Michael Beckel
@mjbeckel.bsky.social
Research Director: @issueonereform.bsky.social. Following money in politics and dark money since 2009. Alum: @opensecrets.org
Drug industry trade group PhRMA has given $42 million to GOP-aligned dark money power player American Action Network since the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision, including $4 million last year, new tax doc obtained by @issueonereform.bsky.social reveals issueone.org/press/how-dr...
November 17, 2025 at 9:58 PM
Drug industry trade group PhRMA has given $42 million to GOP-aligned dark money power player American Action Network since the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision, including $4 million last year, new tax doc obtained by @issueonereform.bsky.social reveals issueone.org/press/how-dr...
Fact: Super PACs spent $4.1 BILLION on ads in federal races during the 2024 election cycle.
That's up more than 50% since 2020, when super PACs spent $2.7 BILLION.
And up more than 500% since 2012, when super PACs spent $623 MILLION
h/t @opensecrets.org @issueonereform.bsky.social
That's up more than 50% since 2020, when super PACs spent $2.7 BILLION.
And up more than 500% since 2012, when super PACs spent $623 MILLION
h/t @opensecrets.org @issueonereform.bsky.social
October 25, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Fact: Super PACs spent $4.1 BILLION on ads in federal races during the 2024 election cycle.
That's up more than 50% since 2020, when super PACs spent $2.7 BILLION.
And up more than 500% since 2012, when super PACs spent $623 MILLION
h/t @opensecrets.org @issueonereform.bsky.social
That's up more than 50% since 2020, when super PACs spent $2.7 BILLION.
And up more than 500% since 2012, when super PACs spent $623 MILLION
h/t @opensecrets.org @issueonereform.bsky.social
Fact: Super PAC spending in congressional elections continues to skyrocket.
During the 2022 midterms, super PACs combined to spend $1.9 BILLION on independent expenditures (aka ads).
That's more than DOUBLE the $894 million super PACs collectively spent in the 2018 midterms h/t @opensecrets.org
During the 2022 midterms, super PACs combined to spend $1.9 BILLION on independent expenditures (aka ads).
That's more than DOUBLE the $894 million super PACs collectively spent in the 2018 midterms h/t @opensecrets.org
October 25, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Fact: Super PAC spending in congressional elections continues to skyrocket.
During the 2022 midterms, super PACs combined to spend $1.9 BILLION on independent expenditures (aka ads).
That's more than DOUBLE the $894 million super PACs collectively spent in the 2018 midterms h/t @opensecrets.org
During the 2022 midterms, super PACs combined to spend $1.9 BILLION on independent expenditures (aka ads).
That's more than DOUBLE the $894 million super PACs collectively spent in the 2018 midterms h/t @opensecrets.org
In the 15 years since Citizens United and SpeechNow court cases ushered in the super PAC era, these big-money groups have reshaped campaigns.
Super PACs accounted for 28% of all spending in federal elections during the 2024 election cycle — up from just 2% of spending in 2010 h/t @opensecrets.org
Super PACs accounted for 28% of all spending in federal elections during the 2024 election cycle — up from just 2% of spending in 2010 h/t @opensecrets.org
October 25, 2025 at 4:25 PM
In the 15 years since Citizens United and SpeechNow court cases ushered in the super PAC era, these big-money groups have reshaped campaigns.
Super PACs accounted for 28% of all spending in federal elections during the 2024 election cycle — up from just 2% of spending in 2010 h/t @opensecrets.org
Super PACs accounted for 28% of all spending in federal elections during the 2024 election cycle — up from just 2% of spending in 2010 h/t @opensecrets.org
Regulatory intervention in DC to require citizens to provide proof of citizenship each time they register to vote would be an unfunded mandate on state & local jurisdictions.
@levernews.com cites new @issueonereform.bsky.social comments to the EAC www.regulations.gov/comment/EAC-...
@levernews.com cites new @issueonereform.bsky.social comments to the EAC www.regulations.gov/comment/EAC-...
October 22, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Regulatory intervention in DC to require citizens to provide proof of citizenship each time they register to vote would be an unfunded mandate on state & local jurisdictions.
@levernews.com cites new @issueonereform.bsky.social comments to the EAC www.regulations.gov/comment/EAC-...
@levernews.com cites new @issueonereform.bsky.social comments to the EAC www.regulations.gov/comment/EAC-...
