Sludge
Relentlessly uncovering corruption.
Quick Hits Primary category in which blog post is published

Manchin Donates to Burr’s Legal Defense

The donation came after Republican Sen. Richard Burr faced an investigation over possible insider trading.

Top Stories

Committee Asking for More War Ships Is Led by a General Dynamics-Funded Rep

By Donald Shaw Brick House Cooperative Primary category in which blog post is published

Here’s Who’s Funding the PAC Attacking Nina Turner

By Donald Shaw Elections Primary category in which blog post is published

The DCCC’s Top Bundler Is an Oil Lobbyist

By Donald Shaw Brick House Cooperative Primary category in which blog post is published

Major Companies Get ‘Fs’ on Voting Rights in New Scorecard

By Donald Shaw Quick Hits Primary category in which blog post is published

Small Donors Hit Record Highs in New York City’s Public Campaign Financing Program

By David Moore Democracy Primary category in which blog post is published

Pharma Companies Spend Billions More on Stock Buybacks Than Developing Drugs, House Report Finds

By David Moore Brick House Cooperative Primary category in which blog post is published
Brick House Cooperative Primary category in which blog post is published

Congress Won’t Stop Trading Stocks

Researchers studying congressional stock ownership have found that the practice has effects on lobbying activity and potentially on market movements.

Brick House Cooperative Primary category in which blog post is published

Democrats Work to Finalize Infrastructure Package

Democrats have given themselves just a few weeks to pass a preliminary budget resolution for one of two infrastructure bills moving in tandem.

Brick House Cooperative Primary category in which blog post is published

Paul Pelosi Invests in Alphabet as Congress Weighs Breaking Up Big Tech

So far this year, Paul Pelosi has purchased stock in companies including Tesla, Walt Disney, Apple, Facebook, and Amazon.

Brick House Cooperative Primary category in which blog post is published

Feigning Shock Over Lobbyist Comments, ExxonMobil Continues Funding Climate Denial Groups

ExxonMobil’s most recent worldwide giving report, covering 2019, shows it funds multiple climate denial groups.

Climate Primary category in which blog post is published

Manchin Profits From Coal Sales to Utility Lobbying Group Members

Here's what we found about the Manchin family coal brokerage and its business with members of the powerful Edison Electric Institute.

Brick House Cooperative Primary category in which blog post is published

Big Tech-Funded Groups Lobby Against Antitrust Bills

Last week, the House Judiciary Committee approved a sweeping package of antitrust bills, one overcoming opposition from Democrats hailing from tech industry-heavy California.

Elections Primary category in which blog post is published

House Dems Launch PAC to Fight Progressive Primary Challengers

Its founders are among the top fundraisers from corporate PACs in the House Democratic caucus.

Democracy Primary category in which blog post is published

Seattle Voters Increase Use of ‘Democracy Vouchers’ in Mayoral Contest

In the primary election for the open mayor's seat, all of the leading Seattle candidates have opted in to raise public campaign funding from a wide range of city residents.

Brick House Cooperative Primary category in which blog post is published

Koch Industries Is the Top Corporate Pac Donor to the ‘Sedition Caucus’ Since Jan. 6

Despite Charles Koch's rebrand as a bridge builder, his company's PAC keeps supporting 2020 presidential election result objectors.

Pharma Primary category in which blog post is published

Biden Plans to Enact Trump Rule Allowing Drug Companies to Price Gouge on Life-Saving Treatments

The plan, initiated by the Trump administration in January, would gut a key government power for making sure taxpayer-funded pharmaceuticals are available to the public at reasonable prices.

Brick House Cooperative Primary category in which blog post is published

Publicly-Funded Weapons Companies Donate to Election Objectors

Top defense contractors have quietly restarted their PAC donations after a pause, including to Republican election objectors.

Donate Primary category in which blog post is published

With Endless Muck to Rake, Sludge Turns Three

Our nonprofit newsroom has stayed paywall-free, allowing our money-in-politics stories to be shared widely. We're asking more of our readers to help by becoming Sludge members.

Brick House Cooperative Primary category in which blog post is published

Fossil Fuel-Funded Think Tank Takes Tonko to Coal Country

The Bipartisan Policy Center has been funded by ExxonMobil, BP, Shell, and several other companies and trade groups in the fossil fuel industry.

Democracy Primary category in which blog post is published

Manchin’s Proposal Cuts Campaign Finance and Ethics Reforms From S1

Joe Manchin seeks to strip the For the People Act of a public campaign financing option, conflict of interest rules, and key criteria for preclearance of election procedures.

Brick House Cooperative Primary category in which blog post is published

To ‘Electrify Everything,’ Blockchain Projects Dial Up Green Energy

Decentralized technology is being used to swap carbon offsets internationally, create peer-to-peer energy trading, and promote greater renewable energy in power grids.

Democracy Primary category in which blog post is published

Laws Preventing Dark Money Disclosure Are Sweeping the Nation

ALEC-inspired bills making dark money disclosure illegal are passing more states each year.

Brick House Cooperative Primary category in which blog post is published

Dems Pass on Using Key Power to Kill Trump Rules

Unfilibusterable bills to reverse Trump rules have been left to die.

Brick House Cooperative Primary category in which blog post is published

Former ALEC State Chair Joe Manchin Continues to Do the Group’s Bidding

Manchin echoes ALEC and other Koch network groups in calling the For the People Act too partisan.

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