Latest news with #EndCitizensUnited
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
"People saw the money being spent": Jasmine Crockett says wealthy elites bought the Trump presidency
When asked to describe how government corruption impacts everyday Americans, Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, had one answer: look no further than the re-election of President Donald Trump. The congresswoman pointed to tech billionaire and former Department of Government Efficiency head Elon Musk pouring over $250 million into the president's 2024 campaign and reaping the benefits — in power and new government contracts — when Trump took office. Meanwhile, she argued, Trump and the nation's Republican-controlled Congress intend to cut billions of dollars from social services like Medicaid, Social Security and SNAP with no regard for the Americans it will hurt. 'People saw the money being spent on the election, but I don't think that they connected the dots until now,' Crockett said. 'And I don't think that there's ever been a clearer picture.' Crockett described the harmful connection between big money and politics alongside former Sen. Jon Tester, the three-term Montana Democrat unseated in the November election, during a virtual town hall hosted Tuesday by Democratic political action committee End Citizens United. The organization, which held the event to celebrate its 10th anniversary, supports candidates who champion campaign finance reform; it strives to overturn Citizens United, a 2010 Supreme Court decision that loosened restrictions on the amount of independent expenditure groups could contribute to candidates during elections. Throughout the event, Crockett and Tester drew connections between what they described as their Republican colleagues' self-dealing, the political contributions that put them in office and the toll those actions ultimately have on Americans. Tester focused particularly on the House's passage last month of the 'One Big Beautiful Bill,' which would slash hundreds of billions of dollars in funding for Medicaid, SNAP and other social programs if enacted. 'Are they taking up issues that really help regular folks, like making health care more affordable, or housing more affordable, or education more affordable?' Tester said. 'No, they're taking up issues that really grease the pockets of the uber-rich in this country at the expense of the folks who need these programs the most.' The former senator also criticized Musk, who has since blasted the spending bill, over his role in leading Trump's effort to curtail federal bureaucracy and eliminate excess government spending. 'As Elon Musk was running around trashing the government — cutting this, cutting that, cutting this — did he cut the $38 billion that he received from the federal government? Hell no, he didn't,' Tester added. 'And the truth … is that's the kind of stuff that's going on right now. You rip apart programs that have been around for generations. Why? To give the folks who paid for these campaigns big tax breaks.' Crockett rejected the notion that all politicians are corrupt regardless of party, arguing that Democrats' actions 'have not come anywhere near' the 'blatant lawlessness coming directly' from their Republican colleagues. But, she said, the distrust in politicians comes down to the amount of information the public takes in about the candidates they elect. 'A lot of times we can't break through the noise if you have so much money that is pouring in, and it's literally sending out misinformation and disinformation,' Crockett said, pointing to Musk and other megadonors' money going to ads spreading false claims about former Vice President Kamala Harris' proposed policy during her brief presidential bid. That political noise is also why the Citizens United decision matters, she added. The 5-4 ruling along ideological lines reversed century-old campaign finance restrictions, permitting corporations and other groups to spend money on elections without limits. The decision resulted in the emergence of wealthy megadonors and special interest groups increasingly exerting more influence over election outcomes — and the politicians they back — than before, according to the Brennan Center for Justice.'It is about breaking through the noise,' Crockett said, calling on her Democratic colleagues to scream the criticisms they have of Republicans from the rooftops. 'It is very difficult to break through the noise if the noise is singularly focused on, say, making sure that Elon Musk can still make $8 million a day while that hungry child or that hungry mother can't access $6 a day to eat. That is the difference. That is the stark difference in who it is that we are fighting for.' Crockett also left attendees with a call to action, asking that they remain 'tuned in' to local elections every year in the face of voter suppression bills and special-interest spending at the federal level. She also urged viewers to 'harness their influence' within their communities to engage everyone politically. The power belongs to the people, she said. 'They want you to feel helpless, they want you to feel hopeless, and if you feel that way, then you literally are playing into their hand,' Crockett said. 'The scariest thing about the people is literally your power."
