Documented

An investigative watchdog + journalism project exploring the influence of power and money in politics. 🔍 Get our newsletter:

[Documented @ItsDocumented]

Thank you to @LastWeekTonight for covering @ItsDocumented's resources on noncitizen voting and mass voter challenges led by a well-funded network of MAGA conspiracy theorists. Watch the full segment here: https://t.co/semw0yUa5h

[Documented @ItsDocumented]

A former Trump staffer who used to work on gender issues for the admin bragged at an America First Policy Institute event held in March that the president wrote him “a blank check” when it came to demolishing trans rights for kids across the country. https://t.co/45Y6Mk8ZZ9

[Documented @ItsDocumented]

In new audio posted by the American First Policy Institute and analyzed by @ItsDocumented - AFPI calls children’s care the “low hanging fruit” to “get the win where they can” on dismantling trans care for people across the United States. https://t.co/45Y6Mk8ZZ9

[Documented @ItsDocumented]

(2/2) Steve Centorino followed up his “blank check” remarks by saying, “I’m almost hesitant to say this, but it was clear I could not be too aggressive.”

Read the story in @GuardianUS: https://t.co/45Y6Mk8ZZ9

[Documented @ItsDocumented]

(1/2) A former Trump staffer who used to work on gender issues for the administration bragged at an America First Policy Institute event held in March that the president wrote him “a blank check” when it came to demolishing trans rights for kids across the country.

[Documented @ItsDocumented]

New in @GuardianUS: American First Policy Institute is a powerful, deep-pocketed think tank working closely with the Trump administration. Their first order of business was to dismantle trans rights for kids - the “low hanging fruit.” They’re not done. https://t.co/45Y6Mk8ZZ9

[Documented @ItsDocumented]

Audio we obtained from inside ALEC's national policy summit reveals a coordinated effort by groups funded by Leonard Leo's network to shield fossil fuel companies from climate litigation. https://t.co/fvnalvlP1e @propublica

[Brendan Fischer @brendan_fischer]

Rep. Cory Mills, already under investigation by House Ethics for financial disclosure and conflict of interest issues, allegedly received "SACKS OF CASH" from the defense contractor that he founded—while also sitting on the House Foreign Affairs and Armed Services committees.

[Andy Kroll @AndyKroll]

Last fall, @propublica and @ItsDocumented broke the story that @russvought, Trump’s current budget chief, said he wanted to put gov't bureaucrats “in trauma.”

Now, we're investigating the full extent of his impact on the federal government. And we need your help… 🧵 1/

[Brendan Fischer @brendan_fischer]

Sugar giant Florida Crystals gave Trump's super PAC another $2 million earlier this year, right around the time that Trump began pushing Coca-Cola to replace high-fructose corn syrup with cane sugar.

[Brendan Fischer @brendan_fischer]

New FEC reports prove that Trump pardoned tax cheat Paul Walczak just weeks after his mother gave $1 million to Trump’s super PAC.

Remind me again how donations to “independent” groups like super PACs cannot lead to corruption?

[Brendan Fischer @brendan_fischer]

Although the FEC has said former candidates cannot use leftover campaign funds for personal use, the Commissioners have divided when campaign funds have been transferred to a leadership PAC, where they say the personal use rules don't apply. https://t.co/diKsx6T2mm

[Brendan Fischer @brendan_fischer]

Herschel Walker's old Senate campaign spent $20K to charter a private jet on January 20, the same day that Trump was inaugurated in DC.

It looks like a striking example of "zombie campaign" funds being improperly used for personal benefit.

[Brendan Fischer @brendan_fischer]

“It is hard to see how Sinema can credibly argue that luxury hotels, meal expenses, and extensive air travel are connected to her candidacy or officeholder duties, given that she is no longer a candidate or officeholder,” I told @NOTUSreports. A few thoughts: 🧵

[Brendan Fischer @brendan_fischer]

Each move, in isolation, might be defensible. But taken together, they reveal a pattern: empower MAGA-aligned groups and donors, and disempower everyone else. This is not principled policymaking, but instead part of an effort to tilt the playing field. (end)

[Brendan Fischer @brendan_fischer]

— The Trump administration is refusing to defend a campaign finance law that limits how much parties can spend in coordination with candidates—after GOP committees sued to overturn it, and despite objections from Democratic committees. 6/

[Brendan Fischer @brendan_fischer]

The Trump admin’s move to let churches engage in partisan politics is part of a broader strategy to loosen the rules when it benefits MAGA allies, and tighten them when it hurts the opposition. 🧵 1/

[Brendan Fischer @brendan_fischer]

This does nothing to reduce the deficit—but it gives billionaire megadonors a sigh of relief. https://t.co/r2CbXJVSnK

[Brendan Fischer @brendan_fischer]

If the Trumps are serious about building these phones in the US, then Trump now has a personal financial stake in tariff and trade negotiations.

It also means that China has a potentially new source of leverage over the president.

Both raise major conflict of interests. 1/

[Brendan Fischer @brendan_fischer]

One implication of Trump’s plan to sell green cards for $5 million is that it would allow foreign billionaires and oligarchs to start legally pouring money into U.S. elections (including into Trump’s political operation).

[Documented @ItsDocumented]

Irony is not dead: Pennsylvania Rep. Tom Jones is asking people to fork over between $500-$2,000 for a June 25th fundraiser titled, "Surviving the Swamp." 🤔 Check out the invite in our Swamp Dollars database: https://t.co/CEbImeBscJ