#political-donations

#political-donations

As we wrap up 2025, we're looking at the year's biggest winners: the people, companies, products and trends that made the most impact over the year. Almost at the top of the pile, of course, are the tech billionaires. According to a recent report by Oxfam, the 10 richest US billionaires (who are all tech leaders, save for Warren Buffet) increased their wealth by $698 billion in 2025. Some of that has been spent treating and lavishing donations on President Trump.

We had to go in and clean up the mess for them, and this is part of the continued cleanup. A lot of money has been transferred from the individuals who committed this fraud, including those who donated to the governor, donated to representative Omar and to AG Ellison. They have been transferred to something called MBSs these are Money Bureau Services, and they are wire transfer organizations that are outside the regulated banking system.

His comments at a New York Times finance summit underscored the governor's balancing act with the tech industry, even as his relationship with its major businesses has been strained by Trump this year. Though he has excoriated law firms and universities for selling out to Trump administration demands this year even threatening to pull state funding from California universities that sign certain agreements with the president Newsom has walked a finer line when it comes to tech.

The move marks a significant shift for Bamford, who has donated over £9 million to the Conservatives and was one of Boris Johnson's key financial backers, even hosting the former prime minister's wedding celebration. Bamford, a long-time Brexit supporter who helped bankroll the Vote Leave campaign, has not previously donated to Farage's party. However, his company sponsored Reform UK's annual conference in September and has featured prominently in Farage's campaign events.

systemic weaknesses

Companies that have recently donated to Labour were awarded contracts worth almost 138m during the party's first year in government, according to new research that raises fresh concerns about the relationship between political donations and public spending. A report by the thinktank Autonomy Institute has identified more than 100 companies that have given money to political parties and then won government contracts, under both Conservative and Labour administrations.

Adam Bonica analyzed the age of donors across different groups and politicians.

Energy Transfer LP and its CEO, Kelcy Warren, were the fossil fuel industry's top contributors to a super PAC supporting President Donald Trump during the first half of 2025, contributing $25 million.

Peter Thiel made his first political contribution in two and a half years, giving $852,200 to House Speaker Mike Johnson's joint fundraising committee, with most funds going to various GOP campaigns.

The fundraiser at Bob Reynolds' Nantucket home raised about $3 million for the GOP ahead of the 2026 midterms, with tickets starting at $100,000.

A new study by the nonprofit Center for Policy Equity, based at Yale University, undercuts BART's claims about how fare evasion impacted its revenues, and suggests that new fare gates aren't going to make BART more profitable or more safe.