Sludge
@sludge.bsky.social
A non-partisan, independent news outlet exposing the moneyed interests that control U.S. politics.
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Get our newsletter: https://readsludge.com/
Binance facilitated a $2 billion deal using the Trump family token USD1, and its founder CZ got a pardon.
In July, Binance CEO Richard Teng joined the advisory board of crypto lobbying group The Digital Chamber, as the industry spends record amounts:
readsludge.com/2025/07/23/c...
In July, Binance CEO Richard Teng joined the advisory board of crypto lobbying group The Digital Chamber, as the industry spends record amounts:
readsludge.com/2025/07/23/c...
November 3, 2025 at 11:19 PM
Binance facilitated a $2 billion deal using the Trump family token USD1, and its founder CZ got a pardon.
In July, Binance CEO Richard Teng joined the advisory board of crypto lobbying group The Digital Chamber, as the industry spends record amounts:
readsludge.com/2025/07/23/c...
In July, Binance CEO Richard Teng joined the advisory board of crypto lobbying group The Digital Chamber, as the industry spends record amounts:
readsludge.com/2025/07/23/c...
With More Perfect Union, we helped research this new, searchable list of the favors given to more than 150 top donors to Trump's inauguration and White House ballroom.
Search by name to see regulations axed, cases dropped, and ambassadorships doled out:
>> perfectunion.us/trumps-corpo...
Search by name to see regulations axed, cases dropped, and ambassadorships doled out:
>> perfectunion.us/trumps-corpo...
October 29, 2025 at 1:01 PM
With More Perfect Union, we helped research this new, searchable list of the favors given to more than 150 top donors to Trump's inauguration and White House ballroom.
Search by name to see regulations axed, cases dropped, and ambassadorships doled out:
>> perfectunion.us/trumps-corpo...
Search by name to see regulations axed, cases dropped, and ambassadorships doled out:
>> perfectunion.us/trumps-corpo...
The two crypto groups scored a big win this year when Trump signed one of their priorities, the GENIUS Act.
The crypto industry overall is on pace for record lobbying spending, with Coinbase, Crypto-dot-com, and a16z each on track to surpass last year. See more:
readsludge.com/2025/07/23/c...
The crypto industry overall is on pace for record lobbying spending, with Coinbase, Crypto-dot-com, and a16z each on track to surpass last year. See more:
readsludge.com/2025/07/23/c...
September 22, 2025 at 11:47 PM
The two crypto groups scored a big win this year when Trump signed one of their priorities, the GENIUS Act.
The crypto industry overall is on pace for record lobbying spending, with Coinbase, Crypto-dot-com, and a16z each on track to surpass last year. See more:
readsludge.com/2025/07/23/c...
The crypto industry overall is on pace for record lobbying spending, with Coinbase, Crypto-dot-com, and a16z each on track to surpass last year. See more:
readsludge.com/2025/07/23/c...
Blockchain Association CEO Summer Mersinger cheered the Trump executive order opening up 401(k)s to crypto in August, saying it "gives individuals more tools to build wealth responsibly..."
Crypto Council for Innovation CEO Ji Hun Kim also supported the policy that month.
Crypto Council for Innovation CEO Ji Hun Kim also supported the policy that month.
September 22, 2025 at 11:47 PM
Blockchain Association CEO Summer Mersinger cheered the Trump executive order opening up 401(k)s to crypto in August, saying it "gives individuals more tools to build wealth responsibly..."
Crypto Council for Innovation CEO Ji Hun Kim also supported the policy that month.
Crypto Council for Innovation CEO Ji Hun Kim also supported the policy that month.
Today, GOP members of the House Financial Services Committee sent a letter to SEC Chair Paul Atkins urging him to implement Trump's order allowing "alternative assets"—including crypto and private equity investments—in 401(k)s.
Access to retirement funds has been a crypto industry lobbying goal...
Access to retirement funds has been a crypto industry lobbying goal...
September 22, 2025 at 11:47 PM
Today, GOP members of the House Financial Services Committee sent a letter to SEC Chair Paul Atkins urging him to implement Trump's order allowing "alternative assets"—including crypto and private equity investments—in 401(k)s.
Access to retirement funds has been a crypto industry lobbying goal...
Access to retirement funds has been a crypto industry lobbying goal...
Republicans denied votes on all Dem amendments, including ones that would have limited the Trump admin's use of the military domestically.
Many Dems voting for a $1T defense budget are in the conservative Blue Dog Coalition, self-described "fiscal hawks" who are staying silent on defense policy.
