The Trump admin took actions last year that benefited Chevron, a $2.5 million inauguration donor and major GOP super PAC donor: - Restored Chevron's ability to operate in Venezuela and export oil - Promoted LNG exports through regulatory rollbacks - Allowed John B. Hess to join Chevron’s board

Chevron, the only major U.S. oil company operating in Venezuela, is a top corporate donor to Republican super PACs. Over the past decade, the company has given: - $16.8 million to SLF, backing Senate GOP - $12.5 million to CLF, backing House GOP - $2.5 million to Trump 2024 inauguration, etc.

Chevron, the only major U.S. oil producer in Venezuela, has been a leading donor to the International Republican Institute, a nonprofit that supported the political opposition in the country. Former opposition leader Juan Guaidó pledged to protect oil giant's assets in 2019.

Trump super PAC MAGA Inc. received $25 million from OpenAI President Greg Brockman, according to a new disclosure. His Sept. 12 donation came as the Trump admin moved to accelerate permitting for data centers and aimed to ban state AI regulations, in line with AI industry lobbying.

House Dem leaders funneled millions to an AIPAC-funded group that backed pro-Israel candidates in primaries, according to newly-released tax documents.

House Dems gave millions in "dark money" to 314 Action, a group funded by AIPAC that spent supporting pro-Israel candidates in Democratic primaries in Oregon last year, according to a new tax return.

Our 2-person newsroom published 180+ stories this year exposing the corrupt influence of money in politics. Here’s some of the work we’re most proud of. First up, how the DCCC is raising millions from Palantir and Elon Musk-linked lobbyists. readsludge.com/2025/02/24/d...

These follow-the-money stories exist because of readers like you, who support this reporting uncovering billionaire and special interest influence in politics.

New: A nonprofit that Elon Musk formerly funded reported receiving a $75 million anonymous donation last year, according to its tax filing obtained by Sludge. The group, Building America's Future, ran a deceptive campaign to support Trump's election.

New: Koch network groups have been on a relentless campaign to block the ACA subsides from being extended.

AI industry lobbyists rubbed shoulders with 2028 hopefuls at the Democratic Governors Association holiday meeting. Big Tech is pushing hard to ban states from regulating AI, like the 100 AI safety laws passed this year.

Hundreds of corporate lobbyists descended on the Democratic Governors Association annual meeting, according to an attendee list obtained by Sludge. They mingled with 2028 hopefuls on behalf of pharma, oil & gas, and the AI industry.

OpenAI, Meta, and Google were among the tech companies that sent lobbyists to the Democratic Governors Association's annual meeting, according to a list obtained by Sludge. The meeting came as Trump was finalizing an executive order designed to block states from enforcing their AI safety laws.

Trump will sign an executive order seeking to block states from regulating AI. To counter, House Dems announced an AI commission on "innovation" led by members with a slew of ties to Big Tech—and who co-sponsored AI industry-friendly bills with Republicans.

House Democrats announced a new AI commission stocked with Big Tech allies. Co-chairs include Reps. Josh Gottheimer, who owns millions of dollars' worth of stock in tech giants, and Silicon Valley's Zoe Lofgren, the second-highest recipient of campaign cash from an AI-heavy industry. Our story:

Last week, the EPA nearly doubled the amount of formaldehyde considered safe to inhale, according to ProPublica. Two former chemical industry figures worked on the decision: Lynn Ann Dekleva, a former government affairs lead and lobbyist; and Nancy Beck, a longtime chemical lobby executive.

House Republicans are pushing a bill to preempt state and local bans on natural gas hookups in new construction. Critics say the bill is so broad it could also block many other policies that limit fossil fuels. Our latest:

Funding support from readers who choose to become paid subscribers is our single largest revenue source. If you appreciate our investigative reporting, please become a subscriber and get full access—your support will be boosted 12x by the NewsMatch. 👋 readsludge.com/membership/

Rep. Hakeem Jeffries said on WNYC that he receives only $10,000 from AIPAC's PAC, but FEC records show the group has flooded his campaign with more than $1 million in earmarked donations. A conduit used by AIPAC PAC, Democracy Engine, may be funneling more from the group.

We've broken some big stories this year, and now we need your support during the NewsMatch. Your new subscription to Sludge will be 12x-matched. We can only get this crucial funding with help from our readers. Get full access and follow the money: 🙌 🙌 readsludge.com/membership/

Our biggest fundraising drive of the year has begun. The NewsMatch drive has been our most important funding source, directly making our money-in-politics reporting possible. But we can only get this crucial funding with help from our readers. Join Sludge, and get full access: readsludge.com/join

NEW REPORT: NY polluters have increased lobbying by 52.3% since @governor.ny.gov took office — while NYers saw gas bills rise by an average of $288/year & utilities posted record profits. This is what blocking climate action looks like. Read more: bit.ly/PolluterLobb... @nyrenews.bsky.social

Trump bought up to $1 million in Warner Bros debt in September. He is reportedly pushing for a Paramount Skydance takeover of the company, which could boost the bond’s price. readsludge.com/2025/11/17/t...

NEW: Trump Invests in Media Merger His Administration Controls readsludge.com/2025/11/17/t...

