The hottest Campaign Finance Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top U.S. Politics Topics

Last Rights

Astral Codex Ten • 32279 implied HN points • 11 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Campaign Finance
  1. Congress is deeply unpopular and its members have little incentive to pass reforms that would reduce their power, so fixes that require Congressional approval are unlikely to happen.
  2. Ratifying the old Congressional Apportionment Amendment would expand the House to thousands of representatives without Congress’s help, which would make gerrymandering harder, reduce the influence of big money, and make representatives more locally accountable.
  3. The amendment contains a long-noted typo that could prompt a legal showdown over textualism versus originalism, but most expect courts to uphold the amendment’s intended meaning; to become law it still needs 27 more states to ratify.

Exclusive: Influencer Group That Boosts Democrats Faces House Investigation Over ‘Dark Money’ Ties

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 55 implied HN points • 20 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Campaign Finance
  1. A nonprofit influencer program called Chorus reportedly paid social media influencers to promote Democratic talking points, sometimes as much as $8,000 per month.
  2. The GOP-led House Oversight Committee has opened an investigation and demanded records to see if the program hid payments or otherwise tried to evade campaign finance disclosure rules.
  3. Investigators say the program may have blurred the line between journalism and political campaigning by obscuring who was paid, raising concerns about dark money and transparency.

I Was the Target of an FBI Sting

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 2026 implied HN points • 26 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Campaign Finance
  1. Undercover FBI agents posed as out-of-town investors and made political donations that became part of an elaborate sting, which led to an arrest.
  2. Those donations looked like normal, legal contributions tied to a redevelopment project he already supported, so he didn’t expect them to be treated as bribes.
  3. The arrest upended his life and pushed him to fight to change the law that was used against him, while also prompting personal reflection about what matters.

We Filed for Nevada State Treasurer

Points And Figures • 399 implied HN points • 03 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Campaign Finance
  1. Filing for statewide office in Nevada is a quick, mostly digital process: make an online appointment, pay a $200 cash fee, complete the forms, and have them notarized.
  2. Filing early removes surprises and opens the door to endorsements, while also kicking off fundraising and reporting—so volunteers and even small donations really matter.
  3. This midterm is framed as a critical moment for Nevada, urging support for Republican candidates (especially reelecting the governor) and asking right-leaning independents to re-register and turn out to vote.

Zionist Billionaires Openly Acknowledge Manipulating The US Government

Caitlin’s Newsletter • 2496 implied HN points • 19 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Campaign Finance
  1. Two wealthy pro-Israel donors openly suggested they use large donations and undisclosed tactics to influence U.S. politicians, while refusing to explain the details.
  2. They framed political contributions as a way to buy access and shape policy, making clear that those who give more get more influence over decisions affecting Israel.
  3. The situation is presented as an example of how powerful moneyed interests can undermine democratic control, leaving ordinary voters with little real influence over government actions.
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I Tried To Tell You: Matt Yglesias Is a Shameless Liar

JoeWrote • 180 implied HN points • 10 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Campaign Finance
  1. Matt Yglesias and other Democratic establishment figures often flip or lie to protect their money, status, and access, then shift blame onto the left instead of owning failed policies. They prioritize defending the political status quo over consistent principles or admitting mistakes.
  2. Yglesias reversed his long-standing opposition to online gambling after accepting a Polymarket sponsorship, claiming prediction markets are different even though they function like unregulated sportsbooks. That flip normalizes risky gambling behavior and benefits sponsors at the expense of readers.
  3. Centrist groups like Third Way are investing big in a top-down, behind-the-scenes campaign to block left candidates in the 2028 primary using skewed polls, donor convenings, and covert influence. This approach favors preserving elite power over persuading the public and undermines democratic accountability.

In This Dystopia You Can't Vote Against Wars But You Can Gamble On When They'll Start

Caitlin’s Newsletter • 1769 implied HN points • 20 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Campaign Finance
  1. People are allowed to gamble on if and when military attacks will happen, even though they aren't given a real political way to vote against wars.
  2. The system legally rewards profiting from war—through prediction markets, arms companies, investments, and lobbying—while efforts to reduce violence are sidelined or blocked.
  3. The relentless pursuit of profit drives ongoing war, environmental destruction, inequality, and corruption, and meaningful change will only come if people collectively force new systems.