Meta spent a record $19.7 million on federal lobbying during the first three quarters of 2025.
To date, Meta has hired 87 lobbyists — roughly one for every six members of Congress.
issueone.org/articles/big...
To date, Meta has hired 87 lobbyists — roughly one for every six members of Congress.
issueone.org/articles/big...
October 21, 2025 at 6:25 PM
Meta spent a record $19.7 million on federal lobbying during the first three quarters of 2025.
To date, Meta has hired 87 lobbyists — roughly one for every six members of Congress.
issueone.org/articles/big...
To date, Meta has hired 87 lobbyists — roughly one for every six members of Congress.
issueone.org/articles/big...
7 of the largest tech, AI & social media companies spent a combined $50M on federal lobbying during the first 9 months of 2025, new docs reviewed by @issueonereform.bsky.social show
That's an average of nearly $400,000 for every day that Congress has been in session!
issueone.org/articles/big...
That's an average of nearly $400,000 for every day that Congress has been in session!
issueone.org/articles/big...
October 21, 2025 at 4:05 PM
7 of the largest tech, AI & social media companies spent a combined $50M on federal lobbying during the first 9 months of 2025, new docs reviewed by @issueonereform.bsky.social show
That's an average of nearly $400,000 for every day that Congress has been in session!
issueone.org/articles/big...
That's an average of nearly $400,000 for every day that Congress has been in session!
issueone.org/articles/big...
On major #campaignfinance filing deadlines like today, I really miss @propublica.org's "FEC Itemizer" tool 😢
July 31, 2025 at 10:01 PM
On major #campaignfinance filing deadlines like today, I really miss @propublica.org's "FEC Itemizer" tool 😢
As @issueonereform.bsky.social highlighted earlier this month, under President Trump, the SEC has ended a major lawsuit against crypto exchange Coinbase and sought a reduced settlement in case against Ripple Labs
issueone.org/articles/cry...
issueone.org/articles/cry...
July 31, 2025 at 9:56 PM
As @issueonereform.bsky.social highlighted earlier this month, under President Trump, the SEC has ended a major lawsuit against crypto exchange Coinbase and sought a reduced settlement in case against Ripple Labs
issueone.org/articles/cry...
issueone.org/articles/cry...
Before the FEC lost a quorum at the end of April, it was looking into 3 matters potentially involving the illegal participation of foreign nations in U.S. elections www.fec.gov/resources/cm...
July 28, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Before the FEC lost a quorum at the end of April, it was looking into 3 matters potentially involving the illegal participation of foreign nations in U.S. elections www.fec.gov/resources/cm...
Major tech players including Meta, Alphabet, and Nvidia combined to spend more than $36 MILLION on lobbying during the first half of 2025 — an average of $320,000 PER DAY that Congress has been in session, @issueonereform.bsky.social review of new lobbying docs finds issueone.org/articles/as-...
July 22, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Major tech players including Meta, Alphabet, and Nvidia combined to spend more than $36 MILLION on lobbying during the first half of 2025 — an average of $320,000 PER DAY that Congress has been in session, @issueonereform.bsky.social review of new lobbying docs finds issueone.org/articles/as-...
Billy Long, the former GOP congressman who now leads the IRS, still has a leadership PAC.
New docs show it spent $48,500 between April 1 and June 30.
The largest expenditure was $19,500 to polling firm Remington Research Group
docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/form...
New docs show it spent $48,500 between April 1 and June 30.
The largest expenditure was $19,500 to polling firm Remington Research Group
docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/form...
July 15, 2025 at 1:29 AM
Billy Long, the former GOP congressman who now leads the IRS, still has a leadership PAC.
New docs show it spent $48,500 between April 1 and June 30.
The largest expenditure was $19,500 to polling firm Remington Research Group
docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/form...
New docs show it spent $48,500 between April 1 and June 30.
The largest expenditure was $19,500 to polling firm Remington Research Group
docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/form...
Interesting fact about Rep. Dan Meuser (R-PA): Since January 2022, he has transferred $80,000 of his hard-earned campaign cash to the pro-Trump nonprofit America First Policy Institute.
It's rare for a sitting member of Congress to donate large sums of campaign cash to charity.
It's rare for a sitting member of Congress to donate large sums of campaign cash to charity.
July 9, 2025 at 12:43 AM
Interesting fact about Rep. Dan Meuser (R-PA): Since January 2022, he has transferred $80,000 of his hard-earned campaign cash to the pro-Trump nonprofit America First Policy Institute.
