Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

David Meyers @david.opensecrets.org · 5d

Are you ready for some football ... mixed with politics

OpenSecrets.org @opensecrets.org · 5d

A new report by OpenSecrets shows the NFL and team owners have funneled millions into campaigns and committees as well as lobbying efforts, money that shapes policy far from the field. www.opensecrets.org/news/2025/10...

Blitzing Washington: How the NFL and team owners spend millions to influence government - OpenSecrets News

Ahead of the start of its 106th season, the National Football League saw an astonishing 710 percent increase in value…

www.opensecrets.org

David Meyers @david.opensecrets.org · 8d

How is it possible that every decision Aaron Boone makes is the wrong one?

1

David Meyers @david.opensecrets.org · 9d

What say you, @drewmagary.bsky.social?

The New York Times @nytimes.com · 9d

Mayonnaise is perhaps the most polarizing condiment humanity has yet to whip up. But love it or hate it, it’s an undeniable culinary marvel. We tested 25 jars of mayonnaise to find the best. nyti.ms/3VEdQuh

Small containers of different kinds of mayonnaise. Headline: The Best Mayonnaise

David Meyers @david.opensecrets.org · 18d

Good point.

1

David Meyers @david.opensecrets.org · 18d

How was this not acceptable? Haven't you seen the dodgeball training video?

9 58

David Meyers @david.opensecrets.org · 20d

I wrote about the bills that would change some of the rules governing political fundraising and other aspects of money in politics. Few have even double-digit cosponsors and none have seen any action in either chamber. Thank you to @aaronscherb.bsky.social for providing the data.

OpenSecrets.org @opensecrets.org · 20d

Members of the House and Senate have introduced more than 20 bills this year that would affect some aspect of the role money plays in the political system, but few — if any — have a chance of becoming law. www.opensecrets.org/news/2025/09...

Nearly two dozen money-in-politics bills are floating around Congress - OpenSecrets News

Members of the House and Senate have introduced more than 20 bills this year that would affect some aspect of…

www.opensecrets.org

Reposted by David Meyers

Dave Levinthal @davelevinthal.com · 27d

UPDATE: Following publication of this article, the 2024 financial disclosure for Rep. Troy Nehls (R-Texas) appeared in the U.S. House's disclosure database.

HOWEVER: It did not include publishing and financial details for either of two books Nehls has written, which federal ethics law requires.

1 8 12

David Meyers @david.opensecrets.org · 29d

"Critics shouldn’t all be cranky white guys." Agreed. But I still read reviews by @sonnybunch.bsky.social.

Drew Magary @drewmagary.bsky.social · 29d

FUNBAG!!! defector.com/the-critic-c...

The Critic Counts | Defector

Time for your weekly edition of the Defector Funbag. Got something on your mind? Email the Funbag. You can also read Drew over at SFGATE, and buy Drew’s books while you’re at it. Today, we’re talking ...

defector.com

1

Reposted by David Meyers

OpenSecrets.org @opensecrets.org · Sep 4

1/6 Don't suffer from money-in-politics FOMO. Here's the data OpenSecrets users have been using the most over the past seven days.

1 2 6

David Meyers @david.opensecrets.org · Sep 2

I'm heading to the @journalists.org #ONA25 conference in New Orleans next week. If you will there and want to learn more about how to use @opensecrets.org data in your reporting - or just want to catch up - drop me a line so we can make plans to connect.

Reposted by David Meyers

OpenSecrets.org @opensecrets.org · Aug 14

🧵President Donald Trump may not be eligible to seek another term, but his political organizations spent the first half of 2025 refilling their coffers with the midterm elections looming, to the tune of nearly $240 million.

1 4 9

David Meyers @david.opensecrets.org · Aug 13

A group in Montana thinks the way to get corporate money out of elections is too redefine corporate privileges.

OpenSecrets.org @opensecrets.org · Aug 13

First Maine, now Montana.

Activists in Big Sky Country are pushing a ballot measure proposal that would ban corporate political spending and dark money, taking direct aim at #CitizensUnited.

www.opensecrets.org/news/2025/08...

Fifteen years after Citizens United, the Montana Plan poses the latest challenge to dark money - OpenSecrets News

Voters in Montana will have the opportunity this fall to ban corporate political spending and dark money in federal, state…

www.opensecrets.org

David Meyers @david.opensecrets.org · Aug 7

I love being part of this team.

OpenSecrets.org @opensecrets.org · Aug 7

OpenSecrets is one of the top 25 nonprofit news sites in the United States, surpassing over 1 million visitors in June 2025, according to @niemanlab.org.