A Dark Money Group That Backed Kamala Harris Faces Questions over a Giant Donation

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 533 implied HN points • 10 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Campaign Finance
  1. A nonprofit created by Democratic operatives spent about $182 million and funneled money to the largest super PAC running ads for Kamala Harris.
  2. A $37.5 million gift from Fidelity’s donor-advised fund — which lets donors give anonymously and receive tax breaks — made up a large share of its 2024 funding.
  3. Tax experts and conservatives say the source and timing of that money raised concerns about voter-registration efforts and dark-money influence, especially since the group dissolved shortly after filing its tax return.

The US was always the Weakest Western Country

Erik Examines • 1702 implied HN points • 27 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Campaign Finance
  1. Having the best weapons doesn’t make a country strong if its government, institutions, and media are corrupt or weak.
  2. A capitalist system that lets money buy politics and media makes the country vulnerable to foreign influence and exploitation.
  3. Propaganda and social media can seize a nation without firing a shot, so rebuilding strength requires removing money from politics, enforcing transparency, and supporting public or non-profit media.

Can Democrats escape their Florida death spiral?

Silver Bulletin • 384 implied HN points • 13 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Campaign Finance
  1. Florida has shifted from a true swing state to a Republican-leaning state, with registration and voting trends moving steadily right and the GOP holding statewide power.
  2. The state Democratic Party is underfunded and poorly organized, having diverted resources to outside groups and spread money too thin, which hurts candidate quality and field operations.
  3. Those problems make recovery much harder—mid-decade redistricting and population shifts can entrench GOP advantages—so rebuilding will take years and a focused, well-funded strategy that targets winnable legislative races first.

Jeff Carter for Nevada State Treasurer: Fight Waste & Fraud, Invest Tax Dollars Wisely

Points And Figures • 1385 implied HN points • 06 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Campaign Finance
  1. Put experienced financial stewardship in the State Treasurer’s office to safeguard taxpayer money, eliminate waste and fraud, and maximize investment returns.
  2. Modernize the Treasurer’s operations using technology to speed payments, cut fees, and expand financial empowerment and better management of programs like 529 plans and unclaimed property.
  3. Require the Treasurer to have real financial credentials and push policies that attract businesses to Nevada while prioritizing pure return-on-investment over political ESG/DEI considerations.

Congressman urging Texas to ignore the Supreme Court is backed by major law firms

Popular Information • 11203 implied HN points • 31 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Campaign Finance
  1. Congressman Chip Roy is urging Texas to ignore the Supreme Court due to a specific ruling he opposes
  2. Major law firms and corporations are financially supporting Roy's re-election campaign
  3. Other Republican politicians like Oklahoma Governor Stitt and Congressman Higgins have also challenged the authority of the Supreme Court

March 12, 2026

Letters from an American • 28 implied HN points • 13 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Campaign Finance
  1. A small number of billionaires are spending huge sums on campaigns and political groups, which tilts elections and policymaking toward tax cuts, deregulation, and rules that favor the wealthy.
  2. That concentrated influence has real costs: it helps elect officials who push policies that increase deficits, cut the social safety net, and can contribute to risky, expensive decisions like war and economic instability.
  3. There is another choice — governments can ask the wealthy to pay more in times of crisis (as happened during the Civil War) so the burden is shared and public programs can be preserved instead of being cut.

Term Limits Would Make The DC Swamp Even Worse

Stark Realities with Brian McGlinchey • 428 implied HN points • 19 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Campaign Finance
  1. Term limits are popular but would likely make Congress worse because they address turnover instead of the underlying concentration of federal power; the real problem is how much power Washington holds, not who holds it.
  2. Shorter tenures would leave more inexperienced lawmakers vulnerable to lobbyists and party control, and fundraising rules that tie committee slots to donations would keep members focused on money even with term limits.
  3. Term limits wouldn’t reduce polarization because most seats are safe and primaries drive outcomes, and predictable exits would fuel the revolving door as former members chase lobbying or private-sector jobs.