Many Dems voting for a $1T defense budget are in the conservative Blue Dog Coalition, self-described "fiscal hawks" who are staying silent on defense policy.
September 12, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Republicans denied votes on all Dem amendments, including ones that would have limited the Trump admin's use of the military domestically.
Many Dems voting for a $1T defense budget are in the conservative Blue Dog Coalition, self-described "fiscal hawks" who are staying silent on defense policy.
Many Dems voting for a $1T defense budget are in the conservative Blue Dog Coalition, self-described "fiscal hawks" who are staying silent on defense policy.
AG Pam Bondi is barred by her ethics agreement from any matter that involves her former employer Ballard Partners—or any party represented by Ballard. (Unless she gets a waiver, and none have been released.)
That means she's barred from hundreds of clients at the top-paid lobbying firm in D.C. ...
That means she's barred from hundreds of clients at the top-paid lobbying firm in D.C. ...
September 8, 2025 at 9:52 PM
AG Pam Bondi is barred by her ethics agreement from any matter that involves her former employer Ballard Partners—or any party represented by Ballard. (Unless she gets a waiver, and none have been released.)
That means she's barred from hundreds of clients at the top-paid lobbying firm in D.C. ...
That means she's barred from hundreds of clients at the top-paid lobbying firm in D.C. ...
"We have asked nicely for leadership to put this on the floor," said Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL), of a new bill to ban congressional stock trading and ownership.
"If they don't, I'm saying the timeline is end of month. There is a discharge petition prepared and ready to go."
"If they don't, I'm saying the timeline is end of month. There is a discharge petition prepared and ready to go."
September 5, 2025 at 1:43 AM
"We have asked nicely for leadership to put this on the floor," said Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL), of a new bill to ban congressional stock trading and ownership.
"If they don't, I'm saying the timeline is end of month. There is a discharge petition prepared and ready to go."
"If they don't, I'm saying the timeline is end of month. There is a discharge petition prepared and ready to go."
The crypto industry spent a record high on lobbying in the first half of the year, lining up wins on major deregulatory bills. We tallied up the more than $18.4 million by Coinbase, Andreessen Horowitz, and allies:
readsludge.com/2025/07/23/c...
readsludge.com/2025/07/23/c...
August 12, 2025 at 1:17 PM
The crypto industry spent a record high on lobbying in the first half of the year, lining up wins on major deregulatory bills. We tallied up the more than $18.4 million by Coinbase, Andreessen Horowitz, and allies:
readsludge.com/2025/07/23/c...
readsludge.com/2025/07/23/c...
Other Senate Dems in 2026 races voted against the resolutions to block sales of bombs and assault rifles to Israel, amid famine in Gaza.
More donations from AIPAC's PAC through first half of 2025:
- Mark Warner (D-VA): $351,000
- John Hickenlooper (D-CO): $106,000
- Chris Coons (D-DE): $60,000
More donations from AIPAC's PAC through first half of 2025:
- Mark Warner (D-VA): $351,000
- John Hickenlooper (D-CO): $106,000
- Chris Coons (D-DE): $60,000
July 31, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Other Senate Dems in 2026 races voted against the resolutions to block sales of bombs and assault rifles to Israel, amid famine in Gaza.
More donations from AIPAC's PAC through first half of 2025:
- Mark Warner (D-VA): $351,000
- John Hickenlooper (D-CO): $106,000
- Chris Coons (D-DE): $60,000
More donations from AIPAC's PAC through first half of 2025:
- Mark Warner (D-VA): $351,000
- John Hickenlooper (D-CO): $106,000
- Chris Coons (D-DE): $60,000
Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) voted against the latest Sanders resolutions to block sales of offensive weapons to Israel.
Booker was the top Senate recipient of AIPAC PAC donations in the first half of this year: $456,000. He is up for re-election in 2026.
More donations:
readsludge.com/2025/07/25/a...
Booker was the top Senate recipient of AIPAC PAC donations in the first half of this year: $456,000. He is up for re-election in 2026.
More donations:
readsludge.com/2025/07/25/a...
July 31, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) voted against the latest Sanders resolutions to block sales of offensive weapons to Israel.
Booker was the top Senate recipient of AIPAC PAC donations in the first half of this year: $456,000. He is up for re-election in 2026.
More donations:
readsludge.com/2025/07/25/a...
Booker was the top Senate recipient of AIPAC PAC donations in the first half of this year: $456,000. He is up for re-election in 2026.
More donations:
readsludge.com/2025/07/25/a...