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Tester, Weintraub join Democratic organization to counter corruption
Former Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont) and ex-Federal Election Commission (FEC) Chair Ellen Weintraub are officially joining the Democratic nonprofit group End Citizens United on Tuesday to help fight corruption and get big money out of politics, The Hill has learned. Both Tester and Weintraub will work at End Citizens United, a group that advocates for campaign finance reform, as senior fellows. The pair will be doing press interviews, writing op-eds, helping advise on legislation and participating in town halls and other public events across the country. 'We know that they're both going to use their unique set of experiences to help educate Americans on the unprecedented levels of corruption that we're seeing today, each of them brings a little bit different experience,' End Citizens United President Tiffany Muller said in an interview with The Hill. Tester, a three-term senator who lost his reelection bid to businessman and former Navy SEAL Tim Sheehy (R) in November, formally joined MSNBC in May as a political analyst. Last week, the former senator also joined Unite the Country, a Democrat-aligned super PAC, where he will work as a senior adviser. The outside group spent nearly $3.6 million in supporting Democratic presidential nominees, initially former President Biden and later ex-Vice President Kamala Harris, during the 2024 election cycle, according to FEC records. 'If we want a government that listens to working people — not just billionaires and corporate CEOs — we have to crack down on corruption and the role of big money in our elections. I've seen firsthand just how corrupting Citizens United has been on our government,' Tester said in a statement. 'Too many politicians are focused on raising money and keeping their biggest donors happy instead of addressing the struggles of regular folks.' In early 2010, the Supreme Court struck down the independent expenditure blockade for unions and corporations. The amount of money in politics has exploded since, especially as other court rulings have also eased campaign finance regulations. The spending by super PACs to influence elections has been on the upward trajectory, along with expenditures from so-called dark money groups, commonly nonprofits that are not obligated to disclose their donors. Dark money groups, including nonprofits and shell corporations, spent more than $1.9 billion during the 2024 election cycle, according to an analysis by the Brennan Center for Justice that was published in early May. Weintraub, who was terminated by President Trump from the FEC in early February, said she will 'fight' for reforms that restore the 'laws and institutions designed to protect our democracy from corruption.' Weintraub was initially appointed to serve on the FEC's six-person commission by former President George W. Bush in 2002. Her term expired after five years, but no successor was appointed, which permitted her to continue being the 'acting' commissioner. She was the chair of the independent agency four times during her 23-year stint. 'I spent more than 20 years at the FEC fighting to enforce campaign finance laws and to protect our elections from corruption,' Weintraub stated. 'Supreme Court decisions like Citizens United unleashed unlimited money into our elections, supercharging the influence of billionaire donors.' The fellows have already done a handful of events around the country where they advocated for campaign-finance reforms. Tester and Muller held a roundtable discussion with Rep. Jason Crow (D-Colo) in Aurora, Colo., on May 28, focusing on dark money. Later that day, Tester held a town hall with Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.). The event, at times, was disrupted by demonstrators protesting Israel's war in Gaza. Weintraub participated in a town hall with Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold (D) on May 17. 'I think that this is all about building as many platforms as possible to get the messaging out about the corruption and chaos being caused by the Trump administration, the very real cost it is having on Americans' day-to-day lives, and how we all have to join together to fight back against it,' Muller said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
2 days ago
- Business
- The Hill
Tester, Weintraub join Democratic organization to counter corruption
Former Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont) and ex-Federal Election Commission (FEC) Chair Ellen Weintraub are officially joining the Democratic nonprofit group End Citizens United on Tuesday to help fight corruption and get big money out of politics, The Hill has learned. Both Tester and Weintraub will work at End Citizens United, a group that advocates for campaign finance reform, as senior fellows. The pair will be doing press interviews, writing op-eds, helping advise on legislation and participating in town halls and other public events across the country. 'We know that they're both going to use their unique set of experiences to help educate Americans on the unprecedented levels of corruption that we're seeing today, each of them brings a little bit different experience,' End Citizens United President Tiffany Muller said in an interview with The Hill. Tester, a three-term senator who lost his reelection bid to businessman and former Navy SEAL Tim Sheehy (R) in November, formally joined MSNBC in May as a political analyst. Last week, the former senator also joined Unite the Country, a Democrat-aligned super PAC, where he will work as a senior adviser. The outside group spent nearly $3.6 million in supporting Democratic presidential nominees, initially former President Biden and later ex-Vice President Kamala Harris, during the 2024 election cycle, according to FEC records. 'If we want a government that listens to working people — not just billionaires and corporate CEOs — we have to crack down on corruption and the role of big money in our elections. I've seen firsthand just how corrupting Citizens United has been on our government,' Tester said in a statement. 