No Labels makes its choice

Popular Information • 13050 implied HN points • 03 Oct 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Campaign Finance
  1. No Labels, a centrist organization, has been supporting Republicans and conservative Democrats for its potential 2024 presidential candidate.
  2. No Labels faced challenges in Arizona when two candidates filed declarations to run in their primary elections.
  3. No Labels has kept its donors secret and could face pressure to disclose them if forced to comply with state laws.

Money and Politics

Points And Figures • 719 implied HN points • 08 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Campaign Finance
  1. Shrinking the size and scope of government is the clearest way to reduce the incentive for special interest money, since less government means fewer funding targets.
  2. Fraudulent fundraising practices like "smurfing" drive up the cost of elections and force rivals to raise ever more money to compete.
  3. High and rigged campaign costs discourage people from running, shrinking the candidate pool and protecting entrenched interests.

Charles Koch's audacious new $5 billion political scheme

Popular Information • 11419 implied HN points • 11 Oct 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Campaign Finance
  1. Billionaire Charles Koch exploited a loophole to donate $5 billion for political advocacy without paying gift or capital gains taxes.
  2. Koch's rebranded image as non-partisan is contradicted by his continued extensive financial support for Republican candidates aligned with Trump.
  3. Another billionaire, Barre Seid, used a similar loophole to avoid taxes and donate $1.65 billion to a political advocacy group.

Donate In Crypto

Points And Figures • 532 implied HN points • 16 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Campaign Finance
  1. A campaign for Nevada State Treasurer has launched with a new website. It stresses that fundraising — including personal investment — is essential to run a competitive race.
  2. The campaign added cryptocurrency as a donation option and links to accept crypto contributions. It plans to report cash versus crypto donations to show transparency and validate crypto as a funding source.
  3. Active local outreach and fundraising events are being used to build support, including visits to Republican clubs and auctioning a trading jacket for scholarships. The campaign emphasizes supporting other Republican candidates and building statewide connections.

follow the money, not the media

bad cattitude • 277 implied HN points • 26 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Campaign Finance
  1. Mass media today acts like a coordinated propaganda machine that sets the debate and emotional frames. Simply distrusting it isn't enough; you have to refuse to play by its terms.
  2. The unrest in Minneapolis appears staged and organized by paid activists, local politicians, and provocateurs who use dramatic images and tactics to provoke confrontations and shape public perception. This makes protests look like humanitarian crises even when they involve law‑enforcement actions.
  3. The core issue is political and financial corruption: large flows of money and entrenched machines are protecting a grift. Follow the money to see who benefits and why the chaos is being manufactured.

Getting Organized

Points And Figures • 586 implied HN points • 09 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Campaign Finance
  1. Campaigns are expensive and legally complex, so expect a steep learning curve and rising costs that can discourage newcomers.
  2. Your first hires should be a consultant who fits your style and a compliance/treasurer to handle the legal and financial rules and keep you out of trouble.
  3. Organize the campaign around serving citizens, not yourself, and get the back-office systems and local networks in place so your outreach can work.

Come With Me As We Decide

Points And Figures • 799 implied HN points • 21 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Campaign Finance
  1. Running for office is a step-by-step process you can organize with tools and reflection, and you should start with simple practical moves like securing a domain name and getting an EIN.
  2. Party culture affects how a campaign looks: Democrats tend to have a centralized party apparatus that narrows choices, while Republicans often rely on decentralized, grassroots help and many willing volunteers.
  3. Campaign logistics and compliance matter more than ideas alone — hire a compliance person early, don’t accept donations until your paperwork is in order, and be careful to avoid legal problems.

EXCLUSIVE: Fani Willis Campaign Funds Appear To Be Money Laundering Scheme

Emerald Robinson’s The Right Way • 4146 implied HN points • 10 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Campaign Finance
  1. The Fani Willis campaign funds are suspected to be involved in illegal money laundering called 'smurfing'.
  2. There are concerns raised about individuals unknowingly used to make campaign donations, which is structured as money laundering in politics.
  3. Over $160,000 worth of suspicious donations have been identified in the Fani Willis campaign, all through the illegal 'smurfing' method.

