Democracy

Charles Koch’s “Stand Together” Donor Conduits Move $176 Million into his Network, Higher Education, and Right-Wing Policy, Advocacy, Litigation, and Media Groups in 2022

By David Armiak | December 20th, 2023 at 7:54 AM (CST)

In 2022, Stand Together Trust and Stand Together Chamber of Commerce contributed over $176 million to groups in Charles Koch’s “Stand Together” constellation of nonprofits as well as to higher education and right-wing policy, advocacy, litigation and media groups, the Center for Media and Democracy has found.

Bradley Funneled $86 Million to Right-Wing Litigation, Policy, Media, Youth Groups, and Higher Education in 2022

By David Armiak | December 13th, 2023 at 2:30 AM (CST)

The Milwaukee-based Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation and its “aligned” donor advised fund funneled a total of $86.4 million to right-wing litigation outlets, national and state policy groups, media outlets, youth groups, and higher education in 2022, according to an analysis of its most recent IRS filings obtained by the Center for Media and Democracy.

Constitution in the Crosshairs: The Far Right’s Plan for a New Confederacy

By Nancy MacLean and Arn Pearson | December 12th, 2023 at 8:05 AM (CST)

The rightwing subversion of U.S. democracy is closer than you think.

Democracy | Elections | Featured Investigations | Koch | News

Koch’s Super PAC Endorses and Will Canvass For Nikki Haley

By Don Wiener | December 4th, 2023 at 1:12 PM (CST)

Americans for Prosperity Action PAC, an outside super PAC largely bankrolled by industrialist Charles Koch and a handful of wealthy donors, has spent $972,000 to date running digital ads and mailing messages to voters warning that, despite his loyal base, former President Donald Trump is not electable in the 2024 presidential race.

DonorsTrust Funneled $134 Million to Right-Wing Groups in 2022

By David Armiak | November 17th, 2023 at 2:26 PM (CST)

To hide their identities from public scrutiny, megadonors used the Koch political network’s favorite conduit, DonorsTrust, to funnel $134 million to groups promoting the Right’s culture wars and spreading climate misinformation, Trump’s big lie, and hate, as indicated in IRS filings obtained by the Center for Media and Democracy.

Constitutional Convention | Democracy | Featured Investigations | News

Mock Constitutional Convention Reveals Far Right’s Vision for Rewriting the U.S. Constitution

By Juliana Broad | October 24th, 2023 at 8:19 AM (CDT)

A troupe of musicians dressed in tricorne hats and other colonial-era attire escorted a parade of Republican legislators and activists to a conventional hall in Colonial Williamsburg, where they would embark on an “immersive experience” — rewriting the U.S. Constitution.

Democracy | Extremism | News | Opinion | Trump

Democrats and Republicans Need to Strike a Deal to Sideline the Far-Right House Caucus Holding America Hostage

By Arn Pearson | October 17th, 2023 at 8:18 AM (CDT)

Our first branch of government in the United States has been paralyzed and thrown into chaos — again — by a small cadre of far-right MAGA members of the House Freedom Caucus. It’s not by fluke or flaw, but rather the disciplined execution of a plan.

MAGA Makes Its Move to Capture House Speaker Position

By Juliana Broad and Arn Pearson | October 12th, 2023 at 12:11 PM (CDT)

A key Trump ally who worked to overturn the 2020 election results and has deep ties to a dark-money MAGA group is still in the running for the next speaker of the House, a position third in line for the presidency.

ALEC | Democracy | Extremism | Featured Investigations | News

Progressive Groups Protest ALEC’s “50 Years of Harm”

By Juliana Broad | October 5th, 2023 at 3:15 PM (CDT)

A coalition of progressive groups gathered in front of the National Portrait Gallery yesterday to protest the 50th anniversary celebrations of the American Legislative Exchange Council and draw attention to its “#50YearsofHarm.”

After 50 Years, This Right-Wing Law Factory Is Crazier Than Ever

By Arn Pearson and David Armiak | October 4th, 2023 at 1:01 PM (CDT)

The American Legislative Exchange Council is where corporations and far-right groups go to buy government policy.