| From | Tiffany Muller, President of End Citizens United <[email protected]> |
| Subject | read my Op-Ed: |
| Date | January 17, 2025 11:32 PM |
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Tiffany Muller
Donald Trump=E2=80=99s inauguration next week is the beginning of an oligar=
chy that=E2=80=99s been 15 years in the making. The day after Trump=E2=80=
=99s return to office marks the anniversary of the disastrous 2010 Supreme =
Court decision on Citizens United, which allowed for unlimited independent =
spending on elections. The ruling gave wealthy donors and special interests=
outsize influence in Washington, and the results are now on full display i=
n Trump=E2=80=99s administration, a veritable billionaire=E2=80=99s ball.
As President Joe Biden warned in his farewell address Wednesday night, =E2=
=80=9CAn oligarchy is taking shape in America of extreme wealth, power and =
influence that literally threatens our entire democracy, our basic rights a=
nd freedoms and a fair shot for everyone to get ahead.=E2=80=9D He urged th=
e country to act against the forces that Citizens United unleashed: =E2=80=
=9CWe need to get dark money =E2=80=94 that=E2=80=99s that hidden funding b=
ehind too many campaign contributions =E2=80=94 we need to get it out of ou=
r politics.=E2=80=9D
CHIP IN NOW TO END CITIZENS UNITED >>
More than $20 billion was spent on the 2024 election, and the majority of t=
he megadonors were Republicans, according to OpenSecrets, a nonpartisan wat=
chdog that tracks money in politics. Trump has rewarded his donors and big-=
money interests by appointing the wealthiest administration ever, including=
billionaires who collectively spent hundreds of millions on Trump=E2=80=99=
s campaign.
Take, for example, today=E2=80=99s confirmation hearing for Scott Bessent t=
o run the Treasury Department. The choice of hedge fund manager Bessent, wh=
o donated $1.5 million to Trump or outside groups supporting him, and Comme=
rce Secretary-nominee Howard Lutnick, a billionaire financial services CEO =
who donated $9.4 million to Trump or groups supporting him, puts Wall Stree=
t elites in charge of the rules. Expect to see them dole out benefits to he=
dge funds and huge corporations at the expense of small businesses and cons=
umers. Instead of creating an economy that builds from the bottom up, the d=
eck will be stacked in favor of the wealthy.
What we=E2=80=99re witnessing is the installation of an oligarchy, in which=
the wealthy few who control business and industry also control the levers =
of government. That=E2=80=99s a recipe for them to further enrich themselve=
s while the working class is left behind.
All told, at least eight big donors who collectively spent more than $300 m=
illion to bankroll Trump=E2=80=99s 2024 campaign have been chosen for Cabin=
et or other senior administration positions, according to reporting by CNN.=
In addition to Bessent and Lutnick, they include tech titan Elon Musk, who=
donated $263 million and has been tapped for a newly created Department of=
Government Efficiency; Linda McMahon, who contributed $21 million and has =
been nominated to be education secretary; and Kelly Loeffler, who gave $2.9=
million and has been selected to lead the Small Business Administration.
In several of these positions, nominees could regulate their own interests.=
The donors =E2=80=9Care not just getting these sort of plum ambassadorship=
s on the side,=E2=80=9D Brendan Glavin, research director at OpenSecrets, t=
old CNN. =E2=80=9CMajor donors are getting positions that affect policy.=E2=
=80=9D
How did we get here? Fifteen years ago, in the Citizens United v. Federal E=
lection Commission decision, the conservative wing of the Supreme Court exa=
cerbated the role that money plays in politics by ruling that corporations =
and unions could spend unlimited amounts of money on political activities s=
o long as they were done without coordinating with a party or candidate.
For the previous century, corporations had been banned from spending direct=
ly in U.S. elections, and individuals faced strict limits on how much they =
could contribute to campaigns. The Citizens United ruling overturned these =
long-standing protections, opening the floodgates to a proliferation of sup=
er political action committees and unlimited dark money spending on campaig=
ns, giving wealthy donors and special interests outsize influence in Washin=
gton.
To be clear, Citizens United has allowed both parties to raise money from t=
he billionaire class and large corporations. And Vice President Kamala Harr=
is pulled in more total donations in the 2024 presidential race than her op=
ponent did, more than 40% of which came from small donors. But Trump is ele=
vating his donors to major positions within the federal government.
One prominent example: Trump implored energy executives to spend $1 billion=
to bankroll his campaign to remove burdensome environmental regulations, a=
ccording to reporting by The Washington Post. He=E2=80=99s since backed the=
gutting of environmental protections and the revocation of Biden=E2=80=99s=
ban on offshore drilling, both of which will benefit Big Oil interests. Th=
ough the official figure donated from oil interests to his campaign, to the=
Republican National Committee and to affiliated groups was far lower ($75 =
million, according to The New York Times), we=E2=80=99ll never truly know h=
ow much Big Oil coughed up. Citizens United allows super PACs to take unlim=
ited contributions from sources who aren=E2=80=99t required to disclose the=
ir donors.
What we do know is that Trump has named Chris Wright, an oil industry execu=
tive known for his skepticism about climate change, to run the Department o=
f Energy. And he has selected North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, a darling of t=
he fossil fuels industry, to run the Department of the Interior. If these m=
en follow Trump=E2=80=99s mantra of =E2=80=9CDrill, baby, drill,=E2=80=9D t=
heir agencies are likely to prioritize drilling, deregulation and corporate=
profits over environmental protection and public health. Such changes woul=
d be likely to worsen air pollution, contaminate water supplies and risk na=
tural disasters that wreak havoc on American families.
Then there=E2=80=99s Elon Musk. The world=E2=80=99s wealthiest person, Musk=
was the single largest donor in the 2024 election. The president-elect has=
named him to helm a new advisory commission with far-reaching sway over ev=
ery aspect of government, and others who share his interest in deregulation=
are being nominated to top positions that directly affect his businesses. =
Brendan Carr, appointed by Trump to lead the Federal Communications Commiss=
ion, has made clear his intentions to dismantle independent regulatory agen=
cies. Trump also nominated Jared Isaacman, an investor in Musk=E2=80=99s Sp=
aceX, to oversee NASA, giving him oversight of billions of dollars in gover=
nment contracts for Musk companies SpaceX and Starlink.
Citizens United has given billionaires and special interests unprecedented =
power to influence elections, and in turn, influence our government. Over t=
he last 15 years, Republicans have blocked efforts by Democrats to countera=
ct this decision with genuine campaign finance reform. With Republicans now=
controlling a governing trifecta in the White House and both branches of C=
ongress, the damage for the foreseeable future will be severe. But it doesn=
=E2=80=99t have to be permanent.
Breaking up this cycle of corruption starts with holding the GOP accountabl=
e and building momentum to elect leaders who will stand up to the special i=
nterests and for the people. We need congressional majorities that will pas=
s reforms like the Freedom to Vote Act, which would end dark money and stre=
ngthen campaign finance laws. Ultimately, we must either pass a constitutio=
nal amendment to overturn Citizens United or confirm enough Supreme Court j=
ustices who will undo this disastrous decision once and for all. These refo=
rms are essential to a healthy, open and accountable democracy.
We can=E2=80=99t ignore how we got here, and we can=E2=80=99t afford to acc=
ept this as the new normal. We must listen to the parting words of our 46th=
president. The American people deserve a government that works for them, n=
ot one auctioned off to the highest bidder. It=E2=80=99s time to fight back=
and restore power to where it rightfully belongs =E2=80=93 with the people=
.
CHIP IN NOW TO END CITIZENS UNITED >>
Thanks for reading,
Tiffany
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End Citizens United
ORDER LIMITED-EDITION MERCH HERE >>
Citizens United has damaged our democracy and allowed corporate money to fl=
ood our politics. We can't allow this to continue=20
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r movement.
