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Documented

@documented.org
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Documented is an investigative watchdog and journalism project committed to holding the powerful interests that undermine our democracy accountable. Learn more at documented.org

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Documented @documented.org · 10/06/2026
Two groups in the Leo network—Consumers' Research and the Alliance for Consumers—have hired Varidon Strategies, a lobbying firm founded by Heritage Action alum, to get state legislators to pass model bills protecting oil & gas companies that could be held liable for their role in the climate crisis.
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Documented @documented.org · 10/06/2026
The right's new climate battle? Liability lawsuits. And unsurprisingly, Leonard Leo's network of right-wing orgs is at the forefront of this fight.
bit.ly
"Economic Civil War": Inside The Secretive Network Helping States…
Leonard Leo American Legislative Exchange Council Americans for Consumers Consumers Research Hild Skinner
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Documented @documented.org · 08/06/2026
Several climate liability laws passing in state legislatures across the country, shielding the fossil fuel industry from local climate lawsuits, are linked to none other than right-wing operative Leonard Leo and his sprawling influence network. documented.org/investigatio...
documented.org
"Economic Civil War": Inside The Secretive Network Helping States…
Leonard Leo American Legislative Exchange Council Americans for Consumers Consumers Research Hild Skinner
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Documented @documented.org · 23/04/2026
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. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
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Documented @documented.org · 21/04/2026
In new audio posted by the American First Policy Institute and analyzed by @documented.net - 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. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
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Documented @documented.org · 20/04/2026
(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.”
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Documented @documented.org · 20/04/2026
(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.
theguardian.com
Children ‘low-hanging fruit’ in fight to end trans care, official at pro-Trump thinktank says
America First Policy Institute, which boasts close ties to president, discussed transgender policy ‘reform’ at DC event
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Documented @documented.org · 17/04/2026
New in @us.theguardian.com: 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. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
theguardian.com
Children ‘low-hanging fruit’ in fight to end trans care, official at pro-Trump thinktank says
America First Policy Institute, which boasts close ties to president, discussed transgender policy ‘reform’ at DC event
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Documented @documented.org · 07/04/2026
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. www.propublica.org/article/clim... @propublica.org
propublica.org
“Economic Civil War”: States Push Laws to Shield Oil and Gas Companies From Accountability
Most of the 15 bills being considered are part of a coordinated effort by groups linked to right-wing activist Leonard Leo.
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Andy Kroll @andykroll.bsky.social · 05/08/2025
Last fall, @propublica.org and @documented.net broke the story that Russell Vought, Trump’s current budget chief, said he planned to put career civil servants “in trauma.” Now, we're investigating the full extent of Vought's impact on the federal government. We need your help… 🧵 1/
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Brendan Fischer @brendanfischer.bsky.social · 15/07/2025
“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: 🧵
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Brendan Fischer @brendanfischer.bsky.social · 11/07/2025
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)
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Brendan Fischer @brendanfischer.bsky.social · 11/07/2025
— 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/
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Brendan Fischer @brendanfischer.bsky.social · 11/07/2025
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/ www.nytimes.com/2025/07/07/u...
nytimes.com
I.R.S. Says Churches Can Endorse Candidates From the Pulpit
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Brendan Fischer @brendanfischer.bsky.social · 16/06/2025
Bottom line: Trump's latest effort to profit off the presidency creates deep conflicts of interest—and new vulnerabilities to foreign influence. (end)
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Brendan Fischer @brendanfischer.bsky.social · 16/06/2025
Alternatively, China could offer Trump’s companies targeted deals to win concessions from the administration, even if granting those concessions may not advance American interests. 4/
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Brendan Fischer @brendanfischer.bsky.social · 16/06/2025
If the Trump family is serious about building these phones in the US, then President 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/
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Brendan Fischer @brendanfischer.bsky.social · 12/06/2025
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).
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Brendan Fischer @brendanfischer.bsky.social · 27/05/2025
The Elon Musk-backed, Trump-aligned dark money group Building America’s Future is behind the multi-million dollar “Make America Affordable Again” ad campaign pushing "lawsuit reform," FCC records show.
