Scoop: Elon Musk’s X Corp. made a $1 million gift to Trump’s inauguration. The inaugural committee failed to disclose the contribution for six months. New filings show just how deep Musk’s money runs in American politics. www.influencebrief.com/p/revealed-e...

Trump's inaugural committee initially failed to disclose a $1M in-kind donation from Elon Musk's X, @annalecta.bsky.social notes.

The annoying spam texts destroying the Democratic brand: $678M raised through those spam tactics $282M to one consulting firm: Mothership Strategies. $11M to actual campaigns (1.6%) The party isn’t just treating donors like marks—it’s being fleeced itself yet continues to back Mothership.

Update: Trump’s meme coin site now lists a Tron contract address— making it easier to buy on a blockchain tied to more illicit crypto activity than any other, per a report, and deepening the U.S. president’s business links to Chinese billionaire Justin Sun.

NEWS Senator Josh Hawley’s bill to ban stock trading for members of Congress, the President, and Vice President has passed out of committee. The vote was 8–7, with Hawley being the only GOP to join Dems. White House had lobbied against the bill since it includes the President and Vice President.

Trump cut the ribbon at a new Scottish golf course this week. The White House called it a “working visit," costing taxpayers ~$10M. Since becoming president, Trump’s reported more income from Scotland than any other foreign country. My full piece for @msnbc: 🔗 www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnb...

"In Donald Trump’s second term, the presidency isn’t just entangled with private interests. Evidently, it’s now being used to advance them." — @annalecta.bsky.social www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnb...

In his interview with me for "Democracy & Destiny," @robertmaguire.bsky.social gave a shout out to @annalecta.bsky.social for her study of the 2024 election which found $1.9 billion in dark money. soundcloud.com/profciara/de... #darkmoney #BC #CREW #moneyinpolitics

Big money from special interests, out of state groups, and secret donors is fueling expensive elections in New Jersey and Virginia... www.brennancenter.org/our-work/ana...

As anyone who's read my most recent book knows, Paul Manafort was caught dead-to-rights—by a Republican-led committee!—secretly funneling campaign documents to, and having secret conversations with, a known Russian intelligence agent. www.nytimes.com/2025/07/23/u...

Karoline Leavitt has a money problem that won't go away. New from me in @opensecrets.org: www.opensecrets.org/news/2025/07...

Good morning! Please check out the latest episode of "Democracy & Destiny." In it @robertmaguire.bsky.social and I discuss why we still don't know who the biggest political spender in the 2024 election was because of the $1.9 billion in dark money. soundcloud.com/profciara/de... #darkmoney

Trump’s inauguration fundraising was record-smashing. More money, more from donors of $1 million+, huge amounts from tech & crypto, less-than-transparent sources, and a record amount of refunds. Analysis from @annalecta.bsky.social & @brennancenter.org www.brennancenter.org/our-work/res... ‬

Trump’s inauguration fundraising was like nothing seen before. More money, more from donors of $1 million+, huge $ from tech industry, less-than-transparent sources, and a record amount of refunds. New from @annalecta.bsky.social & @brennancenter.org ‬ www.brennancenter.org/our-work/res...

Individuals and corporations, many of which stand to benefit from the new administration, contributed an unprecedented number of seven-figure checks to the inauguration. Our latest resource follows the money: bit.ly/4kkgxv0

“Individuals and corporations, many of which stand to benefit from the actions of the new administration, contributed an unprecedented number of seven-figure checks. The inaugural committee received more than $245 million in contributions…” What’s a conflict? www.brennancenter.org/our-work/res...

Trump’s inauguration raised more money from donors contributing at least $1 million than any prior inauguration. Learn more: bit.ly/4kkgxv0

Trump’s 2025 inauguration raised more from $1M+ donors than any previous inauguration raised in total—and set a new record for refunds. My new analysis with the @brennancenter.org breaks it down and follows the money trails. 🔗 www.brennancenter.org/our-work/res...

Tech interests — including cryptocurrency companies — were some of the largest contributors to Trump’s 2025 inauguration. Our latest analysis breaks down the funding.

Still at #IRE25? Then check out our last session on “Everything you want to know about tracking political influence & money in politics” with Sunlight's @annalecta.bsky.social, Soo Rin Kim (ABC News), & @robertmaguire.bsky.social @citizensforethics.org ⏰ 10:15 – 11:15 a.m. Galerie 4 (2nd floor)

Fantastic panel by @zakimfridge.bsky.social @jasonleopold.bsky.social @annalecta.bsky.social and Jay Hunter. Bookmark this if you want tips on disappearing data. #IRE25 bit.ly/ire25

Dark money in the 2024 elections reached a record high of $1.9 billion, almost double the prior record in 2020. New analysis from @brennancenter and @annalecta.bsky.social www.brennancenter.org/our-work/res...

TODAY the NYT publishes an investigation into the Trump memecoin $TRUMP and how it has turned into a extraordinary venue for foreign influence campaigns. What we are seeing is potentially corrupt attempts to change US policy by paying the Trump family money. This is no "Russian Hoax" nyti.ms/4kkv7D7

Since Citizens United, dark money groups have spent at least $4.3 billion on federal elections. Our latest analysis from @annalecta.bsky.social tracks dark money spending in the 2024 election cycle.