“Blizzard” Gives NYC Mayor Mamdani Pretext For A “Climate Lockdown”

QTR’s Fringe Finance • 36 implied HN points • 26 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Campaign Finance
  1. Media coverage treated a heavy but historically normal snowstorm as an extreme emergency, which helped justify dramatic government action.
  2. The mayor declared a state of emergency and a travel ban that limited private vehicle use, set mandatory sidewalk-clearing duties for property owners, and allowed fines for noncompliance.
  3. Exemptions for NGOs, delivery services, and other allies raised concerns about preferential access, erosion of civil liberties, and potential national security risks if movement can be broadly restricted.

Term Limits and the Political Class

Life Since the Baby Boom • 1383 implied HN points • 10 Jun 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Campaign Finance
  1. Term limits are seen as a way to reduce the power of career politicians and bring in fresh perspectives. People hope this will help regular citizens have more say in their government.
  2. In places with term limits, like California, many politicians still come from the same political background. They often just switch to different political roles instead of leaving politics altogether.
  3. While term limits can encourage change, they don't always produce the desired results. We might not see the dramatic improvements some hope for if similar limits are applied to Congress.

What Will Happen If the Right Wins Absolutely?

God's Spies by Thomas Neuburger • 135 implied HN points • 16 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Campaign Finance
  1. The Hard Right is not a single movement but many competing factions with different goals. These include religious conservatives, law-and-order authoritarians, white supremacists, pro-money libertarians, endless-war hawks, and tech billionaires.
  2. The different factions are mainly united by a shared hunger for power and control rather than a common program. They will compete until one group consolidates enough authority to impose its agenda on the others.
  3. Tech-backed elites are currently best positioned to realize an intrusive, anti-democratic vision of the state. Their money, tools, and aura of futurism make a surveillance-heavy, transhumanist security state a plausible outcome if they prevail.

How the nursing home lobby uses it's political prowess to kill would-be regulations and line the industry's pockets

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 619 implied HN points • 05 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Campaign Finance
  1. The nursing home lobby uses its influence to protect its profits and avoid regulations. This means that they can get away with poor care for residents.
  2. There is a strong connection between nursing home companies and politicians, with money flowing back and forth. This cozy relationship can lead to decisions that favor the industry over the needs of elderly residents.
  3. Many countries do a better job of caring for seniors than the U.S. does. There's a call for the U.S. to change how we think about and treat older adults, emphasizing their needs and quality of care.

What Happened Was...

SHERO • 491 implied HN points • 04 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Campaign Finance
  1. There were seven separate mass shooting incidents in the United States last week, resulting in seven deaths and 22 injuries.
  2. The US economy added 353,000 jobs in January 2024 despite facing the highest interest rates in two decades.
  3. Former President Trump's political fundraising group spent over $50 million on legal expenses last year due to numerous lawsuits and criminal charges.

The top 10 recipients of campaign cash from seven health insurance industry PACs

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 639 implied HN points • 03 Nov 23
🏥 Health Politics Campaign Finance
  1. Health insurance companies are heavily funding politicians, especially those in powerful positions. This gives them influence over healthcare policies, especially Medicare.
  2. A lot of Medicare-eligible people are being pushed towards private insurance plans called Medicare Advantage, which can lead to worse care for patients.
  3. There's a lot of money involved in keeping the status quo for insurance companies, including political campaign contributions and lobbyists working to protect their interests.

WelcomePAC Celebrates a Republican Win, Not Realizing Centrists Have Done Worse.

JoeWrote • 55 implied HN points • 10 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Campaign Finance
  1. A DSA-linked progressive ran much closer than expected in a deep-red Tennessee district, outperforming the Democratic presidential baseline by about 13 points while being heavily outspent.
  2. Centrists quickly claimed a moderate would have done better, but that argument ignores spending gaps, cherry-picked special-election averages, and past centrist failures in the same district.
  3. Billionaire-funded centrist groups are using tactics like prewritten analyses and manipulated polls to protect donor interests, and as the left resurges they’ll likely step up coordinated pushback.