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Andy Kroll @andykroll.bsky.social · 03/06/2025
SLOW BURN: Seven months after @propublica.org + @documented.net exposed Russ Vought's plan to put federal workers "in trauma," he's still getting asked about it. This time on CNN's flagship Sunday show. He doesn't look comfortable responding to it: www.yahoo.com/news/trump-o...
yahoo.com
Trump Official Backpedals as Wild ‘Trauma’ Plot Exposed
President Donald Trump’s budget chief got cornered for saying government workers deserve to be “in trauma.” “We want the bureaucrats to be traumatically affected,” Office of Management and Budget Dire...
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Documented @documented.org · 06/06/2025
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: documented.net/swamp-dollar...
documented.net
Documented
Documented is an investigative watchdog and journalism project committed to holding the powerful interests that undermine our democracy accountable.
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Documented @documented.org · 20/05/2025
The fundraising never stops: From golf outings to happy hours, politicians are schmoozing all around the Washington, DC area. You can see a whole list of political invites from Reps like Jefferson Shreve, Scott Fitzgerald, Blake Moore, John James and more: documented.net/swamp-dollar...
documented.net
Swamp Dollars
Documented is an investigative watchdog and journalism project committed to holding the powerful interests that undermine our democracy accountable.
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Last Week Tonight with John Oliver @lastweektonight.com · 12/05/2025
This week’s main story is about the Alliance Defending Freedom, the landmark Supreme Court cases they’ve been behind, and how obsessed they are with the word “winsome.” It’s inexplicable. They could just say “appealing” but no. It’s winsome this, winsome that. Absolutely baffling stuff. You’ll see.
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Documented @documented.org · 11/04/2025
Our Tweet Ended Kathleen Sgamma’s Bid to Lead Trump Public Lands Agency www.theshakedown.documented.net/p/tweet-kath...
theshakedown.documented.net
Our Tweet Ended Kathleen Sgamma’s Bid to Lead Trump Public Lands Agency
Memo Revealed Sgamma Was 'Disgusted' by Trump's Role in Inciting Jan. 6 Violence
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Documented @documented.org · 10/04/2025
"This week, the investigative news outlet Documented published a memo it had obtained showing that Ms. Sgamma had criticized President Trump after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol." -- @nytimes.com www.nytimes.com/2025/04/10/c...
nytimes.com
Kathleen Sgamma Ends Bid to Lead the B.L.M.
Kathleen Sgamma abruptly withdrew from consideration days after a memo surfaced in which she sharply criticized President Trump.
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The Washington Post @washingtonpost.com · 10/04/2025
It comes after the investigative group Documented on Tuesday released a 2021 letter in which Sgamma wrote that she was “disgusted” by Trump “spreading misinformation” about the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol by a pro-Trump mob.
washingtonpost.com
Trump’s pick to oversee public lands withdraws after criticism of Jan. 6 riot surfaces
Kathleen Sgamma, Trump’s Bureau of Land Management nominee, wrote in 2021 that she was “disgusted” by the Jan. 6 attack, an investigative group had just disclosed.
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The Washington Post @washingtonpost.com · 10/04/2025
Breaking news: Kathleen Sgamma, President Trump’s pick to lead the Interior Department’s Bureau of Land Management, abruptly withdrew her nomination Thursday morning, just as her confirmation hearing was about to begin.
washingtonpost.com
Trump’s pick to oversee public lands withdraws after criticism of Jan. 6 riot surfaces
Kathleen Sgamma, Trump’s Bureau of Land Management nominee, wrote in 2021 that she was “disgusted” by the Jan. 6 attack, an investigative group had just disclosed.
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Ben Lefebvre @benlefebvre.bsky.social · 10/04/2025
Maybe not coincidentily, Sgamma's nomination to lead BLM just got yanked. Her email account still responds to messages with an auto reply saying she's in DC for her nomination hearing.
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Nick Surgey @nicksurgey.bsky.social · 10/04/2025
🚨 Kathleen Sgamma just withdrew her nomination to lead BLM—right before her Senate hearing. Did the recently unearthed memo exposing her past criticism of Trump's election denial play a role?
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Documented @documented.org · 09/04/2025
The Republican State Leadership Committee is hosting a Women's Leadership Summit today and tomorrow in Boca Raton, Florida. For just $10,000 *per attendee* guests can take part in the trip as well as a roundtable discussion with politicians. documented.net/swamp-dollar...
documented.net
Documented
Documented is an investigative watchdog and journalism project committed to holding the powerful interests that undermine our democracy accountable.