It's rare for a sitting member of Congress to donate large sums of campaign cash to charity.
It's rare for a sitting member of Congress to donate large sums of campaign cash to charity.
New tax filing shows Cleta Mitchell's FAIR Elections Fund spent $2.1 million during its first year of existence, including giving $1.6 million to 10 organizations, many of which have hyped concerns re: non-citizen voting in elections h/t @propublica.org projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/o...
July 1, 2025 at 6:52 PM
New tax filing shows Cleta Mitchell's FAIR Elections Fund spent $2.1 million during its first year of existence, including giving $1.6 million to 10 organizations, many of which have hyped concerns re: non-citizen voting in elections h/t @propublica.org projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/o...
Mysterious Trump inaugural donor unmasked:
Trump's inaugural committee originally listed a $1M donation from a tax advisory firm called Wipfli LLP
A new doc shows this $$ actually came from someone named Alexander Karp — which is the name of the CEO of Palantir
www.fec.gov/data/committ...
Trump's inaugural committee originally listed a $1M donation from a tax advisory firm called Wipfli LLP
A new doc shows this $$ actually came from someone named Alexander Karp — which is the name of the CEO of Palantir
www.fec.gov/data/committ...
May 7, 2025 at 7:55 PM
Mysterious Trump inaugural donor unmasked:
Trump's inaugural committee originally listed a $1M donation from a tax advisory firm called Wipfli LLP
A new doc shows this $$ actually came from someone named Alexander Karp — which is the name of the CEO of Palantir
www.fec.gov/data/committ...
Trump's inaugural committee originally listed a $1M donation from a tax advisory firm called Wipfli LLP
A new doc shows this $$ actually came from someone named Alexander Karp — which is the name of the CEO of Palantir
www.fec.gov/data/committ...
GOP-aligned #darkmoney group American Action Network has announced a new $7 million ad buy.
While dark money groups generally aren’t required to disclose their donors, tax filings show PhRMA, the trade association of the Rx drug industry, has given $38 million to this group since #CitizensUnited
While dark money groups generally aren’t required to disclose their donors, tax filings show PhRMA, the trade association of the Rx drug industry, has given $38 million to this group since #CitizensUnited
May 6, 2025 at 1:07 PM
GOP-aligned #darkmoney group American Action Network has announced a new $7 million ad buy.
While dark money groups generally aren’t required to disclose their donors, tax filings show PhRMA, the trade association of the Rx drug industry, has given $38 million to this group since #CitizensUnited
While dark money groups generally aren’t required to disclose their donors, tax filings show PhRMA, the trade association of the Rx drug industry, has given $38 million to this group since #CitizensUnited
The FEC has lost its quorum after Commissioner Allen Dickerson resigned yesterday at the end of his term.
The loss of a quorum at the FEC is a breach of trust with the American people who don’t want the nation’s anti-corruption laws to go unenforced.
thereformcompass.substack.com/p/campaign-f...
The loss of a quorum at the FEC is a breach of trust with the American people who don’t want the nation’s anti-corruption laws to go unenforced.
thereformcompass.substack.com/p/campaign-f...
May 1, 2025 at 1:40 PM
The FEC has lost its quorum after Commissioner Allen Dickerson resigned yesterday at the end of his term.
The loss of a quorum at the FEC is a breach of trust with the American people who don’t want the nation’s anti-corruption laws to go unenforced.
thereformcompass.substack.com/p/campaign-f...
The loss of a quorum at the FEC is a breach of trust with the American people who don’t want the nation’s anti-corruption laws to go unenforced.
thereformcompass.substack.com/p/campaign-f...
GOP FEC Commissioner Allen Dickerson makes it official:
He will be resigning tonight at the end of his term, dropping the number of commissioners to 3, below the # needed for a quorum to conduct business
Background from @issueonereform.bsky.social thereformcompass.substack.com/p/campaign-f...
He will be resigning tonight at the end of his term, dropping the number of commissioners to 3, below the # needed for a quorum to conduct business
Background from @issueonereform.bsky.social thereformcompass.substack.com/p/campaign-f...
April 30, 2025 at 3:25 PM
GOP FEC Commissioner Allen Dickerson makes it official:
He will be resigning tonight at the end of his term, dropping the number of commissioners to 3, below the # needed for a quorum to conduct business
Background from @issueonereform.bsky.social thereformcompass.substack.com/p/campaign-f...