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><a href=3D"[link removed]
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yUW9WSWh3aE9NMm89S0" name=3D"secure_actblue_com_donate_loc_ecu_f" target=3D=
"_blank" ><img alt=3D"Tiffany Muller" height=3D"83.333" src=3D'[link removed]
ontent.e.endcitizensunited.org/ra/2025/13056/01/4669885/ECU-Tiffany-Header.=
png' title=3D"Tiffany Muller" width=3D"600" /></a>
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<p align=3D"left" style=3D"font-family: Verdana,=
Geneva, sans-serif; color: #000000;font-size: 18px; line-height:140%">Dona=
ld Trump’s inauguration next week is the beginning of an oligarchy th=
at’s been 15 years in the making. The day after Trump’s return =
to office marks the anniversary of the disastrous 2010 Supreme Court decisi=
on on <em>Citizens United</em>, which allowed for unlimited independent spe=
nding on elections. The ruling gave wealthy donors and special interests ou=
tsize influence in Washington, and the results are now on full display in T=
rump’s administration, a veritable billionaire’s ball.<br =
/>
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<br />
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09As President Joe Biden warned in his farewell ad=
dress Wednesday night, “An oligarchy is taking shape in America of ex=
treme wealth, power and influence that literally threatens our entire democ=
racy, our basic rights and freedoms and a fair shot for everyone to get ahe=
ad.” He urged the country to act against the forces that <em>Citizens=
United</em> unleashed: <strong>“We need to get dark money — th=
at’s that hidden funding behind too many campaign contributions &mdas=
h; we need to get it out of our politics.”</strong></p>
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<center>
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text-size-adjust:none;padding:8px;border-radius:6px; border-bottom: 5px sol=
id #9f202e;" >CHIP IN NOW TO END <em>CITIZENS UNITED</em> >>=
;</a></td>
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09</tr>
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09
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=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09</center>
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<p align=3D"left" style=3D"font-family: Verdana,=
Geneva, sans-serif; color: #000000;font-size: 18px; line-height:140%">More=
than $20 billion was spent on the 2024 election, and the majority of the m=
egadonors were Republicans, according to OpenSecrets, a nonpartisan watchdo=
g that tracks money in politics. Trump has rewarded his donors and big-mone=
y interests by appointing the wealthiest administration ever, including bil=
lionaires who collectively spent hundreds of millions on Trump’s =
;campaign.<br />
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<br />
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09Take, for example, today’s confirmation he=
aring for Scott Bessent to run the Treasury Department. The choice of hedge=
fund manager Bessent, who donated $1.5 million to Trump or outside groups =
supporting him, and Commerce Secretary-nominee Howard Lutnick, a billionair=
e financial services CEO who donated $9.4 million to Trump or groups suppor=
ting him, puts Wall Street elites in charge of the rules. Expect to see the=
m dole out benefits to hedge funds and huge corporations at the expense of =
small businesses and consumers. Instead of creating an economy that builds =
from the bottom up, the deck will be stacked in favor of the wealthy.<=
br />
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<br />
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<a href=3D"[link removed]
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cmRqZVY5RTRzaWgxTHFjUm9taDczczAxV0lCTUNROXlVSmNFYWNVTUNuZnJoRkJhRmd6MlVpNkR=
MWmpXNFhTd0JWenhvbmJQcmlxU1BtYU1RbGxIVHZOb0toZy9ta1lqRTNTZXFxSTJ0Z012YmRHMF=
AzNDZQQTd2M3RXejFHZHU1WUpPSE9LY2N3VmNraTBualIyWUo4TktRMy9abS83V0p2MVBjRWJEc=
zFDVkRFVk9EMGJWeUluZWxQazMyUW9WSWh3aE9NMm89S0" name=3D"secure_actblue_com_d=
onate_loc_ecu_f_3" style=3D"text-decoration:none;color:inherit; background-=
color:#ffea00;" target=3D"_blank" ><strong>What we’re witnessing is t=
he installation of an oligarchy, in which the wealthy few who control busin=
ess and industry also control the levers of government. That’s a reci=
pe for them to further enrich themselves while the working class is left&nb=
sp;behind. </strong></a><br />
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<br />
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09All told, at least eight big donors who collecti=
vely spent more than $300 million to bankroll Trump’s 2024 campaign h=
ave been chosen for Cabinet or other senior administration positions, accor=
ding to reporting by CNN. In addition to Bessent and Lutnick, they include =
tech titan Elon Musk, who donated $263 million and has been tapped for a ne=
wly created Department of Government Efficiency; Linda McMahon, who contrib=
uted $21 million and has been nominated to be education secretary; and Kell=
y Loeffler, who gave $2.9 million and has been selected to lead the Small B=
usiness Administration.<br />
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<br />
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09In several of these positions, nominees could re=
gulate their own interests. The donors “are not just getting these so=
rt of plum ambassadorships on the side,” Brendan Glavin, research dir=
ector at OpenSecrets, told CNN. “Major donors are getting positions t=
hat affect policy.”<br />
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<br />
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09How did we get here? Fifteen years ago, in the <=
em>Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission</em> decision, the conser=
vative wing of the Supreme Court exacerbated the role that money plays in p=
olitics by ruling that corporations and unions could spend unlimited amount=
s of money on political activities so long as they were done without coordi=
nating with a party or candidate.<br />
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<br />
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09For the previous century, corporations had been =
banned from spending directly in U.S. elections, and individuals faced stri=
ct limits on how much they could contribute to campaigns. The Citizens Unit=
ed ruling overturned these long-standing protections, opening the floodgate=
s to a proliferation of super political action committees and unlimited dar=
k money spending on campaigns, giving wealthy donors and special interests =
outsize influence in Washington.<br />
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<br />
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09To be clear, <em>Citizens United</em> has allowe=
d both parties to raise money from the billionaire class and large corporat=
ions. And Vice President Kamala Harris pulled in more total donations in th=
e 2024 presidential race than her opponent did, more than 40% of which came=
from small donors. But Trump is elevating his donors to major positions wi=
thin the federal government.<br />
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<br />
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09One prominent example: Trump implored energy exe=
cutives to spend $1 billion to bankroll his campaign to remove burdensome e=
nvironmental regulations, according to reporting by The Washington Post. He=
’s since backed the gutting of environmental protections and the revo=
cation of Biden’s ban on offshore drilling, both of which will benefi=
t Big Oil interests. Though the official figure donated from oil interests =
to his campaign, to the Republican National Committee and to affiliated gro=
ups was far lower ($75 million, according to The New York Times), we’=
ll never truly know how much Big Oil coughed up. <em>Citizens United</em> a=
llows super PACs to take unlimited contributions from sources who aren&rsqu=
o;t required to disclose their donors.<br />
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<br />
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09What we do know is that Trump has named Chris Wr=
ight, an oil industry executive known for his skepticism about climate chan=
ge, to run the Department of Energy. And he has selected North Dakota Gov. =
Doug Burgum, a darling of the fossil fuels industry, to run the Department =
of the Interior. If these men follow Trump’s mantra of “Drill, =
baby, drill,” their agencies are likely to prioritize drilling, dereg=