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Nick Surgey @nicksurgey.bsky.social · 08/04/2025
🧵1/ Kathleen Sgamma, Trump’s pick to run the Bureau of Land Management, wrote in 2021 she was "disgusted" by Trump's role "spreading misinformation" on Jan. 6, accusing him of "dishonoring the vote of the People," per a memo to oil execs obtained by @documented.net. Her Senate hearing is Thursday.
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Documented @documented.org · 01/04/2025
Republican Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain is taking a trip to Puerto Rico - and you could join for a cool $1,500 - $5,000 contribution to her reelection campaign. From April 4-6 "Team McCLain" will be staying at the Fairmont El San Juan. documented.net/swamp-dollar...
documented.net
Documented
Documented is an investigative watchdog and journalism project committed to holding the powerful interests that undermine our democracy accountable.
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Documented @documented.org · 20/03/2025
Thanks for the shoutout! "The story drew on private recordings of a series of speeches given in 2023 and 2024 by Russell Vought obtained by our colleagues at Documented, a news site with a remarkable knack for uncovering information powerful interests would prefer remained secret."
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Documented @documented.org · 12/03/2025
If you're asking yourself, "What's Ziklag?" be sure to check out their reporting on the secretive group of ultra wealthy Christian donors and their efforts to swing the 2024 election to Trump here: documented.net/reporting/in...
documented.net
Inside Ziklag, the Secret Organization of Wealthy Christians Trying…
Inside Ziklag, the Christian-Right Group Trying to Sway the 2024 Election
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Documented @documented.org · 12/03/2025
Congrats to @nicksurgey.bsky.social, @andykroll.bsky.social, @phoebepetrovic.bsky.social, and Ava Kofman for being a finalists for the 2025 Toner Prize for Excellence in National Political Reporting for their investigation into Ziklag! news.syr.edu/blog/2025/03...
news.syr.edu
Reuters, NJ Advance Media Win 2025 Toner Prizes for Excellence in Political Reporting
Reuters won the 2025 Toner Prize for national political reporting for comprehensive stories published as part of the news organization’s “Politics of Menace ...
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Documented @documented.org · 12/03/2025
“Throughout the 2024 cycle, we saw crypto money deployed to take out crypto critics and support crypto backers, and this might be an indication of how crypto not only attacks its enemies, but also also rewards its friends.” - @brendanfischer.bsky.social www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...
rollingstone.com
Dem Overseeing 'Digital Assets' to Hold Luxury Retreat With Crypto Kingpin
Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego, who’s overseeing a “digital assets” committee, is set to hold a luxury weekend donor retreat with a crypto kingpin.
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Documented @documented.org · 04/03/2025
On March 11, Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-VA) will be having a 'Merica Mules' fundraiser to support his reelection campaign. Donors can wet their whistle with the congressman for the cost of $500-$5,000. See more of our political fundraising invites here: documented.net/swamp-dollar...
documented.net
Documented
Documented is an investigative watchdog and journalism project committed to holding the powerful interests that undermine our democracy accountable.
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Documented @documented.org · 28/02/2025
Utah Congressman Blake Moore is asking public action committees to cough up $5,000 per PAC for a "2025 Season Pass Dinner" fundraiser on March 4. This is part of our log of political fundraisers, Swamp Dollars, and you can find the invite here: documented.net/swamp-dollar...
documented.net
Documented
Documented is an investigative watchdog and journalism project committed to holding the powerful interests that undermine our democracy accountable.
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Documented @documented.org · 27/02/2025
GOP Chair Lisa McClain is hard at work...fundraising. Donors can get special access to McClain at an upcoming Key Biscayne, Miami fundraiser on 3/1 where tickets run up to $5,000 a head. See more of our political fundraisers in our Swamp Dollars archive: documented.net/swamp-dollar...
documented.net
Documented
Documented is an investigative watchdog and journalism project committed to holding the powerful interests that undermine our democracy accountable.
