8 Lessons From the Midterm Elections
Progressive and leftist voters are always told we’re too extreme. The midterm results should quash that narrative.
209 Articles by: Andrew Perez
Andrew Perez is senior editor and a reporter at the Lever covering money and influence.
Leonard Leo’s Dark Money Against Consumer Protection
Leonard Leo, a Trump adviser behind the Supreme Court’s conservative supermajority, has long sought to shape policy through state attorney general offices. His dark money network is now working to bring a Republican attorney general to power in Iowa.
As the Fed Raises Interest Rates, People Will Lose Jobs and Democrats Will Lose Elections
The Federal Reserve has signaled that it will further raise interest rates this month, increasing the chances of a recession that will hurt average people. In response, most of the Democratic Party establishment are twiddling their thumbs.
Democrats Are Not Talking About the Economic Issues That Most Americans Care About
In the lead-up to the midterms, Americans’ number-one issue is the economy and the squeeze they’re feeling thanks to inflation. Republicans get this and are making that squeeze their top-line message. Why aren’t Democrats?
Ahead of an Abortion Rights State Ballot Measure, Anti-Choice Cash Is Flooding Michigan
Pro-choice groups are being outspent almost two to one in Michigan’s abortion rights ballot initiative. Yet polls show abortion rights proponents are far ahead anyway — suggesting that the Right’s antiabortion stance is not popular in much of the country.
A Congressman Openly Admitted to Corrupt, Revolving-Door Hiring During a Televised Hearing
How comfortable are sitting members of Congress with broadcasting brazen corruption to the world? Well, during a televised hearing, Indiana representative Trey Hollingsworth gushed thanks to Bank of America’s CEO for hiring his top aide.
Fossil Fuel–Backed “Clean Power” Advocates Are Greenwashing Democrats’ Pipeline Deal
A “clean power” group with ties to the fossil fuel industry is touting a new bill, backed by senators Chuck Schumer and Joe Manchin, that will accelerate oil and gas pipeline construction — and claiming it as a climate victory.
Democrats Can’t Stop Dark Money Without Ending the Filibuster
Today, Senate Democrats vote on the DISCLOSE Act, legislation that would force nonprofits spending on elections and judicial nominations to publicly name their donors. Lawmakers should pass this bill — but without ending the filibuster, they probably can’t.
How a Secretive Electronics Magnate Became a Libertarian “Attack Philanthropist”
Billionaire electronics magnate Barre Seid has secretly used his wealth to influence the lives of millions, funding climate denialism as well as a national network of state-level think tanks that promote business deregulation and fight Medicaid expansion.
The American Right’s Slush Fund Just Received a $1.6 Billion Infusion
A billionaire just gave the largest known donation to a political advocacy group in US history — to fund the architect of the Right’s Supreme Court takeover to carry out more right-wing attacks on democracy, workers, and the planet.
Dr Oz Wants to Privatize Medicare
The New Jersey TV doctor Dr Oz has made headlines for his bizarre recent Senate campaign videos. But his proposed scheme to privatize Medicare would hurt seniors while lining insurance companies’ pockets.
Joe Biden Promised a Public Option for Health Care. What Happened to It?
On the 2020 campaign trail, Joe Biden and much of the rest of his party promised to pursue a public option for health care. We haven’t heard a word about the public option since.
Democrats Have Delivered for Wall Street Yet Again
Democrats pretended they were cracking down on private equity moguls. The truth: Dems were actually protecting them — perhaps because private equity firms are major Democratic donors.
Joe Manchin’s Deal Does Not Mean the Fight for Democrats’ Agenda Is Over
Chuck Schumer and Joe Manchin have reached a deal for an energy, health care, and tax policy bill after Manchin has delayed and watered it down. But the exact details of the bill, as well as its passage, are still far from guaranteed.
To No One’s Surprise, Joe Manchin’s Former Top Aide Is Now a Corporate Lobbyist
After working as a top aide for Senator Joe Manchin, Jonathan Kott launched an anti–Bernie Sanders dark money group and now lobbies for oil giants, Big Pharma, and Fox News. His career is a perfect illustration of DC’s corrupt revolving-door culture.
This Chart Shows That Ending Pandemic Aid Created a Financial Disaster
New government data show that after the Biden administration terminated pandemic relief programs, millions more Americans began struggling to survive.
The Democrats Are Telling Voters That Roe v. Wade Is Still Intact
The Democratic National Committee is running ads in several states suggesting that the GOP is trying to overturn Roe v. Wade and pass a national abortion ban — bafflingly ignoring that Roe has already been reversed and many states already have abortion bans.
Dark Money Built the Supreme Court’s Radical Conservative Supermajority
A secretive, well-financed dark money network helped build the Supreme Court’s radical conservative supermajority and has been bankrolling its toxic caseload — all to create the appearance of broad-based support for extremist rulings.
Joe Manchin Is Ignoring the Health Care Crisis in His Own Backyard
Last year, corporate Democrat Joe Manchin blocked a plan to expand Medicare, arguing it would be too expensive. A free medical and dental clinic just a few miles from his home in West Virginia makes clear just how badly people need such care.
Even More Pension Money Is Headed to Wall Street
New York’s Democrat-controlled legislature passed a bill this week to funnel an additional $54 billion in public pension funds to high-risk private equity investments. It’s most likely an unwise financial strategy — and only Wall Street will benefit.