The crypto industry is on pace to spend a record amount on lobbying, as Coinbase, a16z, and others pushed for landmark legislative wins in Congress.
See the full list of crypto lobbying groups:
readsludge.com/2025/07/23/c...
See the full list of crypto lobbying groups:
readsludge.com/2025/07/23/c...
July 24, 2025 at 12:48 PM
The crypto industry is on pace to spend a record amount on lobbying, as Coinbase, a16z, and others pushed for landmark legislative wins in Congress.
See the full list of crypto lobbying groups:
readsludge.com/2025/07/23/c...
See the full list of crypto lobbying groups:
readsludge.com/2025/07/23/c...
Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) bought more stock in May in defense contractor L3Harris, an autonomous systems maker. The buy of up to $50,000 adds to the amount he picked up earlier this year. Mullin sits on the Armed Services Committee.
Others trading defense stocks:
readsludge.com/2025/06/24/m...
Others trading defense stocks:
readsludge.com/2025/06/24/m...
June 24, 2025 at 8:19 PM
Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) bought more stock in May in defense contractor L3Harris, an autonomous systems maker. The buy of up to $50,000 adds to the amount he picked up earlier this year. Mullin sits on the Armed Services Committee.
Others trading defense stocks:
readsludge.com/2025/06/24/m...
Others trading defense stocks:
readsludge.com/2025/06/24/m...
Dozens of companies in Los Angeles are contracting with ICE. Check our interactive map for the details: readsludge.com/2025/05/09/w...
June 9, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Dozens of companies in Los Angeles are contracting with ICE. Check our interactive map for the details: readsludge.com/2025/05/09/w...
The Trump-GOP "One Big, Beautiful Bill" includes $25 billion to begin construction of the "Golden Dome" missile defense system. SpaceX is virtually assured to be one of the major contractors on the project, from space-based sensors to satellite launches.
readsludge.com/2025/06/04/t...
readsludge.com/2025/06/04/t...
June 5, 2025 at 10:41 PM
The Trump-GOP "One Big, Beautiful Bill" includes $25 billion to begin construction of the "Golden Dome" missile defense system. SpaceX is virtually assured to be one of the major contractors on the project, from space-based sensors to satellite launches.
readsludge.com/2025/06/04/t...
readsludge.com/2025/06/04/t...
ICYMI: Search all active ICE contracts nationwide on our interactive map.
Free: readsludge.com/2025/05/09/w...
Free: readsludge.com/2025/05/09/w...
May 22, 2025 at 5:23 PM
ICYMI: Search all active ICE contracts nationwide on our interactive map.
Free: readsludge.com/2025/05/09/w...
Free: readsludge.com/2025/05/09/w...
NEW: Seattle's pioneering "democracy voucher" program has boosted small-donor participation and increased diversity among small donors, according to a new book.
Video interview with Dr. Jen Heerwig on her research into the local program since it began:
readsludge.com/2025/05/13/n...
Video interview with Dr. Jen Heerwig on her research into the local program since it began:
readsludge.com/2025/05/13/n...
May 13, 2025 at 4:51 PM
NEW: Seattle's pioneering "democracy voucher" program has boosted small-donor participation and increased diversity among small donors, according to a new book.
Video interview with Dr. Jen Heerwig on her research into the local program since it began:
readsludge.com/2025/05/13/n...
Video interview with Dr. Jen Heerwig on her research into the local program since it began:
readsludge.com/2025/05/13/n...
NEW: Senate Republicans have scheduled a cloture vote *this afternoon* on the GENIUS Act, a bill to establish industry-friendly regulations for stablecoins—a boost for Trump's new stablecoin, USD1.
Several Senate Democrats are considering backing the bill, despite ethics concerns over corruption...
Several Senate Democrats are considering backing the bill, despite ethics concerns over corruption...
May 8, 2025 at 4:49 PM
NEW: Senate Republicans have scheduled a cloture vote *this afternoon* on the GENIUS Act, a bill to establish industry-friendly regulations for stablecoins—a boost for Trump's new stablecoin, USD1.
Several Senate Democrats are considering backing the bill, despite ethics concerns over corruption...
Several Senate Democrats are considering backing the bill, despite ethics concerns over corruption...
Four Dems voted for the GOP's SAVE Act, described by voting rights advocates as "the worst voting law passed by Congress."
- Ed Case (#HI01)
- Henry Cuellar (#TX28)
- Jared Golden (#ME02)
- Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (#WA03)
Three are currently in the Blue Dog Coalition; Case is a former co-chair.