ulation and corporate profits over environmental protection and public heal=
th. Such changes would be likely to worsen air pollution, contaminate water=
supplies and risk natural disasters that wreak havoc on American fami=
lies.<br />
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<br />
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09Then there’s Elon Musk. The world’s =
wealthiest person, Musk was the single largest donor in the 2024 election. =
The president-elect has named him to helm a new advisory commission with fa=
r-reaching sway over every aspect of government, and others who share his i=
nterest in deregulation are being nominated to top positions that directly =
affect his businesses. Brendan Carr, appointed by Trump to lead the Federal=
Communications Commission, has made clear his intentions to dismantle inde=
pendent regulatory agencies. Trump also nominated Jared Isaacman, an invest=
or in Musk’s SpaceX, to oversee NASA, giving him oversight of billion=
s of dollars in government contracts for Musk companies SpaceX and Sta=
rlink.<br />
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<br />
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<em>Citizens United</em> has given billionaires =
and special interests unprecedented power to influence elections, and in tu=
rn, influence our government. Over the last 15 years, Republicans have bloc=
ked efforts by Democrats to counteract this decision with genuine campaign =
finance reform. With Republicans now controlling a governing trifecta in th=
e White House and both branches of Congress, the damage for the foreseeable=
future will be severe. But it doesn’t have to be permanent.<br =
/>
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<br />
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09Breaking up this cycle of corruption starts with=
holding the GOP accountable and building momentum to elect leaders who wil=
l stand up to the special interests and for the people. We need congression=
al majorities that will pass reforms like the Freedom to Vote Act, which wo=
uld end dark money and strengthen campaign finance laws. Ultimately, we mus=
t either pass a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United or con=
firm enough Supreme Court justices who will undo this disastrous decision o=
nce and for all. These reforms are essential to a healthy, open and account=
able democracy.<br />
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<br />
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<a href=3D"[link removed]
/els/v2/YWNqsZ8NZ8B8/Q1hHNkNRd0hCUFhWNTJXOEpXbms1OXNaZUJyTGxaUzhLVDlmcXB5NU=
12WE5wbFp6bHFPL2ZRZXZ5Qy9PcXp2MjFEblR5V0YxSVhmWldTdElDVjBEUGNTSVFlRU5zTk5Ue=
lkya0FoTWVlS0k9S0/NGpwSk9sR2F5RlltME9qRCtSQTBKOW1nVUJSa0Z0S0p3elVHRkczeDBla=
UVlWGVNWFpwc1lIL3dvYjBTeFdSVjg1dnEzODlhVWxILzVuNWJYTFZwR1Z3c2FFMUt0b1l6Mm9z=
cmRqZVY5RTRzaWgxTHFjUm9taDczczAxV0lCTUNROXlVSmNFYWNVTUNuZnJoRkJhRmd6MlVpNkR=
MWmpXNFhTd0JWenhvbmJQcmlxU1BtYU1RbGxIVHZOb0toZy9ta1lqRTNTZXFxSTJ0Z012YmRHMF=
AzNDZQQTd2M3RXejFHZHU1WUpPSE9LY2N3VmNraTBualIyWUo4TktRMy9abS83V0p2MVBjRWJEc=
zFDVkRFVk9EMGJWeUluZWxQazMyUW9WSWh3aE9NMm89S0" name=3D"secure_actblue_com_d=
onate_loc_ecu_f_4" style=3D"text-decoration:none;color:inherit;" target=3D"=
_blank" ><strong>We can’t ignore how we got here, and we can’t =
afford to accept this as the new normal. We must listen to the parting word=
s of our 46th president. The American people deserve a government that work=
s for them, not one auctioned off to the highest bidder. It’s time to=
fight back and restore power to where it rightfully belongs – with t=
he people.</strong> </a></p>
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<center>
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<table border=3D"0" cellpadding=3D"0" cellspacin=
g=3D"0" style=3D"display: inline-block; font-weight:bold;">
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09
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=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<table cellspacing=3D"10">
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<tr>
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<td style=3D"padding:8px;"><a =
href=3D"[link removed]
0hCUFhWNTJXOEpXbms1OXNaZUJyTGxaUzhLVDlmcXB5NU12WE5wbFp6bHFPL2ZRZXZ5Qy9PcXp2=
MjFEblR5V0YxSVhmWldTdElDVjBEUGNTSVFlRU5zTk5Uelkya0FoTWVlS0k9S0/NGpwSk9sR2F5=
RlltME9qRCtSQTBKOW1nVUJSa0Z0S0p3elVHRkczeDBlaUVlWGVNWFpwc1lIL3dvYjBTeFdSVjg=
1dnEzODlhVWxILzVuNWJYTFZwR1Z3c2FFMUt0b1l6Mm9zcmRqZVY5RTRzaWgxTHFjUm9taDczcz=
AxV0lCTUNROXlVSmNFYWNVTUNuZnJoRkJhRmd6MlVpNkRMWmpXNFhTd0JWenhvbmJQcmlxU1BtY=
U1RbGxIVHZOb0toZy9ta1lqRTNTZXFxSTJ0Z012YmRHMFAzNDZQQTd2M3RXejFHZHU1WUpPSE9L=
Y2N3VmNraTBualIyWUo4TktRMy9abS83V0p2MVBjRWJEczFDVkRFVk9EMGJWeUluZWxQazMyUW9=
WSWh3aE9NMm89S0" name=3D"secure_actblue_com_donate_loc_ecu_f_5" style=3D"di=
splay: inline-block;color: #ffffff;text-align: center;text-decoration: none=
;font-weight: bold;font-family: Avenir, Arial, sans-serif;width: 350px;back=
ground-color: #da2b3e;font-size: 22px;border-radius: 6px; border-color: #9f=
202e; border-width: 1px; border-style: solid; text-decoration:none;-webkit-=
text-size-adjust:none;padding:8px;border-radius:6px; border-bottom: 5px sol=
id #9f202e;" >CHIP IN NOW TO END <em>CITIZENS UNITED</em> >>=
;</a></td>
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09</tr>
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09
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=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09</td>
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09</tr>
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09
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Geneva, sans-serif; color: #000000;font-size: 18px; line-height:140%">Than=
ks for reading,<br />
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<br />
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09Tiffany</p>
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<!--EMAIL CONTENT END--></td>
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rgin-bottom: 0px;font-size: 14px;line-height:1.2em;text-align: center;"><a =
href=3D"[link removed]
0hCUFhWNTJXOEpXbms1OXNaZUJyTGxaUzhLVDlmcXB5NU12WE5wbFp6bHFPL2ZRZXZ5Qy9PcXp2=
MjFEblR5V0YxSVhmWldTdElDVjBEUGNTSVFlRU5zTk5Uelkya0FoTWVlS0k9S0/cDVUT2xONlJI=
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itizensunited.org/els/v2/8PavS-Zg-ZQR/Q1hHNkNRd0hCUFhWNTJXOEpXbms1OXNaZUJyT=
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mocracy and allowed corporate money to flood our politics. We can't allow t=
his to continue " src=3D"[link removed]
ng" style=3D"max-width: 400px; width: 100%;" title=3D"Citizens United has d=
amaged our democracy and allowed corporate money to flood our politics. We =
can't allow this to continue " /></a></center>
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09</td>
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09</tr>
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rgin-bottom: 10px;font-size: 14px;line-height:1.2em;text-align: center;">We=
know we send a lot of emails. And you might be wondering why: We aren&rsqu=
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Tiffany Muller
Donald Trump’s inauguration next week is the beginning of an oligarchy that’s been 15 years in the making. The day after Trump’s return to office marks the anniversary of the disastrous 2010 Supreme Court decision on Citizens United, which allowed for unlimited independent spending on elections. The ruling gave wealthy donors and special interests outsize influence in Washington, and the results are now on full display in Trump’s administration, a veritable billionaire’s ball.
As President Joe Biden warned in his farewell address Wednesday night, “An oligarchy is taking shape in America of extreme wealth, power and influence that literally threatens our entire democracy, our basic rights and freedoms and a fair shot for everyone to get ahead.” He urged the country to act against the forces that Citizens United unleashed: “We need to get dark money — that’s that hidden funding behind too many campaign contributions — we need to get it out of our politics.”
CHIP IN NOW TO END CITIZENS UNITED >>
More than $20 billion was spent on the 2024 election, and the majority of the megadonors were Republicans, according to OpenSecrets, a nonpartisan watchdog that tracks money in politics. Trump has rewarded his donors and big-money interests by appointing the wealthiest administration ever, including billionaires who collectively spent hundreds of millions on Trump’s campaign.
