Activity tagged "AI lobby"

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PSA: It’s journalistic malpractice to quote a tech super PAC claiming a voter mandate because its candidates won “29 of 32” general election races without checking how many of those races were competitive.

(Pictured: Fairshake’s “victory”, where 81% of their money backed candidates who lost)

Bar chart showing that out of races that have been called, in competitive races where the Fairshake network spent, they won 1 out of 4 ($15.8M to winning races, $75M to losing), one still uncalled. In likely winners, 3 of 3 ($3.1M), some still uncalledd. In safe races, 25 of 25 ($6M), some still uncalled.

If you spend $200K each on ads that never mention crypto for 9 candidates who were guaranteed to win, and $64M on one competitive race which your candidate loses, you don’t get to claim your “90% win rate” proves Americans support your industry’s political goals.

Similarly, here’s the OpenAI- and Andreessen Horowitz-backed Leading the Future pro-AI super PAC network’s “20 of 21 races”.

Bar chart showing that out of races that have been called, in competitive races where the Leading the Future network spent, they won 0 out of 1 ($4.1M). In likely winners, 2 of 2 ($3.1M), some still uncalled. In safe races, 18 of 18 ($4.3M), some still uncalled.

Published an issue of Citation Needed:

Crypto and AI’s $250 million election goes sideways

Sherrod Brown gestures while speaking to a man in a military uniform

The industries’ biggest bets lost almost across the board.

Published an issue of Citation Needed:

A crypto and AI money guide to election night

Map of the United States titled “Crypto and AI’s $250 million election: Tech super PAC spending by race in the 2026 midterms,” from Citation Needed. Circles sized by spending mark each race, red for spending that helps Republicans and blue for spending that helps Democrats. Ohio’s red circle dwarfs every other race on the map. Smaller but still prominent circles include red ones in Nebraska, Alabama, South Carolina and Kentucky, and blue ones in New York City, Illinois, Maryland and Georgia. Most other races, scattered across the country, have small circles, with clusters of small blue circles in California. Data: Tech Influence Watch.

Where crypto and AI super PACs are spending, what their ads won’t talk about, and which races could embarrass them.

Published an issue of Citation Needed:

Issue 106 – A tremendous birthday present

The White House UFC octagon pictured from the top down, showing the logos on the floor of the ring from companies including Crypto.com, Polymarket, and Exodus Wallet.

The crypto industry spent the spring buying primaries, an octagon at the White House, and — they hope — a market-structure bill by the Fourth of July.

Published an issue of Citation Needed:

End Citizens United’s Tiffany Muller on fighting big money in politics

A photo of Tiffany Muller on a blue background, with the title “The fight to get big money out of politics with Tiffany Muller, President, End Citizens United”

Tiffany Muller talks to me about what Citizens United enabled, how crypto and AI fit into the bigger picture of money in politics, and what it would actually take to fix this broken system.

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