He will be resigning tonight at the end of his term, dropping the number of commissioners to 3, below the # needed for a quorum to conduct business
Background from @issueonereform.bsky.social thereformcompass.substack.com/p/campaign-f...
After @issueonereform.bsky.social raised concerns about political donors with business before the IRS helping pay off $130,000 in outstanding personal loans Billy Long had from his failed 2022 Senate campaign, Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto calls for Long's nomination to lead the IRS to be withdrawn
April 18, 2025 at 6:50 PM
After @issueonereform.bsky.social raised concerns about political donors with business before the IRS helping pay off $130,000 in outstanding personal loans Billy Long had from his failed 2022 Senate campaign, Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto calls for Long's nomination to lead the IRS to be withdrawn
One of the donors who gave the legal max of $2,900 in January to the Senate campaign of Billy Long, Trump's pick to lead the IRS (which helped Long pay off loans to himself) was professional golfer Randy May II, new FEC filings show
April 16, 2025 at 3:37 AM
One of the donors who gave the legal max of $2,900 in January to the Senate campaign of Billy Long, Trump's pick to lead the IRS (which helped Long pay off loans to himself) was professional golfer Randy May II, new FEC filings show
Among Billy Long's donors in January are 3 officials connected to Lifetime Advisors, which has paid Long for work connected to touting controversial tax credits and faces calls for investigations: CEO Jon LaCasse; director of marketing Jeff Mohlman; and counsel Mark Czuchry
April 16, 2025 at 3:21 AM
Among Billy Long's donors in January are 3 officials connected to Lifetime Advisors, which has paid Long for work connected to touting controversial tax credits and faces calls for investigations: CEO Jon LaCasse; director of marketing Jeff Mohlman; and counsel Mark Czuchry
Also among those who gave the legal max of $5,000 in December to the leadership PAC of Billy Long, Trump's pick to lead the IRS, was David Bradley, the CEO of St. Joseph, MO-based newspaper News-Press & Gazette Co.
April 15, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Also among those who gave the legal max of $5,000 in December to the leadership PAC of Billy Long, Trump's pick to lead the IRS, was David Bradley, the CEO of St. Joseph, MO-based newspaper News-Press & Gazette Co.
Senate Democrats including @warren.senate.gov, @cortezmasto.senate.gov, and @wyden.senate.gov have accused Trump's IRS Commissioner-nominee Billy Long of touting fraud-ridden tax credits, including his work with Lifetime Advisors www.finance.senate.gov/chairmans-ne...
April 15, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Senate Democrats including @warren.senate.gov, @cortezmasto.senate.gov, and @wyden.senate.gov have accused Trump's IRS Commissioner-nominee Billy Long of touting fraud-ridden tax credits, including his work with Lifetime Advisors www.finance.senate.gov/chairmans-ne...
Billy Long, Trump's pick to lead the IRS, raised $30,000 for his PAC in December from 3 managing partners of the firm Lifetime Advisors (+ their spouses).
This firm employed Long after he left Congress in 2023 & is facing calls for investigations regarding controversial tax credits
This firm employed Long after he left Congress in 2023 & is facing calls for investigations regarding controversial tax credits
April 15, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Billy Long, Trump's pick to lead the IRS, raised $30,000 for his PAC in December from 3 managing partners of the firm Lifetime Advisors (+ their spouses).
This firm employed Long after he left Congress in 2023 & is facing calls for investigations regarding controversial tax credits
This firm employed Long after he left Congress in 2023 & is facing calls for investigations regarding controversial tax credits
Former GOP Rep. Billy Long, whom President Trump has nominated to lead the IRS, still has a leadership PAC w/ ~$52,000 in its coffers.
$45,000 of this sum came within days of Trump announcing Long as his pick to lead the IRS.
www.fec.gov/data/committ...
$45,000 of this sum came within days of Trump announcing Long as his pick to lead the IRS.
www.fec.gov/data/committ...
April 15, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Former GOP Rep. Billy Long, whom President Trump has nominated to lead the IRS, still has a leadership PAC w/ ~$52,000 in its coffers.
$45,000 of this sum came within days of Trump announcing Long as his pick to lead the IRS.
www.fec.gov/data/committ...
$45,000 of this sum came within days of Trump announcing Long as his pick to lead the IRS.
www.fec.gov/data/committ...