- Ed Case (#HI01)
- Henry Cuellar (#TX28)
- Jared Golden (#ME02)
- Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (#WA03)
Three are currently in the Blue Dog Coalition; Case is a former co-chair.
April 10, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Four Dems voted for the GOP's SAVE Act, described by voting rights advocates as "the worst voting law passed by Congress."
- Ed Case (#HI01)
- Henry Cuellar (#TX28)
- Jared Golden (#ME02)
- Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (#WA03)
Three are currently in the Blue Dog Coalition; Case is a former co-chair.
- Ed Case (#HI01)
- Henry Cuellar (#TX28)
- Jared Golden (#ME02)
- Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (#WA03)
Three are currently in the Blue Dog Coalition; Case is a former co-chair.
“It is so important in this moment that the public can trust that judges are a meaningful check on the other branches, even when those branches are made up of those judges’ political allies,” said state courts expert Douglas Keith of the @brennancenter.bsky.social.
March 25, 2025 at 8:15 PM
“It is so important in this moment that the public can trust that judges are a meaningful check on the other branches, even when those branches are made up of those judges’ political allies,” said state courts expert Douglas Keith of the @brennancenter.bsky.social.
Chuck Schumer's brother Robert is a longtime partner at the Big Law firm, Paul Weiss, that caved to Trump and will provide $40 million in pro bono legal services to Trump's causes like cracking down on academic leaders.
March 22, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Chuck Schumer's brother Robert is a longtime partner at the Big Law firm, Paul Weiss, that caved to Trump and will provide $40 million in pro bono legal services to Trump's causes like cracking down on academic leaders.
The CFPB came under fire from major Trump donor Marc Andreessen on the Joe Rogan show. In 2021, the agency shuttered the startup LendUp Loans that he had backed for "illegal and deceptive marketing in violation of a 2016 CFPB order."
February 14, 2025 at 11:48 PM
The CFPB came under fire from major Trump donor Marc Andreessen on the Joe Rogan show. In 2021, the agency shuttered the startup LendUp Loans that he had backed for "illegal and deceptive marketing in violation of a 2016 CFPB order."
After the 2020 election, around 41 pro-reform DNC members sent a letter to the incoming Biden-Harris White House, asking for greater transparency and more resources for year-round state party organizing.
The state reformers' letter did not receive a response. A copy:
readsludge.com/2024/11/26/a...
The state reformers' letter did not receive a response. A copy:
readsludge.com/2024/11/26/a...
February 12, 2025 at 2:19 PM
After the 2020 election, around 41 pro-reform DNC members sent a letter to the incoming Biden-Harris White House, asking for greater transparency and more resources for year-round state party organizing.
The state reformers' letter did not receive a response. A copy:
readsludge.com/2024/11/26/a...
The state reformers' letter did not receive a response. A copy:
readsludge.com/2024/11/26/a...
Taco Bell is running a Super Bowl commercial. It's owned by Yum! Brands, a member of trade group the National Restaurant Association.
Over the past decade, the restaurant industry group has spent big to oppose the pro-union PRO Act and other labor protections.
Over the past decade, the restaurant industry group has spent big to oppose the pro-union PRO Act and other labor protections.
February 9, 2025 at 11:15 PM
Taco Bell is running a Super Bowl commercial. It's owned by Yum! Brands, a member of trade group the National Restaurant Association.
Over the past decade, the restaurant industry group has spent big to oppose the pro-union PRO Act and other labor protections.
Over the past decade, the restaurant industry group has spent big to oppose the pro-union PRO Act and other labor protections.
Dunkin' will run a Super Bowl ad. The company is owed by Inspire Brands, which is owned by private equity firm Roark.
The group @pestakeholder.bsky.social slapped Roark with an "F" grade in 2023 for its virtually-nil union presence and wage & hour violation count.
pestakeholder.org/pe-labor-sco...
The group @pestakeholder.bsky.social slapped Roark with an "F" grade in 2023 for its virtually-nil union presence and wage & hour violation count.
pestakeholder.org/pe-labor-sco...
February 9, 2025 at 11:04 PM
Dunkin' will run a Super Bowl ad. The company is owed by Inspire Brands, which is owned by private equity firm Roark.
The group @pestakeholder.bsky.social slapped Roark with an "F" grade in 2023 for its virtually-nil union presence and wage & hour violation count.
pestakeholder.org/pe-labor-sco...
The group @pestakeholder.bsky.social slapped Roark with an "F" grade in 2023 for its virtually-nil union presence and wage & hour violation count.
pestakeholder.org/pe-labor-sco...