Nonprofit news sites are built to generate impact — but these are also generating audiences

In markets large and small, these nonprofit news organizations are achieving traffic numbers that many commercial outlets would envy. Here's our first monthly ranking of the top 25 nonprofit news site...

www.niemanlab.org

Reposted by David Meyers

OpenSecrets.org @opensecrets.org · Aug 5

Last year, Kansas City Chiefs star kicker Harrison Butker launched a political action committee to boost conservative candidates. It has raise very little money and none of it has been spent to support candidates. www.opensecrets.org/news/2025/08...

NFL kicker Harrison Butker’s political committee is nearly broke - OpenSecrets News

Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker, a staunch supporter of Republicans including President Donald Trump, launched a federal political action…

www.opensecrets.org

1 5 11

David Meyers @david.opensecrets.org · Jul 29

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt's 2022 congressional campaign committee owes donors and vendors over $300,000 but didn't raise any money to pay down that debt last month. www.opensecrets.org/news/2025/07...

Karoline Leavitt’s 2022 campaign committee still owes $323,000 - OpenSecrets News

President Donald Trump’s White House press secretary has a money problem that won’t go away. As spring turned to summer,…

www.opensecrets.org

Reposted by David Meyers

OpenSecrets.org @opensecrets.org · Jul 28

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt ran for Congress in 2022. Her campaign committee owes more than $300K to donors and vendors, but did not raise any money last quarter to pay down that debt. www.opensecrets.org/news/2025/07...

Karoline Leavitt’s 2022 campaign committee still owes $323,000 - OpenSecrets News

President Donald Trump’s White House press secretary has a money problem that won’t go away. As spring turned to summer,…

www.opensecrets.org

12 20

David Meyers @david.opensecrets.org · Jul 26

He talked about how Jews should should feel love for Israel but also recognize that our values teach us to help the people of Gaza.

1

David Meyers @david.opensecrets.org · Jul 26

Our rabbi gave an excellent sermon about it last night.

Reposted by David Meyers

OpenSecrets.org @opensecrets.org · Jul 23

The numbers for January-June political fundraising are in, and we've tallied them up to see which House and Senate candidates raised the most money, and who has the most in the bank. More data at: www.opensecrets.org/news/2025/07...

1 2 6

Reposted by David Meyers

OpenSecrets.org @opensecrets.org · Jul 18

Someone swiped a paper check from Speaker Mike Johnson's campaign committee and used it to steal $10,000. www.opensecrets.org/news/2025/07...

$10,000 stolen from Speaker Mike Johnson’s campaign committee - OpenSecrets News

Speaker Mike Johnson is celebrating massive cuts to foreign aid programs and public media that he successfully navigated through the…

www.opensecrets.org

3 7 23

David Meyers @david.opensecrets.org · Jul 16

We are hiring at @opensecrets.org! If you are interested in working with and analyzing large datasets - and you care about government transparency and accountability - apply now to join our research team. www.opensecrets.org/about/jobs?1

Jobs

www.opensecrets.org

40 46

David Meyers @david.opensecrets.org · Jul 16

"To work at Roll Call, to read Roll Call and to love Roll Call is to state plainly that Congress matters, that in-depth coverage of the community and impact of Capitol Hill matters, and that journalism’s persistence through one of the most trying times in our nation’s history matters." Well said.

Meredith Shiner @meredithshiner.com · Jul 16

extremely honored to be among the (way more prestigious than me) alumni asked to write for @rollcall.com’s 70th anniversary and took the opportunity to reflect on how continuing to love Roll Call, even as journalism and Congress collapses, is among the most defiant things we can do.

rollcall.com

1 2

Reposted by David Meyers

OpenSecrets.org @opensecrets.org · Jul 7

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, among the most powerful House Democrats, was 14 months late disclosing a stock transaction worth up to $15,000. This is the fourth time she has violated #STOCKAct requirements on personal trades.
www.opensecrets.org/news/2025/07...

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz violates STOCK Act for fourth time - OpenSecrets News

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.), one of the more powerful Democrats in the House of Representatives, has violated a federal…

www.opensecrets.org

1 4 17

David Meyers @david.opensecrets.org · Jul 2

The Supreme Court is going to consider lifting the caps on coordinated spending by political parties, a move that might shift some money away from super PACs. @OpenSecrets offered a preliminary look at what could happen. www.opensecrets.org/news/2025/07...

With election spending rules under review, our mission stays firm - OpenSecrets News

On Monday, the Supreme Court announced it will consider arguments to lift restrictions on how much money political parties may…

www.opensecrets.org

David Meyers @david.opensecrets.org · Jun 26

Sorry, but darts' first superstar was clearly this guy.