Elon Musk sat down again with the Joe Rogan show and recycled his widely-disproven claims of "massive fraud" in the Social Security program—and as before, faced no fact-checks on the show.

Cantor Fitzgerald, the family-run firm of Howard Lutnick, is on track for all-time high revenue this year of $2.5 billion, according to Bloomberg. Its stake in stablecoin company Tether, which benefits from the Trump admin's crypto policies, could result in tens of billions in profit.

Glad to speak about the booze angle on THC showdown in the Senate with @sludge.bsky.social, an independent outlet that publishes some of the smartest and most dogged reporting available on money in politics:

Popular THC drinks face a federal ban in the bill to reopen the government. The measure, backed by Mitch McConnell and being fought by Rand Paul, was added after a lobbying push from large alcohol companies.

NEW: Despite ActBlue’s updated policies banning fake matches and deadlines, Democratic Party groups are continuing to spam supporters with messages designed to trick them into giving money. readsludge.com/2025/11/06/t...

New York City's election today comes after hundreds of thousands of city residents made small donations that were matched in the public campaign financing program. In 2021, a Brennan Center report found that NYC's matching option helped make city government more representative.

Binance facilitated a $2 billion deal using the Trump family token USD1, and its founder CZ got a pardon. In July, Binance CEO Richard Teng joined the advisory board of crypto lobbying group The Digital Chamber, as the industry spends record amounts: readsludge.com/2025/07/23/c...

NewsMatch is here, the best time to support our money-in-politics reporting. Become a Sludge subscriber, get full access to our stories and site archives, and your support will be matched 12x in the drive. >> readsludge.com/join

NEW: Senate Panel Advances Wildfire Bill Slammed as Timber Industry Giveaway readsludge.com/2025/10/30/s...

Not just crypto and fossil fuels — Big Pharma, chemical companies, and Big Banks received policy favors and regulatory handouts after giving millions to Trump’s inauguration fund. Search more than 150 top donors: readsludge.com/2025/10/29/t...

"Trump's Corporate Favor Factory" @sludge.bsky.social "researched more than 150 top donors to Trump’s inauguration fund and White House ballroom to find the government favors they’ve received this year."

Big Tech firms had FTC cases dropped. Chemical companies got air pollution exemptions. Crypto, fossil fuels, and private equity were handed long-sought policies. We researched more than 150 top donors to Trump's inauguration and White House ballroom to catalog their favors this year:

With More Perfect Union, we helped research this new, searchable list of the favors given to more than 150 top donors to Trump's inauguration and White House ballroom. Search by name to see regulations axed, cases dropped, and ambassadorships doled out: >> perfectunion.us/trumps-corpo...

Launched: in collaboration with @moreperfectunion.bsky.social, we dug into the top donors to Trump's inaugural and his new White House ballroom—and the favors they got. Search over 150 corporate and wealthy Trump donors and see their prizes this year. perfectunion.us/trumps-corpo...

Lobbying is booming to record highs under Trump, with PhRMA and others on track to spend all-time highs. Trump-allied firms are the top beneficiaries.

Pfizer recently cut a deal with the Trump White House that watchdogs and investors saw as favorable for the company. After Trump's election win, the drugmaker re-hired the lobbying firm Miller Strategies, founded by a Trump campaign fundraiser. It's just one of the corporate giants seeking access:

NEW: Corporate PACs that fund anti-Muslim extremist Rep. Randy Fine decline to comment on their donations. readsludge.com/2025/10/23/c...

ICE is stepping up its raids in Chicago, New York City, Portland, and elsewhere. Find all companies nationwide that have active ICE contracts — on our free, interactive map: readsludge.com/2025/05/09/w...

Chuck Schumer's reported favorites in primaries in Michigan and Minnesota are centrists endorsed by AIPAC. Both have received six figures in contributions from AIPAC's PAC this year—and are considered supportive by the crypto industry. In Maine, the DSCC is fundraising with Schumer's centrist pick.

NEW: While some Dems are breaking from AIPAC, Cory Booker is taking the group's money for the first time in his career. readsludge.com/2025/10/16/w...

NEW: Boeing appears on up to $26.7 billion in arms sales approved for Israel since Oct. 7, 2023, topping all other U.S. defense contractors. readsludge.com/2025/10/13/b...

NEW: Following the bot army backlash, Israel ramps up propaganda with 3 US firms: $6M Gen Z campaign by Brad Parscale, "Esther Project" that pays influencers, and a VR "10/7 Experience" deployed at churches. readsludge.com/2025/10/06/i...

NEW: Virginia AG Jason Miyares, deeply tied to the Leonard Leo network, has received $4 million+ from Leo-backed groups for his re-election. In 2023, he intervened to block a DC probe into Leo's nonprofits. readsludge.com/2025/10/02/t...

Chemical Industry set to gain more influence at EPA - MAHA should be Gaga readsludge.com/2025/09/26/l...

The EPA office overseeing toxic chemicals and pesticides is run by three former chemical lobbyists, and is about to welcome a fourth as its new leader. Our latest:

ByteDance will hold bigger-than-expected stakes in the new TikTok companies that will allow U.S. operations after national security concerns, per Reuters. Months before the election last year, TikTok hired lobbying firm Ballard Partners, run by one of Trump's top campaign bundlers Brian Ballard.