Take, for example, today’s confirmation hearing for Scott Bessent to run the Treasury Department. The choice of hedge fund manager Bessent, who donated $1.5 million to Trump or outside groups supporting him, and Commerce Secretary-nominee Howard Lutnick, a billionaire financial services CEO who donated $9.4 million to Trump or groups supporting him, puts Wall Street elites in charge of the rules. Expect to see them dole out benefits to hedge funds and huge corporations at the expense of small businesses and consumers. Instead of creating an economy that builds from the bottom up, the deck will be stacked in favor of the wealthy.
What we’re witnessing is the installation of an oligarchy, in which the wealthy few who control business and industry also control the levers of government. That’s a recipe for them to further enrich themselves while the working class is left behind.
All told, at least eight big donors who collectively spent more than $300 million to bankroll Trump’s 2024 campaign have been chosen for Cabinet or other senior administration positions, according to reporting by CNN. In addition to Bessent and Lutnick, they include tech titan Elon Musk, who donated $263 million and has been tapped for a newly created Department of Government Efficiency; Linda McMahon, who contributed $21 million and has been nominated to be education secretary; and Kelly Loeffler, who gave $2.9 million and has been selected to lead the Small Business Administration.
In several of these positions, nominees could regulate their own interests. The donors “are not just getting these sort of plum ambassadorships on the side,” Brendan Glavin, research director at OpenSecrets, told CNN. “Major donors are getting positions that affect policy.”
How did we get here? Fifteen years ago, in the Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission decision, the conservative wing of the Supreme Court exacerbated the role that money plays in politics by ruling that corporations and unions could spend unlimited amounts of money on political activities so long as they were done without coordinating with a party or candidate.
For the previous century, corporations had been banned from spending directly in U.S. elections, and individuals faced strict limits on how much they could contribute to campaigns. The Citizens United ruling overturned these long-standing protections, opening the floodgates to a proliferation of super political action committees and unlimited dark money spending on campaigns, giving wealthy donors and special interests outsize influence in Washington.
To be clear, Citizens United has allowed both parties to raise money from the billionaire class and large corporations. And Vice President Kamala Harris pulled in more total donations in the 2024 presidential race than her opponent did, more than 40% of which came from small donors. But Trump is elevating his donors to major positions within the federal government.
One prominent example: Trump implored energy executives to spend $1 billion to bankroll his campaign to remove burdensome environmental regulations, according to reporting by The Washington Post. He’s since backed the gutting of environmental protections and the revocation of Biden’s ban on offshore drilling, both of which will benefit Big Oil interests. Though the official figure donated from oil interests to his campaign, to the Republican National Committee and to affiliated groups was far lower ($75 million, according to The New York Times), we’ll never truly know how much Big Oil coughed up. Citizens United allows super PACs to take unlimited contributions from sources who aren’t required to disclose their donors.
What we do know is that Trump has named Chris Wright, an oil industry executive known for his skepticism about climate change, to run the Department of Energy. And he has selected North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, a darling of the fossil fuels industry, to run the Department of the Interior. If these men follow Trump’s mantra of “Drill, baby, drill,” their agencies are likely to prioritize drilling, deregulation and corporate profits over environmental protection and public health. Such changes would be likely to worsen air pollution, contaminate water supplies and risk natural disasters that wreak havoc on American families.
Then there’s Elon Musk. The world’s wealthiest person, Musk was the single largest donor in the 2024 election. The president-elect has named him to helm a new advisory commission with far-reaching sway over every aspect of government, and others who share his interest in deregulation are being nominated to top positions that directly affect his businesses. Brendan Carr, appointed by Trump to lead the Federal Communications Commission, has made clear his intentions to dismantle independent regulatory agencies. Trump also nominated Jared Isaacman, an investor in Musk’s SpaceX, to oversee NASA, giving him oversight of billions of dollars in government contracts for Musk companies SpaceX and Starlink.
Citizens United has given billionaires and special interests unprecedented power to influence elections, and in turn, influence our government. Over the last 15 years, Republicans have blocked efforts by Democrats to counteract this decision with genuine campaign finance reform. With Republicans now controlling a governing trifecta in the White House and both branches of Congress, the damage for the foreseeable future will be severe. But it doesn’t have to be permanent.
Breaking up this cycle of corruption starts with holding the GOP accountable and building momentum to elect leaders who will stand up to the special interests and for the people. We need congressional majorities that will pass reforms like the Freedom to Vote Act, which would end dark money and strengthen campaign finance laws. Ultimately, we must either pass a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United or confirm enough Supreme Court justices who will undo this disastrous decision once and for all. These reforms are essential to a healthy, open and accountable democracy.
We can’t ignore how we got here, and we can’t afford to accept this as the new normal. We must listen to the parting words of our 46th president. The American people deserve a government that works for them, not one auctioned off to the highest bidder. It’s time to fight back and restore power to where it rightfully belongs – with the people.
CHIP IN NOW TO END CITIZENS UNITED >>
Thanks for reading,
Tiffany
Click here to receive fewer emails | Click here to unsubscribe
End Citizens United
ORDER LIMITED-EDITION MERCH HERE >>
Citizens United has damaged our democracy and allowed corporate money to flood our politics. We can't allow this to continue
We know we send a lot of emails. And you might be wondering why: We aren’t a SuperPAC. We’re not funded by corporate PACs. We spend EVERY DIME so efficiently by running proven effective ads to win the most competitive races, push to pass SWEEPING Campaign Finance Reform, and build our movement.
Friend, when we pass the Constitutional Amendment to overturn Citizens United, you'll be able to say you helped make that happen.
We believe that emails are a crucial way for our campaign to stay in touch with supporters like you. If you'd prefer to receive fewer emails, click here. However, if you'd prefer to unsubscribe, click here. If you'd like to donate, please click here.
From the entire End Citizens United team, thanks for your support!
End Citizens United PAC
100 M St. SE Suite 1050
Washington, D.C. 20003
PAID FOR BY END CITIZENS UNITED PAC (ENDCITIZENSUNITED.ORG) AND NOT AUTHORIZED BY ANY CANDIDATE OR CANDIDATE'S COMMITTEE. CONTRIBUTIONS TO END CITIZENS UNITED ARE NOT TAX DEDUCTIBLE. Contributions to End Citizens United will be used in End Citizens United’s sole discretion and are not being earmarked for use in any particular state or election. YOUR CONTRIBUTION TO ECU WILL BE USED IN CONNECTION WITH ECU'S MATCHING FUNDS PROGRAM TO MATCH THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF OTHER CONTRIBUTORS.
DONATE TO END CITIZENS UNITED ➞
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Tiffany Muller
Donald Trump=E2=80=99s inauguration next week is the beginning of an oligar=
chy that=E2=80=99s been 15 years in the making. The day after Trump=E2=80=
=99s return to office marks the anniversary of the disastrous 2010 Supreme =
Court decision on Citizens United, which allowed for unlimited independent =
spending on elections. The ruling gave wealthy donors and special interests=
outsize influence in Washington, and the results are now on full display i=
n Trump=E2=80=99s administration, a veritable billionaire=E2=80=99s ball.
As President Joe Biden warned in his farewell address Wednesday night, =E2=
=80=9CAn oligarchy is taking shape in America of extreme wealth, power and =
influence that literally threatens our entire democracy, our basic rights a=
nd freedoms and a fair shot for everyone to get ahead.=E2=80=9D He urged th=
e country to act against the forces that Citizens United unleashed: =E2=80=
=9CWe need to get dark money =E2=80=94 that=E2=80=99s that hidden funding b=
ehind too many campaign contributions =E2=80=94 we need to get it out of ou=
r politics.=E2=80=9D
CHIP IN NOW TO END CITIZENS UNITED >>
More than $20 billion was spent on the 2024 election, and the majority of t=
he megadonors were Republicans, according to OpenSecrets, a nonpartisan wat=
chdog that tracks money in politics. Trump has rewarded his donors and big-=
money interests by appointing the wealthiest administration ever, including=
billionaires who collectively spent hundreds of millions on Trump=E2=80=99=
s campaign.