The 2024 federal election was the most secretive since the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision in 2010. Dark money groups — nonprofits and shell companies that hide their donors — spent more than $1.9 billion on last year’s elections, nearly doubling the 2020 record of $1 billion.

Must-read new Bloomberg analysis: Most of the top holders of Trump’s memecoin - who are vying for an “intimate dinner” with POTUS and a White House tour - are likely foreign. www.bloomberg.com/graphics/202...

“The 2024 federal election cycle was the most secretive since the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision in 2010.”- @annalecta.bsky.social www.brennancenter.org/our-work/res... Dark money groups, nonprofits, & shell companies spent $1.9 billion — almost double the record $1 billion spent in 2020.

NEW: Dark money spending in the 2024 federal elections hit $1.9 billion — nearly double the previous record. This is an unprecedented surge in secret political spending. Here’s the full @brennancenter.bsky.social report with all of the details: www.brennancenter.org/our-work/res...

Dark money in the 2024 elections reached a record high of $1.9 billion, about double the prior record in 2020. New analysis from @brennancenter and @annalecta.bsky.social www.brennancenter.org/our-work/res...

China is funding troll farms to spread fake news in the Philippines. Infinitus Marketing received 930,000 pesos to manage 330 Facebook and X accounts:

🚨 New: Don Jr. and Eric Trump could soon sell $9.6 million in Dominari Holdings stock they got for serving on a little-known advisory board — after just 10 weeks on the job, a new SEC filing shows. Full story here ⬇️

NEWS: The FEC will lose its quorum of commissioners next week, meaning the campaign finance agency will endure a de facto shutdown of its high-level responsibilities, such as enforcing laws and issuing rulings and opinions. From me in @notusreports.bsky.social: www.notus.org/policy/feder...

We're honored to help newsrooms nationwide and are excited about the opportunity to increase our support of investigative local journalism! Join our FREE monthly workshops (there's one this Friday with @propublica.org) & stay updated with our latest resources sunlightresearch.net/research-training

Good analysis by Indy Scholtens on @opensecrets.org: Private prison companies are pouring millions into lobbying & political donations as the Trump admin is poised to step up deportations —potentially increasing their revenue by billions. www.opensecrets.org/news/2025/04...

Big 👏 to @nondoc.bsky.social for looking into OK Supreme Court candidates—uncovering legal ties, donor records & land holdings that matter to voters. Sunlight’s Research Desk is proud to support in surfacing the details 📖 ➡️ nondoc.com/2024/04/10/o... Hey journos 👉 www.sunlightresearch.net/resources

The US is on fast track to join Autocracy Inc.

The $1.5 Million Lobbying Blitz Behind the Self-Described “Dictator” Visiting Trump’s White House DOJ records reveal how a multimillion-dollar foreign lobbying campaign helped Bukele secure rare access to Trump’s inner circle. @annalecta.bsky.social www.influencebrief.com/p/the-15-mil...

New: Trump met with Bukele at the White House today. What didn’t make the readout? A $1.5M foreign lobbying blitz bankrolled by El Salvador’s government to win over Trump’s inner circle. I followed the money: www.influencebrief.com/p/the-15-mil...

💰Former Rep. Stephen Fincher (R-Tenn.) dropped out of a Senate race in 2018. 💰His campaign is still paying for phone/internet and Google ads. 💰The FEC has questions. docquery.fec.gov/pdf/159/2025...

⚠️ NSO Group is paving a path back Into Trump’s 🇺🇸America. The 🇮🇱Israeli #spyware maker, still on the US Commerce Department’s “blacklist,” has hired a new lobbying firm with direct ties to the Trump administration. Here's my investigation for @wired.com.

NEW: @andykroll.bsky.social got emails where a top IRS lawyer warned Trump officials that their firings were a “fraud” on the courts. They did them anyway. www.propublica.org/article/trum...

🔎 How do you investigate businesses without expensive research tools? Find out on Friday, March 28! Sign up now to learn how publicly available information and free tools can help you background private and public businesses! www.sunlightresearch.net/research-tra... #SunshineWeek #journalism

🚨 Government records are disappearing. Troves of public records and data continue to vanish overnight — weakening transparency and our ability to hold those in power accountable. This isn’t about politics. It’s about access to facts. And the consequences affect everyone.🧵

NEW: The GSA sparked chaos by publishing, then deleting, a list of hundreds of federal buildings to sell, including the FBI headquarters. Use our interactive tools to see where they are—and which Congressional districts they're in. from me, @dmehro.bsky.social, and @timmarchman.bsky.social:

According to a new report by @publiccitizen.bsky.social, the Trump administration has already shut down at least 20 investigations and cases under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. That's the law that bans US citizens and entities from bribery of foreign officials. www.citizen.org/news/trump-g...

Thanks, @sunlightresearch.bsky.social, @annalecta.bsky.social, Jonmaesha Beltran, Seraphina Feron, and Diara Townes for helping us sort out the facts about Commissioner French's chemical stocks, which he us he'd divest from when they're through a probate process. rangemedia.co/commissioner...

"Since I was fresh out of law school, I was not the most conventional candidate." — Anna Massoglia yourfirstbyline.substack.com/p/anna-masso...

Anna is one of the best researchers on money in politics & political influence I know. She’s done fantastic work at OpenSecrets & is launching a newsletter I predict will be a must-read in 2025: InfluenceBrief.com As she says, transparency has never been more critical. Please consider subscribing.