substantial operating costs, alleged Campaign Legal Center in an FEC complaint filed Thursday.

— Fossil fuel industry lobbying increases as ConocoPhillips fights for more oil drilling in Alaska

 

at 7/28/22 12:00am

ConocoPhillips spent roughly $5.9 million on federal lobbying in the first half of 2022 as it sought to drill for more oil in Alaska.

— Unprecedented outside spending and self-financing in Michigan’s 13th District Democratic primary

 

at 7/27/22 12:00am

Outside groups are spending millions on the Democratic primary race in Michigan’s 13th Congressional District.

— Supreme Court curbs EPA regulatory power after Koch-tied groups’ push

 

at 7/25/22 12:00am

Several organizations that filed “friend of the court” briefs in the Supreme Court’s West Virginia v. EPA case have ties to the Koch network or oil giant Koch Industries.

As of 8/19/22 3:11pm. Last new 8/18/22 5:50pm.