Take, for example, today=E2=80=99s confirmation hearing for Scott Bessent t=
o run the Treasury Department. The choice of hedge fund manager Bessent, wh=
o donated $1.5 million to Trump or outside groups supporting him, and Comme=
rce Secretary-nominee Howard Lutnick, a billionaire financial services CEO =
who donated $9.4 million to Trump or groups supporting him, puts Wall Stree=
t elites in charge of the rules. Expect to see them dole out benefits to he=
dge funds and huge corporations at the expense of small businesses and cons=
umers. Instead of creating an economy that builds from the bottom up, the d=
eck will be stacked in favor of the wealthy.
What we=E2=80=99re witnessing is the installation of an oligarchy, in which=
the wealthy few who control business and industry also control the levers =
of government. That=E2=80=99s a recipe for them to further enrich themselve=
s while the working class is left behind.
All told, at least eight big donors who collectively spent more than $300 m=
illion to bankroll Trump=E2=80=99s 2024 campaign have been chosen for Cabin=
et or other senior administration positions, according to reporting by CNN.=
In addition to Bessent and Lutnick, they include tech titan Elon Musk, who=
donated $263 million and has been tapped for a newly created Department of=
Government Efficiency; Linda McMahon, who contributed $21 million and has =
been nominated to be education secretary; and Kelly Loeffler, who gave $2.9=
million and has been selected to lead the Small Business Administration.
In several of these positions, nominees could regulate their own interests.=
The donors =E2=80=9Care not just getting these sort of plum ambassadorship=
s on the side,=E2=80=9D Brendan Glavin, research director at OpenSecrets, t=
old CNN. =E2=80=9CMajor donors are getting positions that affect policy.=E2=
=80=9D
How did we get here? Fifteen years ago, in the Citizens United v. Federal E=
lection Commission decision, the conservative wing of the Supreme Court exa=
cerbated the role that money plays in politics by ruling that corporations =
and unions could spend unlimited amounts of money on political activities s=
o long as they were done without coordinating with a party or candidate.
For the previous century, corporations had been banned from spending direct=
ly in U.S. elections, and individuals faced strict limits on how much they =
could contribute to campaigns. The Citizens United ruling overturned these =
long-standing protections, opening the floodgates to a proliferation of sup=
er political action committees and unlimited dark money spending on campaig=
ns, giving wealthy donors and special interests outsize influence in Washin=
gton.
To be clear, Citizens United has allowed both parties to raise money from t=
he billionaire class and large corporations. And Vice President Kamala Harr=
is pulled in more total donations in the 2024 presidential race than her op=
ponent did, more than 40% of which came from small donors. But Trump is ele=
vating his donors to major positions within the federal government.
One prominent example: Trump implored energy executives to spend $1 billion=
to bankroll his campaign to remove burdensome environmental regulations, a=
ccording to reporting by The Washington Post. He=E2=80=99s since backed the=
gutting of environmental protections and the revocation of Biden=E2=80=99s=
ban on offshore drilling, both of which will benefit Big Oil interests. Th=
ough the official figure donated from oil interests to his campaign, to the=
Republican National Committee and to affiliated groups was far lower ($75 =
million, according to The New York Times), we=E2=80=99ll never truly know h=
ow much Big Oil coughed up. Citizens United allows super PACs to take unlim=
ited contributions from sources who aren=E2=80=99t required to disclose the=
ir donors.
What we do know is that Trump has named Chris Wright, an oil industry execu=
tive known for his skepticism about climate change, to run the Department o=
f Energy. And he has selected North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, a darling of t=
he fossil fuels industry, to run the Department of the Interior. If these m=
en follow Trump=E2=80=99s mantra of =E2=80=9CDrill, baby, drill,=E2=80=9D t=
heir agencies are likely to prioritize drilling, deregulation and corporate=
profits over environmental protection and public health. Such changes woul=
d be likely to worsen air pollution, contaminate water supplies and risk na=
tural disasters that wreak havoc on American families.
Then there=E2=80=99s Elon Musk. The world=E2=80=99s wealthiest person, Musk=
was the single largest donor in the 2024 election. The president-elect has=
named him to helm a new advisory commission with far-reaching sway over ev=
ery aspect of government, and others who share his interest in deregulation=
are being nominated to top positions that directly affect his businesses. =
Brendan Carr, appointed by Trump to lead the Federal Communications Commiss=
ion, has made clear his intentions to dismantle independent regulatory agen=
cies. Trump also nominated Jared Isaacman, an investor in Musk=E2=80=99s Sp=
aceX, to oversee NASA, giving him oversight of billions of dollars in gover=
nment contracts for Musk companies SpaceX and Starlink.
Citizens United has given billionaires and special interests unprecedented =
power to influence elections, and in turn, influence our government. Over t=
he last 15 years, Republicans have blocked efforts by Democrats to countera=
ct this decision with genuine campaign finance reform. With Republicans now=
controlling a governing trifecta in the White House and both branches of C=
ongress, the damage for the foreseeable future will be severe. But it doesn=
=E2=80=99t have to be permanent.
Breaking up this cycle of corruption starts with holding the GOP accountabl=
e and building momentum to elect leaders who will stand up to the special i=
nterests and for the people. We need congressional majorities that will pas=
s reforms like the Freedom to Vote Act, which would end dark money and stre=
ngthen campaign finance laws. Ultimately, we must either pass a constitutio=
nal amendment to overturn Citizens United or confirm enough Supreme Court j=
ustices who will undo this disastrous decision once and for all. These refo=
rms are essential to a healthy, open and accountable democracy.
We can=E2=80=99t ignore how we got here, and we can=E2=80=99t afford to acc=
ept this as the new normal. We must listen to the parting words of our 46th=
president. The American people deserve a government that works for them, n=
ot one auctioned off to the highest bidder. It=E2=80=99s time to fight back=
and restore power to where it rightfully belongs =E2=80=93 with the people=
.
CHIP IN NOW TO END CITIZENS UNITED >>
Thanks for reading,
Tiffany
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End Citizens United
ORDER LIMITED-EDITION MERCH HERE >>
Citizens United has damaged our democracy and allowed corporate money to fl=
ood our politics. We can't allow this to continue=20
We know we send a lot of emails. And you might be wondering why: We aren=E2=
=80=99t a SuperPAC. We=E2=80=99re not funded by corporate PACs. We spend EV=
ERY DIME so efficiently by running proven effective ads to win the most com=
petitive races, push to pass SWEEPING Campaign Finance Reform, and build ou=
r movement.
Friend, when we pass the Constitutional Amendment to overturn Citizens Unit=
ed, you'll be able to say you helped make that happen.
We believe that emails are a crucial way for our campaign to stay in touch =
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onate, please click here.
From the entire End Citizens United team, thanks for your support!
End Citizens United PAC
100 M St. SE Suite 1050
Washington, D.C. 20003
PAID FOR BY END CITIZENS UNITED PAC (ENDCITIZENSUNITED.ORG) AND NOT AUTHORI=
ZED BY ANY CANDIDATE OR CANDIDATE'S COMMITTEE. CONTRIBUTIONS TO END CITIZEN=
S UNITED ARE NOT TAX DEDUCTIBLE. Contributions to End Citizens United will =
be used in End Citizens United=E2=80=99s sole discretion and are not being =
earmarked for use in any particular state or election. YOUR CONTRIBUTION TO=
ECU WILL BE USED IN CONNECTION WITH ECU'S MATCHING FUNDS PROGRAM TO MATCH =
THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF OTHER CONTRIBUTORS.
