This Week at CMD

Last week, the Center for Media and Democracy (CMD) obtained the latest tax records from DonorsTrust, a popular funding vehicle of GOP megadonors such as Charles Koch and Robert Mercer, and exposed its funding of advocacy groups, media outlets, extremists, climate deniers, and other tax-exempt organizations that make up America’s right-wing infrastructure.

Most shocking was DonorsTrust’s continued funding of white nationalist hate groups. Last year, the fund bankrolled one of the most notorious white nationalist organizations, American Renaissance, after sending a massive $1.5 million to the equally infamous VARE Foundation the year before. DonorsTrust is the biggest known funder of white nationalist hate in the United States, our research has found.

We continue to cover the American Legislative Exchange Council’s voter suppression operation and the COP-26 climate talks. Plus, we’ve got new stories about Koch Industries' solar energy contradictions and about the funding behind the secretive Council for National Policy.

Here's the latest!

 

The Latest From CMD 

 

DonorsTrust Gives $600k Donation to White Nationalist Hate Group

DonorsTrust, “the dark-money ATM of the conservative movement,” gave an unprecedented $600,000 to infamous white nationalist Jared Taylor’s American Renaissance in 2020.

 

“Dark Money ATM” Pumped Over $137 Million into Right-Wing Groups in 2020

Spurred by $158 million from one secret donor, DonorsTrust and Donors Capital Fund pumped a record amount of money into right-wing campaigns to remake the Supreme Court, spread election and climate disinformation, and support extremists last year.

This Coming Tuesday is GIVING TUESDAY!

A Day of Generosity Dedicated to Bettering Our Communities and Our World

Between the ongoing pandemic, the Jan. 6 insurrection, and the nonstop assaults on our voting rights, this has been a very challenging year. 

But rest assured that CMD is fighting tirelessly to counter the forces of dark money and disinformation seeking to distort our democracy and block climate progress, racial justice, and affordable health care.

So this year, on Giving Tuesday (or at any time up to #GivingTuesday, if you prefer!), please support our award-winning investigations by giving all you can!

Together we can make a difference!

 Thank you!
 

If you'd like to send us a check, please mail it to:

Center for Media and Democracy
P.O. Box 259010
Madison, WI 53725-9010

 

Koch Joins Solar Industry Association While Fighting Solar Expansion

Koch Industries, one of the nation’s largest carbon emitters, plans solar developments and joins a solar industry lobbying group, but it funds groups that continue their fight against residential and commercial solar.

ALEC “Academy” Featured a Who’s Who of Voter Suppression Leaders

While the July 26-28 session was ostensibly led by the dark money group Honest Elections Project, it was organized, hosted, and bankrolled by ALEC, despite repeated claims by its CEO, Lisa Nelson, that the group does not work on voting issues.

Revealed: Council for National Policy 40th Anniversary Funders

A mix of high-powered lawyers, pastors, and corporate leaders funded the Council for National Policy’s 40th Anniversary celebration in May.

Dispatches from the COP26 Climate Talks in Glasgow

Alex Carlin reports about his observations at the United Nations climate conference.

CMD Around the Web

 

CMD Research Director David Armiak appeared on Madison, Wisconsin’s WORT FM to discuss the Right’s obsession with critical race theory.

Senior Investigative Reporter Alex Kotch spoke on the Maine Challenge video program about how the Big Lie of mass voter fraud originated, was financed, and spread.

  • The Intercept: House Coronavirus Committee Launches Investigation Into Organizations Pushing Hydroxychloroquine, Ivermectin.
  • Media Matters: House committee to investigate ivermectin racket pushed by two fixtures of right-wing media.
  • The Daily Beast (written by U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse): How Russian Hackers Helped Expose the Right-Wing Dark Money Corrupting Our Courts.
  • The Daily Beast: The GOP Dark Money Group Giving Big to White Supremacists.
  • Byline Times: The Fantasy of War: The Far Right & the Military.

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) credited CMD's dark money research in his latest speech on right-wing "Amicus Flotillas."

 

Thank you for supporting the Center for Media and Democracy and reading our work at Exposed by CMD.

Wishing you all a happy and safe Thanksgiving!

Arn H. Pearson
Executive Director
 

CMD is a 501(c)(3) national watchdog and media group that conducts in-depth investigations into corruption and the undue influence of corporations on media and democracy. Our work is regularly cited by news outlets, policymakers, and grassroots activists working to build a more sustainable future and just society. CMD is reader-supported. Please make your tax-deductible donation today. Thank you!

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Center for Media and Democracy
P.O. Box 259010  | Madison, Wisconsin 53725-9010
608-260-9713 | editor@prwatch.org

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