Santos, Lindell, Proud Boys eye Trump’s $1.8B fund

CK Smith, Salon

"Anti-weaponization" compensation attracts claims from Jan. 6 defendants, political allies, and election deniers

Applicants For Trump’s $1.8B Fund Include Proud Boys Leader, J6 Rioters And George Santos

Sara Dorn, Forbes Staff, Sara Dorn, Forbes Staff https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/, Forbes

The fund is broadly unpopular among both parties—a majority of Republicans in an Economist/YouGov survey released this week said they oppose it.

Judge agrees to review Trump's $1.8 billion 'anti-weaponization' fund

Bobby Allyn, NPR

The fund has sparked a broad backlash since it was announced earlier this month, exposing fractures within the Republican Party.

Senate Republicans face a political knife-edge over Trump's 'anti-weaponization' fund

By David Morgan, Yahoo Entertainment

By David Morgan WASHINGTON, May 30 (Reuters) - Senate Republicans face a stark choice when they return from recess next week: back President Donald Trump's...

Ex-Trump Campaign Chief Funneled Millions of Israeli Government Money to His Longtime Allies’ Companies

Nick Cleveland-Stout, Jacqueline Sweet, The Intercept

New public disclosures reveal a web of right-wing businesses being paid by Israel through Brad Parscale. The post Ex-Trump Campaign Chief Funneled Millions of Israeli Government Money to His Longtime Allies’ Companies appeared first on The Intercept.

Trump Has a Plan to Give Taxpayer Money Directly to His Friends—and It Still Might Not Be This Week’s Worst Political Blunder

Patrick Reis and Ian Prasad Philbrick, Slate Magazine

Does anyone want to win the midterms?

Ballroom won’t be funded after Senate GOP drops $1 billion Trump security request

Yahoo Entertainment

Massie race breaks spending record as pro-Israel groups target Trump critic

Ali Harb, Al Jazeera English

Pro-Israel groups and donors spend heavily in Kentucky's Republican primary to defeat US Congressman Thomas Massie.

Trump Just Created An Unconstitutional $1.776 Billion Loyalty Rewards Program For MAGA

Mike Masnick, Techdirt

We discussed the rumor of this on Friday, but it’s now real: Donald Trump has handed himself a $1.776 billion fund of taxpayer money — unappropriated by Congress — to dole out to friends in the MAGA movement who claim they were mistreated by the Biden adminis…

Justice Department announces a $1.7B fund to compensate Trump allies in a deal to drop IRS suit

FATIMA HUSSEIN, ERIC TUCKER and ALANNA DURKIN RICHER, Yahoo Entertainment

The Trump administration on Monday announced the creation a $1.7 billion fund to compensate allies of the Republican president who believe they were...

GOP’s Attempt to Fund Trump’s Dumb Ballroom With Taxpayer Money Gets Smote

Danielle Han, Jezebel

A Senate Parliamentarian has shot down GOP Senators’ attempt to sneak an extra $1 billion towards the ballroom via a spending bill for immigration enforcement.

Ahead of Tuesday primary, GOP Rep. Massie says billionaires trying to 'buy' his seat

Quinn Scanlan, Abcnews.com

Ahead of his primary Tuesday where he's fending off a Trump-backed challenger, Rep. Thomas Massie joined "This Week."

Elon Musk Said He’d Stop Political Spending. He’s the Third-Largest Donor in the Midterms

Matt Novak, Gizmodo.com

And now he's accompanying Trump as a guest of honor in China.

Trump Scammed Another $59 Million from MAGA with Pre-Sales for “Trump Phones” That Don’t Exist

Jim Vorel, Jezebel

The new Trump Phone terms of service says a pre-order "does not guarantee that a device will be produced or made available for purchase."

Trump-backed investigations into NY AG Letitia James cost taxpayers $1.4M and counting

Jimmy Vielkind, Gothamist

NY Attorney General Letitia James at a parade in March with Public Advocate Jumaane Williams. Lobbyists, major labor unions and others are backing James in her ongoing legal fights. [ more › ]

$100 paid to attend Vance Iowa rally...

Zachary Oren Smith, iowastartingline.com

$100 paid to attend Vance Iowa rally... (First column, 1st story, link) Related stories:Email from Susie Wiles warning White House staff about leaks, is leaked... Drudge Report Feed needs your support!   Become a Patron

Republicans want to add $1 billion for Trump's ballroom security to ICE funding plan

Eric McDaniel, NPR

Republicans in Congress are proposing $1 billion in funding for security for President Trump's White House ballroom as part of their partisan plan to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

She Opposed His Plan for a Blockchain City. Now He’s Bankrolling Her Primary Opponent.

Matt Sledge, The Intercept

A crypto mogul gave $2.5 million to a candidate running against state Sen. Nicole Cannizzaro in the Nevada attorney general race. The post She Opposed His Plan for a Blockchain City. Now He’s Bankrolling Her Primary Opponent. appeared first on The Intercept.

Democrats dominate midterm fundraising, but Republicans have a huge cash advantage

Stephen Fowler, NPR

The latest campaign finance reports show Democratic enthusiasm in key House and Senate races, but national Republican groups have far more in the bank to potentially spend down the road.

Crypto PACs Have More Money Than God (and Some Republican Groups)

Matt Novak, Gizmodo.com

Crypto groups have spent more than $20 million on the 2026 midterms so far.

GOP law allowing unlimited party donations is 'terrible,' Schimel says

Hope Karnopp, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

After conservatives lost the Wisconsin Supreme Court race, Brad Schimel called the law that allows unlimited donations to parties "terrible."

Super PAC tied to Tether makes first ad buy from firm founded by Tether's U.S. CEO

Jesse Hamilton, CoinDesk

The Fellowship PAC spent $300,000 with Nxum Group that was co-founded by Bo Hines, the chief of Tether's U.S. arm and former adviser to President Donald Trump.

America Is Diseased by Money in Politics — But We’re Not Dead Yet

Ryan Bort, Rolling Stone

America has been diseased by money in politics since the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision. Jack Schlossberg argues that we're not dead yet.

AI-industry super PACs are mostly winning so far

Bryan Metzger, Business Insider

All but one candidate backed by AI-industry super PACs have moved forward in their respective elections this year.