DONATE TO END CITIZENS UNITED =E2=9E=9E
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"><!-- COPY --><!-- CONFIGURE: CRM template copy treatment --><!-- If using=
a CRM that requires the email template is split above and below copy (such=
as ActionNetwork), this is the point to split --><!--email content START--=
><a href=3D"[link removed]
kNRd0hCUFhWNTJXOEpXbms1OXNaZUJyTGxaUzhLVDlmcXB5NU12WE5wbFp6bHFPL2ZRZXZ5Qy9P=
cXp2MjFEblR5V0YxSVhmWldTdElDVjBEUGNTSVFlRU5zTk5Uelkya0FoTWVlS0k9S0/NGpwSk9s=
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SE9LY2N3VmNraTBualIyWUo4TktRMy9abS83V0p2MVBjRWJEczFDVkRFVk9EMGJWeUluZWxQazM=
yUW9WSWh3aE9NMm89S0" name=3D"secure_actblue_com_donate_loc_ecu_f" target=3D=
"_blank" ><img alt=3D"Tiffany Muller" height=3D"83.333" src=3D'[link removed]
ontent.e.endcitizensunited.org/ra/2025/13056/01/4669885/ECU-Tiffany-Header.=
png' title=3D"Tiffany Muller" width=3D"600" /></a>
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<p align=3D"left" style=3D"font-family: Verdana,=
Geneva, sans-serif; color: #000000;font-size: 18px; line-height:140%">Dona=
ld Trump’s inauguration next week is the beginning of an oligarchy th=
at’s been 15 years in the making. The day after Trump’s return =
to office marks the anniversary of the disastrous 2010 Supreme Court decisi=
on on <em>Citizens United</em>, which allowed for unlimited independent spe=
nding on elections. The ruling gave wealthy donors and special interests ou=
tsize influence in Washington, and the results are now on full display in T=
rump’s administration, a veritable billionaire’s ball.<br =
/>
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<br />
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09As President Joe Biden warned in his farewell ad=
dress Wednesday night, “An oligarchy is taking shape in America of ex=
treme wealth, power and influence that literally threatens our entire democ=
racy, our basic rights and freedoms and a fair shot for everyone to get ahe=
ad.” He urged the country to act against the forces that <em>Citizens=
United</em> unleashed: <strong>“We need to get dark money — th=
at’s that hidden funding behind too many campaign contributions &mdas=
h; we need to get it out of our politics.”</strong></p>
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<center>
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<table border=3D"0" cellpadding=3D"0" cellspacin=
g=3D"0" style=3D"display: inline-block; font-weight:bold;">
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09
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=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<td style=3D"display: inline-block;">
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<table cellspacing=3D"10">
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<tr>
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<td style=3D"padding:8px;"><a =
href=3D"[link removed]
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WSWh3aE9NMm89S0" name=3D"secure_actblue_com_donate_loc_ecu_f_2" style=3D"di=
splay: inline-block;color: #ffffff;text-align: center;text-decoration: none=
;font-weight: bold;font-family: Avenir, Arial, sans-serif;width: 350px;back=
ground-color: #da2b3e;font-size: 22px;border-radius: 6px; border-color: #9f=
202e; border-width: 1px; border-style: solid; text-decoration:none;-webkit-=
text-size-adjust:none;padding:8px;border-radius:6px; border-bottom: 5px sol=
id #9f202e;" >CHIP IN NOW TO END <em>CITIZENS UNITED</em> >>=
;</a></td>
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09</tr>
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09</table>
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09</td>
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09</tr>
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09</table>
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09</center>
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<p align=3D"left" style=3D"font-family: Verdana,=
Geneva, sans-serif; color: #000000;font-size: 18px; line-height:140%">More=
than $20 billion was spent on the 2024 election, and the majority of the m=
egadonors were Republicans, according to OpenSecrets, a nonpartisan watchdo=
g that tracks money in politics. Trump has rewarded his donors and big-mone=
y interests by appointing the wealthiest administration ever, including bil=
lionaires who collectively spent hundreds of millions on Trump’s =
;campaign.<br />
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<br />
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09Take, for example, today’s confirmation he=
aring for Scott Bessent to run the Treasury Department. The choice of hedge=
fund manager Bessent, who donated $1.5 million to Trump or outside groups =
supporting him, and Commerce Secretary-nominee Howard Lutnick, a billionair=
e financial services CEO who donated $9.4 million to Trump or groups suppor=
ting him, puts Wall Street elites in charge of the rules. Expect to see the=
m dole out benefits to hedge funds and huge corporations at the expense of =
small businesses and consumers. Instead of creating an economy that builds =
from the bottom up, the deck will be stacked in favor of the wealthy.<=
br />
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<br />
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<a href=3D"[link removed]
/els/v2/E8g7CeDjeDhp/Q1hHNkNRd0hCUFhWNTJXOEpXbms1OXNaZUJyTGxaUzhLVDlmcXB5NU=
12WE5wbFp6bHFPL2ZRZXZ5Qy9PcXp2MjFEblR5V0YxSVhmWldTdElDVjBEUGNTSVFlRU5zTk5Ue=
lkya0FoTWVlS0k9S0/NGpwSk9sR2F5RlltME9qRCtSQTBKOW1nVUJSa0Z0S0p3elVHRkczeDBla=
UVlWGVNWFpwc1lIL3dvYjBTeFdSVjg1dnEzODlhVWxILzVuNWJYTFZwR1Z3c2FFMUt0b1l6Mm9z=
cmRqZVY5RTRzaWgxTHFjUm9taDczczAxV0lCTUNROXlVSmNFYWNVTUNuZnJoRkJhRmd6MlVpNkR=
MWmpXNFhTd0JWenhvbmJQcmlxU1BtYU1RbGxIVHZOb0toZy9ta1lqRTNTZXFxSTJ0Z012YmRHMF=
AzNDZQQTd2M3RXejFHZHU1WUpPSE9LY2N3VmNraTBualIyWUo4TktRMy9abS83V0p2MVBjRWJEc=
zFDVkRFVk9EMGJWeUluZWxQazMyUW9WSWh3aE9NMm89S0" name=3D"secure_actblue_com_d=
onate_loc_ecu_f_3" style=3D"text-decoration:none;color:inherit; background-=
color:#ffea00;" target=3D"_blank" ><strong>What we’re witnessing is t=
he installation of an oligarchy, in which the wealthy few who control busin=
ess and industry also control the levers of government. That’s a reci=
pe for them to further enrich themselves while the working class is left&nb=
sp;behind. </strong></a><br />
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<br />
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09All told, at least eight big donors who collecti=
vely spent more than $300 million to bankroll Trump’s 2024 campaign h=
ave been chosen for Cabinet or other senior administration positions, accor=
ding to reporting by CNN. In addition to Bessent and Lutnick, they include =
tech titan Elon Musk, who donated $263 million and has been tapped for a ne=
wly created Department of Government Efficiency; Linda McMahon, who contrib=
uted $21 million and has been nominated to be education secretary; and Kell=
y Loeffler, who gave $2.9 million and has been selected to lead the Small B=
usiness Administration.<br />
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<br />
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09In several of these positions, nominees could re=
gulate their own interests. The donors “are not just getting these so=
rt of plum ambassadorships on the side,” Brendan Glavin, research dir=
ector at OpenSecrets, told CNN. “Major donors are getting positions t=
hat affect policy.”<br />
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<br />
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09How did we get here? Fifteen years ago, in the <=
em>Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission</em> decision, the conser=
vative wing of the Supreme Court exacerbated the role that money plays in p=
olitics by ruling that corporations and unions could spend unlimited amount=
s of money on political activities so long as they were done without coordi=
nating with a party or candidate.<br />
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<br />
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09For the previous century, corporations had been =
banned from spending directly in U.S. elections, and individuals faced stri=
ct limits on how much they could contribute to campaigns. The Citizens Unit=
ed ruling overturned these long-standing protections, opening the floodgate=
s to a proliferation of super political action committees and unlimited dar=
k money spending on campaigns, giving wealthy donors and special interests =
outsize influence in Washington.<br />
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<br />
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09To be clear, <em>Citizens United</em> has allowe=
d both parties to raise money from the billionaire class and large corporat=
ions. And Vice President Kamala Harris pulled in more total donations in th=
e 2024 presidential race than her opponent did, more than 40% of which came=
from small donors. But Trump is elevating his donors to major positions wi=
thin the federal government.<br />
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<br />
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09One prominent example: Trump implored energy exe=
cutives to spend $1 billion to bankroll his campaign to remove burdensome e=
nvironmental regulations, according to reporting by The Washington Post. He=
’s since backed the gutting of environmental protections and the revo=
cation of Biden’s ban on offshore drilling, both of which will benefi=
t Big Oil interests. Though the official figure donated from oil interests =
to his campaign, to the Republican National Committee and to affiliated gro=
ups was far lower ($75 million, according to The New York Times), we’=
ll never truly know how much Big Oil coughed up. <em>Citizens United</em> a=
llows super PACs to take unlimited contributions from sources who aren&rsqu=
o;t required to disclose their donors.<br />
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<br />
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09What we do know is that Trump has named Chris Wr=