The rich are controlling our government

The Novelleist • 608 implied HN points • 09 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Campaign Finance
  1. Wealthy individuals and organizations have a lot of control over politicians through campaign donations. This creates a system where elected officials might favor the interests of their donors over the general public.
  2. Dark money in politics makes it hard to track where campaign funding comes from, which gives even more power to wealthy donors. This lack of transparency can lead to policies that mainly benefit the rich.
  3. To change this system, we can either amend laws to limit corporate donations or create grassroots movements to support independent candidates. Building a political party that truly represents the public, not just the wealthy, is essential for a fairer democracy.

Putting the fun back in fundraising

City Hall Watcher • 275 implied HN points • 23 Oct 23
💼 Business Campaign Finance
  1. City Hall Watcher celebrates its 250th issue with a focus on fundraising events in Toronto's mayoral by-election.
  2. Swanky cocktail parties played a significant role in funding candidates, with some raising millions through ticketed events.
  3. Analyzing campaign finance data shows the impact of fundraising strategies on the mayoral contenders and their success in the election.

It couldn't have gone much better

Worcester Sucks and I Love It • 255 implied HN points • 07 Sep 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Campaign Finance
  1. Overall turnout for the election was low at 9.1%, similar to past preliminaries.
  2. The chosen candidates from Worcester Sucks for different districts performed well and are advancing to the general election.
  3. Progressive candidates like Bilotta and Haxhiaj have strong chances in the upcoming elections, potentially leading to a shift in power dynamics within the City Council.

November 30, 2025

Letters from an American • 28 implied HN points • 01 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Campaign Finance
  1. The administration is shaping policy to benefit a network of wealthy allies and businesses, blending public power with private profit. Deals span foreign agreements, tech, and crypto that appear to favor connected insiders.
  2. Legal protections, commutations, and withheld investigations are shielding wealthy friends from accountability and undermining the rule of law. Ordinary victims of fraud and abuse are left without justice while elites escape consequences.
  3. Widespread anger at this elite favoritism — dubbed the 'Epstein class' — is driving political realignment and voter backlash over affordability and concentrated power. That anger is pushing some voters toward Democrats and prompting populist postures from some Republicans.

Yes, It is Snowing in New York

Outspoken with Dr Naomi Wolf • 3 implied HN points • 23 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Campaign Finance
  1. News outlets exaggerated a routine Northeast snowfall as an unprecedented emergency, which helped build public panic and justify strict city measures.
  2. The mayor’s emergency order banned private vehicle travel while exempting many nonprofits, delivery services, and essential workers, and it forced property owners to clear wide paths or face fines, raising questions about fairness and civil liberties.
  3. Closing bridges and restricting movement could create real security risks by trapping people during an attack, and allegations about staff and donor ties to extremist groups increase fears these powers might be abused.

Is Elon Our First True Oligarch?

Nonzero Newsletter • 361 implied HN points • 01 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Campaign Finance
  1. Elon Musk has a lot of power and influence, particularly in politics and media. His actions can affect major political campaigns and decisions.
  2. Wealth concentration in America is causing political power to be held by a few people, which worsens inequality. This is a widespread issue that goes beyond just one individual.
  3. When a single person, like Musk, can sway political outcomes significantly, it raises concerns about the shift towards oligarchy, where a small group controls much of the power.

Welcome to the Oligarchy

antoniomelonio • 250 implied HN points • 20 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Campaign Finance
  1. The U.S. has always been a place where a small number of wealthy people hold most of the power, which is called an oligarchy. This system is getting more obvious as many are unbothered by it.
  2. Voting may feel like we're making a difference, but it's really just a way to make us feel involved while the wealthy keep control. They are the real decision-makers behind the scenes.
  3. Real change can't happen just by waiting for elections; it needs a collective awakening where people demand better from the system. Otherwise, the oligarchs will continue to profit and ignore the real needs of the public.

Toronto's toxic supply

City Hall Watcher • 137 implied HN points • 18 Sep 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Campaign Finance
  1. The number of fatal overdoses in Toronto remains high due to a toxic drug supply.
  2. During the pandemic, lack of access to injection sites and community-based programs contributed to rising overdoses.
  3. Pre-obtained drugs from the streets in Toronto have become more toxic, leading to a persisting crisis.