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Brendan Fischer @brendanfischer.bsky.social · 21/02/2025
The April 1 Wisconsin Supreme Court race is attracting major spending from groups backed by Elon Musk and other billionaires. Some examples in this thread:
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Documented @documented.org · 24/02/2025
ICYMI: John Oliver kicked off the 12th season of @lastweektonight.com with a recap of the first month of the Trump admin that featured footage of a private speech by Russ Vought which was obtained by Documented and @propublica.org. Watch the full episode here: youtu.be/cw0F8G4-dMw?...
youtu.be
Trump 2.0: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)
YouTube video by LastWeekTonight
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Nick Surgey @nicksurgey.bsky.social · 14/02/2025
"Musk-Linked Group Offered $5m for Proof of Voter Fraud – and Came up With Nothing" Check out this great new investigative piece by my colleagues @emmasteiner.bsky.social and @brendanfischer.bsky.social for the @us.theguardian.com. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
theguardian.com
Musk-linked group offered $5m for proof of voter fraud – and came up with nothing
Fair Election Fund has yet to reveal evidence of voter fraud despite deep-pocketed backers – and has now gone silent
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Jane Mayer @janemayer.bsky.social · 14/02/2025
www.theshakedown.documented.net/p/elon-musk-...
theshakedown.documented.net
Musk-Linked Group Offered $5m for Proof of Voter Fraud – and Came up With Nothing
Fair Election Fund has yet to reveal evidence of voter fraud despite deep-pocketed backers – and has now gone silent
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Brendan Fischer @brendanfischer.bsky.social · 14/02/2025
NEW from @documented.net + @theguardian.com: An Elon Musk-linked nonprofit, Fair Election Fund, offered a $5M reward for proof of voter fraud. It found… nothing. 🧵 www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
theguardian.com
Musk-linked group offered $5m for proof of voter fraud – and came up with nothing
Fair Election Fund has yet to reveal evidence of voter fraud despite deep-pocketed backers – and has now gone silent
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Documented @documented.org · 14/02/2025
New from @documented.net and @us.theguardian.com: An Elon Musk-linked group, the Fair Election Fund, ran ads calling on "whistleblowers" to report evidence of fraud with promise of a monetary award if they brought forward proof. They found nothing. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
theguardian.com
Musk-linked group offered $5m for proof of voter fraud – and came up with nothing
Fair Election Fund has yet to reveal evidence of voter fraud despite deep-pocketed backers – and has now gone silent
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Nick Surgey @nicksurgey.bsky.social · 11/02/2025
The Heritage Foundation - the lead org behind Project 2025 - is promoting a new state model bill that would criminalize orgs providing legal or financial assistance to people without legal status to be in the US. Under the act, any org found guilty would lose all state and city licenses to operate.
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Documented @documented.org · 07/02/2025
Times have clearly changed: The Republican Attorneys General Association, the sister org of RLDF, today announced that Piper will serve as the org's new executive director. republicanags.com/2025/02/07/r...
republicanags.com
RAGA Announces Adam Piper as New Executive Director - Republican Attorneys General Association
The Republican Attorneys General Association (RAGA) today announced Adam Piper will be the organization’s new Executive Director. Piper, a seasoned campaign veteran, previously led RAGA as both Execut...
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Documented @documented.org · 07/02/2025
Adam Piper resigned as the head of the Rule of Law Defense Fund in 2021 following reporting by @documented.net that revealed RLDF paid for a robocall urging Trump supporters to attend the protest that preceded the deadly Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. documented.net/reporting/re...
documented.net
Republican Attorneys General Dark Money Group Organized Protest…
Documented is an investigative watchdog and journalism project committed to holding the powerful interests that undermine our democracy accountable.
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Documented @documented.org · 06/02/2025
In a guest essay for the @nytimes.com, Thomas Edsall writes that according to Russ Vought, the most effective tool for defanging the deep state is "the attack on job protections for the 50,000 federal workers who manage the details and enforce policy." www.nytimes.com/2025/02/04/o...
nytimes.com
Opinion | ‘Trump’s Thomas Cromwell’ Is Waiting in the Wings
Russell Vought views American politics as a life-or-death struggle between the God-fearing right and a malevolent, secular left.
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Documented @documented.org · 05/02/2025
"When they wake up in the morning we want them to not want to go to work because they are increasingly viewed as the villains." Russel Vought's words from 2023 are coming to fruition as Musk wages what the @nytimes.com called an "unchecked war on federal bureaucracy." www.nytimes.com/2025/02/03/u...
nytimes.com
Inside Musk’s Aggressive Incursion Into the Federal Government
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