'Too many politicians are focused on raising money and keeping their biggest donors happy instead of addressing the struggles of regular folks.' In early 2010, the Supreme Court struck down the independent expenditure blockade for unions and corporations. The amount of money in politics has exploded since, especially as other court rulings have also eased campaign finance regulations. The spending by super PACs to influence elections has been on the upward trajectory, along with expenditures from so-called dark money groups, commonly nonprofits that are not obligated to disclose their donors. Dark money groups, including nonprofits and shell corporations, spent more than $1.9 billion during the 2024 election cycle, according to an analysis by the Brennan Center for Justice that was published in early May. Weintraub, who was terminated by President Trump from the FEC in early February, said she will 'fight' for reforms that restore the 'laws and institutions designed to protect our democracy from corruption.' Weintraub was initially appointed to serve on the FEC's six-person commission by former President George W. Bush in 2002. Her term expired after five years, but no successor was appointed, which permitted her to continue being the 'acting' commissioner. She was the chair of the independent agency four times during her 23-year stint. 'I spent more than 20 years at the FEC fighting to enforce campaign finance laws and to protect our elections from corruption,' Weintraub stated. 'Supreme Court decisions like Citizens United unleashed unlimited money into our elections, supercharging the influence of billionaire donors.' The fellows have already done a handful of events around the country where they advocated for campaign-finance reforms. Tester and Muller held a roundtable discussion with Rep. Jason Crow (D-Colo) in Aurora, Colo., on May 28, focusing on dark money. Later that day, Tester held a town hall with Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.). The event, at times, was disrupted by demonstrators protesting Israel's war in Gaza. Weintraub participated in a town hall with Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold (D) on May 17. 'I think that this is all about building as many platforms as possible to get the messaging out about the corruption and chaos being caused by the Trump administration, the very real cost it is having on Americans' day-to-day lives, and how we all have to join together to fight back against it,' Muller said.
The Sun
23-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Trump attends memecoin gala
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump hosted a closed-door dinner for hundreds of top investors in his crypto memecoin Thursday, as sign-holding protesters outside and Democratic opponents decried the event as blatant 'corruption.' The unprecedented melding of US presidential power and personal business took place at Trump's golf club outside Washington, where Trump flew by helicopter to meet the 220 biggest purchasers of his $TRUMP memecoin. The top 25 investors, according to an event website, were to get a private session with Trump beforehand and a White House tour. Trump launched the memecoin three days before his inauguration in January, quickly increasing his net worth by billions and prompting major, first-of-their-kind ethics questions. The White House downplayed those concerns Thursday, insisting Trump was attending in his 'personal time.' The president posted on his Truth Social platform ahead of the event that 'the U.S.A. is DOMINATING in Crypto, Bitcoin, etc.' and pledged to 'keep it that way.' Photos posted online by attendees to the dinner -- press were not allowed inside -- showed a lectern sporting the presidential seal, apparently for Trump to deliver remarks. Protesters gathered outside the golf course despite rainy skies, some carrying signs reading 'stop crypto corruption' and 'no kings.' Earlier in the day, Democratic senators held a press conference to denounce the event and call for disclosure of who would be attending. Calling the dinner 'an orgy of corruption,' Senator Elizabeth Warren slammed Trump for 'using the presidency of the United States to make himself richer through crypto.' Data analytics firm Inca Digital has confirmed that many transactions occurred through international exchanges unavailable in the United States, suggesting foreign buyers. - 'Slap in the face' - A site listing the 'official winners' of $TRUMP coin holders included only usernames and digital wallet addresses, with the number-one spot held by 'Sun.' Chinese-born crypto entrepreneur Justin Sun has touted a $20 million commitment to the memecoin as part of his $93 million total investment in Trump-linked crypto ventures. Sun, founder of top 10 cryptocurrency TRON, was under investigation by US authorities for market manipulation, but regulators, now controlled by Trump appointees, agreed in February to a 60-day pause to seek a settlement. 'Apparently, I'm at the VIP lounge waiting for the President to come with everybody,' a tuxedo-clad Sun said in a video posted on X Thursday evening. Trump departed the golf course just over an hour after his arrival. Justin Unga of advocacy group End Citizens United described the crypto dinner as a blatant example of Trump profiting from the presidency while roiling the US economy. 'Some say this is a back door to corruption,' Unga said. 'I would argue it's the front door with valet parking, and it's got a red carpet... and a slap in the face of hard working Americans.' - Expanding empire - The dinner came as the US Senate is pushing through legislation to more clearly regulate cryptocurrencies, a long-sought request of the industry, and as Trump expands his business network into the field. Senators on Monday advanced a landmark bill known as the GENIUS Act that proposes a regulatory framework for stablecoins -- a type of crypto token seen as more predictable for investors as its value is pegged to hard currencies like the dollar. Bitcoin's price hit a new all-time high on Thursday, climbing above $111,000 before falling slightly. Trump's newfound enthusiasm for digital currencies has expanded into multiple ventures led primarily by his eldest sons. Their growing portfolio includes investments in Binance, a major crypto exchange whose founder seeks a presidential pardon to re-enter the US market. This investment flows through World Liberty Financial, a Trump family-backed venture launched last September with significant Mideast deals. The company's founding team includes Donald Jr. and Eric Trump alongside Zach Witkoff, son of Trump's diplomatic adviser. President Trump has taken concrete steps to reduce regulatory barriers, including an executive order establishing a 'Strategic Bitcoin Reserve' for government holdings of the leading digital currency.