ight, an oil industry executive known for his skepticism about climate chan=
ge, to run the Department of Energy. And he has selected North Dakota Gov. =
Doug Burgum, a darling of the fossil fuels industry, to run the Department =
of the Interior. If these men follow Trump’s mantra of “Drill, =
baby, drill,” their agencies are likely to prioritize drilling, dereg=
ulation and corporate profits over environmental protection and public heal=
th. Such changes would be likely to worsen air pollution, contaminate water=
supplies and risk natural disasters that wreak havoc on American fami=
lies.<br />
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<br />
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09Then there’s Elon Musk. The world’s =
wealthiest person, Musk was the single largest donor in the 2024 election. =
The president-elect has named him to helm a new advisory commission with fa=
r-reaching sway over every aspect of government, and others who share his i=
nterest in deregulation are being nominated to top positions that directly =
affect his businesses. Brendan Carr, appointed by Trump to lead the Federal=
Communications Commission, has made clear his intentions to dismantle inde=
pendent regulatory agencies. Trump also nominated Jared Isaacman, an invest=
or in Musk’s SpaceX, to oversee NASA, giving him oversight of billion=
s of dollars in government contracts for Musk companies SpaceX and Sta=
rlink.<br />
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<br />
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<em>Citizens United</em> has given billionaires =
and special interests unprecedented power to influence elections, and in tu=
rn, influence our government. Over the last 15 years, Republicans have bloc=
ked efforts by Democrats to counteract this decision with genuine campaign =
finance reform. With Republicans now controlling a governing trifecta in th=
e White House and both branches of Congress, the damage for the foreseeable=
future will be severe. But it doesn’t have to be permanent.<br =
/>
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<br />
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09Breaking up this cycle of corruption starts with=
holding the GOP accountable and building momentum to elect leaders who wil=
l stand up to the special interests and for the people. We need congression=
al majorities that will pass reforms like the Freedom to Vote Act, which wo=
uld end dark money and strengthen campaign finance laws. Ultimately, we mus=
t either pass a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United or con=
firm enough Supreme Court justices who will undo this disastrous decision o=
nce and for all. These reforms are essential to a healthy, open and account=
able democracy.<br />
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<br />
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<a href=3D"[link removed]
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AzNDZQQTd2M3RXejFHZHU1WUpPSE9LY2N3VmNraTBualIyWUo4TktRMy9abS83V0p2MVBjRWJEc=
zFDVkRFVk9EMGJWeUluZWxQazMyUW9WSWh3aE9NMm89S0" name=3D"secure_actblue_com_d=
onate_loc_ecu_f_4" style=3D"text-decoration:none;color:inherit;" target=3D"=
_blank" ><strong>We can’t ignore how we got here, and we can’t =
afford to accept this as the new normal. We must listen to the parting word=
s of our 46th president. The American people deserve a government that work=
s for them, not one auctioned off to the highest bidder. It’s time to=
fight back and restore power to where it rightfully belongs – with t=
he people.</strong> </a></p>
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<center>
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<table border=3D"0" cellpadding=3D"0" cellspacin=
g=3D"0" style=3D"display: inline-block; font-weight:bold;">
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=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<table cellspacing=3D"10">
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<tr>
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<td style=3D"padding:8px;"><a =
href=3D"[link removed]
0hCUFhWNTJXOEpXbms1OXNaZUJyTGxaUzhLVDlmcXB5NU12WE5wbFp6bHFPL2ZRZXZ5Qy9PcXp2=
MjFEblR5V0YxSVhmWldTdElDVjBEUGNTSVFlRU5zTk5Uelkya0FoTWVlS0k9S0/NGpwSk9sR2F5=
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1dnEzODlhVWxILzVuNWJYTFZwR1Z3c2FFMUt0b1l6Mm9zcmRqZVY5RTRzaWgxTHFjUm9taDczcz=
AxV0lCTUNROXlVSmNFYWNVTUNuZnJoRkJhRmd6MlVpNkRMWmpXNFhTd0JWenhvbmJQcmlxU1BtY=
U1RbGxIVHZOb0toZy9ta1lqRTNTZXFxSTJ0Z012YmRHMFAzNDZQQTd2M3RXejFHZHU1WUpPSE9L=
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WSWh3aE9NMm89S0" name=3D"secure_actblue_com_donate_loc_ecu_f_5" style=3D"di=
splay: inline-block;color: #ffffff;text-align: center;text-decoration: none=
;font-weight: bold;font-family: Avenir, Arial, sans-serif;width: 350px;back=
ground-color: #da2b3e;font-size: 22px;border-radius: 6px; border-color: #9f=
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text-size-adjust:none;padding:8px;border-radius:6px; border-bottom: 5px sol=
id #9f202e;" >CHIP IN NOW TO END <em>CITIZENS UNITED</em> >>=
;</a></td>
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=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09
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Geneva, sans-serif; color: #000000;font-size: 18px; line-height:140%">Than=
ks for reading,<br />
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<br />
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09Tiffany</p>
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if; font-weight: 700; font-style:normal; color:#ffffff; letter-spacing: 0em=
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-EDITION MERCH HERE >> </a></td>
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=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09
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=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<td>
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<center><a href=3D"[link removed]
itizensunited.org/els/v2/8PavS-Zg-ZQR/Q1hHNkNRd0hCUFhWNTJXOEpXbms1OXNaZUJyT=
GxaUzhLVDlmcXB5NU12WE5wbFp6bHFPL2ZRZXZ5Qy9PcXp2MjFEblR5V0YxSVhmWldTdElDVjBE=
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_ecu_e_2" target=3D"_blank" ><img alt=3D"Citizens United has damaged our de=
mocracy and allowed corporate money to flood our politics. We can't allow t=
his to continue " src=3D"[link removed]
ng" style=3D"max-width: 400px; width: 100%;" title=3D"Citizens United has d=
amaged our democracy and allowed corporate money to flood our politics. We =
can't allow this to continue " /></a></center>
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09</td>
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09</tr>
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09
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rgin-bottom: 10px;font-size: 14px;line-height:1.2em;text-align: center;">We=
know we send a lot of emails. And you might be wondering why: We aren&rsqu=
o;t a SuperPAC. We’re not funded by corporate PACs. We spend EVERY DI=
ME so efficiently by running proven effective ads to win the most competiti=
ve races, push to pass SWEEPING Campaign Finance Reform, and build our move=
ment.</p>
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<p align=3D"center" style=3D"margin-top: 10px;ma=
rgin-bottom: 10px;font-size: 14px;line-height:1.2em;text-align: center;"><s=
trong>Friend, when we pass the Constitutional Amendment to overturn <em>Cit=
izens United</em>, you'll be able to say you helped make that happen.</=
strong></p>
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<p align=3D"center" style=3D"margin-top: 10px;ma=
rgin-bottom: 10px;font-size: 14px;line-height:1.2em;text-align: center;">We=
believe that emails are a crucial way for our campaign to stay in touch wi=
th supporters like you. If you'd prefer to receive fewer emails, <a hre=
f=3D"[link removed]
NjI4NjkS1&j=3DMTY2MDEwMzA5NwS2&l=3D3589635&[email protected]" n=
ame=3D"lessemail_2" style=3D"color: #224c9a;" >click here.</a> However, if =
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"[link removed]
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ctblue_com_donate_ms_" style=3D"color: #224c9a;" >click here.</a></p>
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rgin-bottom: 10px;font-size: 14px;line-height:1.2em;text-align: center;"><e=
m>From the entire End Citizens United team, thanks for your support!</em></=
p>
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</td>
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=09=09=09=09=09=09<!-- address -->
=09=09=09=09=09=09<table align=3D"center" cellpadding=3D"5" cellspacing=3D"=
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=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<td>
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<p align=3D"center" style=3D"margin-top: 10px;ma=
rgin-bottom: 0px;font-size: 14px;line-height:1.2em;text-align: center;">End=
Citizens United PAC<br />
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09100 M St. SE Suite 1050<br />
=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09Washington, D.C. 20003</p>
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=09=09=09=09=09=09=09
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=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09<td>PAID FOR BY END CITIZENS UNITED PAC (<a href=
=3D"[link removed]
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OUR CONTRIBUTION TO ECU WILL BE USED IN CONNECTION WITH ECU'S MATCHING =
FUNDS PROGRAM TO MATCH THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF OTHER CONTRIBUTORS.</td>
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Tiffany Muller
Donald Trump’s inauguration next week is the beginning of an oligarchy that’s been 15 years in the making. The day after Trump’s return to office marks the anniversary of the disastrous 2010 Supreme Court decision on Citizens United, which allowed for unlimited independent spending on elections. The ruling gave wealthy donors and special interests outsize influence in Washington, and the results are now on full display in Trump’s administration, a veritable billionaire’s ball.