The Sun
23-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Trump attends memecoin gala as protesters slam 'crypto corruption'
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump hosted a closed-door dinner for hundreds of top investors in his crypto memecoin Thursday, as sign-holding protesters outside and Democratic opponents decried the event as blatant 'corruption.' The unprecedented melding of US presidential power and personal business took place at Trump's golf club outside Washington, where Trump flew by helicopter to meet the 220 biggest purchasers of his $TRUMP memecoin. The top 25 investors, according to an event website, were to get a private session with Trump beforehand and a White House tour. Trump launched the memecoin three days before his inauguration in January, quickly increasing his net worth by billions and prompting major, first-of-their-kind ethics questions. The White House downplayed those concerns Thursday, insisting Trump was attending in his 'personal time.' The president posted on his Truth Social platform ahead of the event that 'the U.S.A. is DOMINATING in Crypto, Bitcoin, etc.' and pledged to 'keep it that way.' Photos posted online by attendees to the dinner -- press were not allowed inside -- showed a lectern sporting the presidential seal, apparently for Trump to deliver remarks. Protesters gathered outside the golf course despite rainy skies, some carrying signs reading 'stop crypto corruption' and 'no kings.' Earlier in the day, Democratic senators held a press conference to denounce the event and call for disclosure of who would be attending. Calling the dinner 'an orgy of corruption,' Senator Elizabeth Warren slammed Trump for 'using the presidency of the United States to make himself richer through crypto.' Data analytics firm Inca Digital has confirmed that many transactions occurred through international exchanges unavailable in the United States, suggesting foreign buyers. - 'Slap in the face' - A site listing the 'official winners' of $TRUMP coin holders included only usernames and digital wallet addresses, with the number-one spot held by 'Sun.' Chinese-born crypto entrepreneur Justin Sun has touted a $20 million commitment to the memecoin as part of his $93 million total investment in Trump-linked crypto ventures. Sun, founder of top 10 cryptocurrency TRON, was under investigation by US authorities for market manipulation, but regulators, now controlled by Trump appointees, agreed in February to a 60-day pause to seek a settlement. 'Apparently, I'm at the VIP lounge waiting for the President to come with everybody,' a tuxedo-clad Sun said in a video posted on X Thursday evening. Trump departed the golf course just over an hour after his arrival. Justin Unga of advocacy group End Citizens United described the crypto dinner as a blatant example of Trump profiting from the presidency while roiling the US economy. 'Some say this is a back door to corruption,' Unga said. 'I would argue it's the front door with valet parking, and it's got a red carpet... and a slap in the face of hard working Americans.' - Expanding empire - The dinner came as the US Senate is pushing through legislation to more clearly regulate cryptocurrencies, a long-sought request of the industry, and as Trump expands his business network into the field. Senators on Monday advanced a landmark bill known as the GENIUS Act that proposes a regulatory framework for stablecoins -- a type of crypto token seen as more predictable for investors as its value is pegged to hard currencies like the dollar. Bitcoin's price hit a new all-time high on Thursday, climbing above $111,000 before falling slightly. Trump's newfound enthusiasm for digital currencies has expanded into multiple ventures led primarily by his eldest sons. Their growing portfolio includes investments in Binance, a major crypto exchange whose founder seeks a presidential pardon to re-enter the US market. This investment flows through World Liberty Financial, a Trump family-backed venture launched last September with significant Mideast deals. The company's founding team includes Donald Jr. and Eric Trump alongside Zach Witkoff, son of Trump's diplomatic adviser.