As President Joe Biden warned in his farewell address Wednesday night, “An oligarchy is taking shape in America of extreme wealth, power and influence that literally threatens our entire democracy, our basic rights and freedoms and a fair shot for everyone to get ahead.” He urged the country to act against the forces that Citizens United unleashed: “We need to get dark money — that’s that hidden funding behind too many campaign contributions — we need to get it out of our politics.”
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More than $20 billion was spent on the 2024 election, and the majority of the megadonors were Republicans, according to OpenSecrets, a nonpartisan watchdog that tracks money in politics. Trump has rewarded his donors and big-money interests by appointing the wealthiest administration ever, including billionaires who collectively spent hundreds of millions on Trump’s campaign.
Take, for example, today’s confirmation hearing for Scott Bessent to run the Treasury Department. The choice of hedge fund manager Bessent, who donated $1.5 million to Trump or outside groups supporting him, and Commerce Secretary-nominee Howard Lutnick, a billionaire financial services CEO who donated $9.4 million to Trump or groups supporting him, puts Wall Street elites in charge of the rules. Expect to see them dole out benefits to hedge funds and huge corporations at the expense of small businesses and consumers. Instead of creating an economy that builds from the bottom up, the deck will be stacked in favor of the wealthy.
What we’re witnessing is the installation of an oligarchy, in which the wealthy few who control business and industry also control the levers of government. That’s a recipe for them to further enrich themselves while the working class is left behind.
All told, at least eight big donors who collectively spent more than $300 million to bankroll Trump’s 2024 campaign have been chosen for Cabinet or other senior administration positions, according to reporting by CNN. In addition to Bessent and Lutnick, they include tech titan Elon Musk, who donated $263 million and has been tapped for a newly created Department of Government Efficiency; Linda McMahon, who contributed $21 million and has been nominated to be education secretary; and Kelly Loeffler, who gave $2.9 million and has been selected to lead the Small Business Administration.
In several of these positions, nominees could regulate their own interests. The donors “are not just getting these sort of plum ambassadorships on the side,” Brendan Glavin, research director at OpenSecrets, told CNN. “Major donors are getting positions that affect policy.”
How did we get here? Fifteen years ago, in the Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission decision, the conservative wing of the Supreme Court exacerbated the role that money plays in politics by ruling that corporations and unions could spend unlimited amounts of money on political activities so long as they were done without coordinating with a party or candidate.
For the previous century, corporations had been banned from spending directly in U.S. elections, and individuals faced strict limits on how much they could contribute to campaigns. The Citizens United ruling overturned these long-standing protections, opening the floodgates to a proliferation of super political action committees and unlimited dark money spending on campaigns, giving wealthy donors and special interests outsize influence in Washington.
To be clear, Citizens United has allowed both parties to raise money from the billionaire class and large corporations. And Vice President Kamala Harris pulled in more total donations in the 2024 presidential race than her opponent did, more than 40% of which came from small donors. But Trump is elevating his donors to major positions within the federal government.
One prominent example: Trump implored energy executives to spend $1 billion to bankroll his campaign to remove burdensome environmental regulations, according to reporting by The Washington Post. He’s since backed the gutting of environmental protections and the revocation of Biden’s ban on offshore drilling, both of which will benefit Big Oil interests. Though the official figure donated from oil interests to his campaign, to the Republican National Committee and to affiliated groups was far lower ($75 million, according to The New York Times), we’ll never truly know how much Big Oil coughed up. Citizens United allows super PACs to take unlimited contributions from sources who aren’t required to disclose their donors.
What we do know is that Trump has named Chris Wright, an oil industry executive known for his skepticism about climate change, to run the Department of Energy. And he has selected North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, a darling of the fossil fuels industry, to run the Department of the Interior. If these men follow Trump’s mantra of “Drill, baby, drill,” their agencies are likely to prioritize drilling, deregulation and corporate profits over environmental protection and public health. Such changes would be likely to worsen air pollution, contaminate water supplies and risk natural disasters that wreak havoc on American families.
Then there’s Elon Musk. The world’s wealthiest person, Musk was the single largest donor in the 2024 election. The president-elect has named him to helm a new advisory commission with far-reaching sway over every aspect of government, and others who share his interest in deregulation are being nominated to top positions that directly affect his businesses. Brendan Carr, appointed by Trump to lead the Federal Communications Commission, has made clear his intentions to dismantle independent regulatory agencies. Trump also nominated Jared Isaacman, an investor in Musk’s SpaceX, to oversee NASA, giving him oversight of billions of dollars in government contracts for Musk companies SpaceX and Starlink.
Citizens United has given billionaires and special interests unprecedented power to influence elections, and in turn, influence our government. Over the last 15 years, Republicans have blocked efforts by Democrats to counteract this decision with genuine campaign finance reform. With Republicans now controlling a governing trifecta in the White House and both branches of Congress, the damage for the foreseeable future will be severe. But it doesn’t have to be permanent.
Breaking up this cycle of corruption starts with holding the GOP accountable and building momentum to elect leaders who will stand up to the special interests and for the people. We need congressional majorities that will pass reforms like the Freedom to Vote Act, which would end dark money and strengthen campaign finance laws. Ultimately, we must either pass a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United or confirm enough Supreme Court justices who will undo this disastrous decision once and for all. These reforms are essential to a healthy, open and accountable democracy.
We can’t ignore how we got here, and we can’t afford to accept this as the new normal. We must listen to the parting words of our 46th president. The American people deserve a government that works for them, not one auctioned off to the highest bidder. It’s time to fight back and restore power to where it rightfully belongs – with the people.
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Thanks for reading,
Tiffany
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