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Sludge @sludge.bsky.social · 1d

NEW: Following the bot army backlash, Israel ramps up propaganda with 3 US firms: $6M Gen Z campaign by Brad Parscale, "Esther Project" that pays influencers, and a VR "10/7 Experience" deployed at churches. readsludge.com/2025/10/06/i...

Israel’s New U.S. Influence Campaigns Target TikTok, Churches, and ChatGPT

In the wake of SKDK’s cancelled contract, three firms newly registered under FARA are executing influence operations in the U.S. for Israel.

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Sludge @sludge.bsky.social · 6d

NEW: Virginia AG Jason Miyares, deeply tied to the Leonard Leo network, has received $4 million+ from Leo-backed groups for his re-election. In 2023, he intervened to block a DC probe into Leo's nonprofits. readsludge.com/2025/10/02/t...

The Leo Network Behind Virginia’s Attorney General

Jason Miyares’ political rise is intertwined with Leonard Leo’s conservative machine, from shared consultants to millions in outside spending and a personal intervention to defend Leo during a D.C. in...

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Reposted by Sludge

Jane Mayer @janemayer.bsky.social · 11d

Chemical Industry set to gain more influence at EPA - MAHA should be Gaga readsludge.com/2025/09/26/l...

Lobbyist-Led EPA Office Set to Add a New Chemical Industry Hire

Longtime cleaning products lobbyist Douglas Troutman is nominated to lead the EPA office that has worked to stop the MAHA Commission from restricting toxic chemicals and pesticides.

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Sludge @sludge.bsky.social · 11d

The EPA office overseeing toxic chemicals and pesticides is run by three former chemical lobbyists, and is about to welcome a fourth as its new leader. Our latest:

Lobbyist-Led EPA Office Set to Add a New Chemical Industry Hire

Longtime cleaning products lobbyist Douglas Troutman is nominated to lead the EPA office that has worked to stop the MAHA Commission from restricting toxic chemicals and pesticides.

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Sludge @sludge.bsky.social · 11d

ByteDance will hold bigger-than-expected stakes in the new TikTok companies that will allow U.S. operations after national security concerns, per Reuters.

Months before the election last year, TikTok hired lobbying firm Ballard Partners, run by one of Trump's top campaign bundlers Brian Ballard.

Trump-Tied Ballard Partners Becomes the Highest-Paid Lobbying Firm in D.C.

The firm, which employed Attorney General Pam Bondi and other Trump administration officials as lobbyists, saw its lobbying revenue skyrocket by 300% year-over-year.

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Sludge @sludge.bsky.social · 13d

Big Tech sponsored trips for congressional staffers to Aspen, Silicon Valley, and other spots to hear about AI from their executives over August recess. Latest batch of travel disclosures for the House and Senate:

Congressional Staff Mingled With AI Giants Over Summer Break

House and Senate staffers were given sponsored trips over their August recess to attend conferences and company tours with Google, Meta, Palantir, and SpaceX.

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Sludge @sludge.bsky.social · 13d

House and Senate staffers were given sponsored trips over the August recess to attend conferences on AI policy and company tours with Google, Meta, Palantir, and SpaceX, according to travel disclosures.

Congressional Staff Mingled With AI Giants Over Summer Break

House and Senate staffers were given sponsored trips over their August recess to attend conferences and company tours with Google, Meta, Palantir, and SpaceX.

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Sludge @sludge.bsky.social · 15d

The two crypto groups scored a big win this year when Trump signed one of their priorities, the GENIUS Act.

The crypto industry overall is on pace for record lobbying spending, with Coinbase, Crypto-dot-com, and a16z each on track to surpass last year. See more:

readsludge.com/2025/07/23/c...

Top of table from Sludge article, "Crypto Industry Is Spending More on Lobbying Than Ever" (July 23, 2025) showing top three industry spenders: Coinbase and others

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Sludge @sludge.bsky.social · 15d

Blockchain Association CEO Summer Mersinger cheered the Trump executive order opening up 401(k)s to crypto in August, saying it "gives individuals more tools to build wealth responsibly..."

Crypto Council for Innovation CEO Ji Hun Kim also supported the policy that month.

screenshot of Wall Street Journal headline: Private Equity Worries That Trump Might Bundle Crypto Into 401(k) Order

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Sludge @sludge.bsky.social · 15d

Today, GOP members of the House Financial Services Committee sent a letter to SEC Chair Paul Atkins urging him to implement Trump's order allowing "alternative assets"—including crypto and private equity investments—in 401(k)s.

Access to retirement funds has been a crypto industry lobbying goal...

screenshot of HFSC signers letter to SEC Chair Atkins from Chair French Hill and others, dated 09-22-25

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Sludge @sludge.bsky.social · 16d

A satellite imaging company aims to map every inch of the globe on a daily basis, providing government clients with "near real-time analysis" and AI decision-making. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick oversees it after serving on its board, and with his family investment firm holding a large stake.

Lutnick’s Family Firm Holds Stake in China-Tied Satellogic

Cantor Fitzgerald is a key investor in satellite imagery company Satellogic, which is angling for U.S. defense and intelligence contracts as it works for a Chinese state-tied data company.

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Sludge @sludge.bsky.social · 18d

Cantor Fitzgerald is a major investor in Satellogic, a satellite contractor that aims to map every inch of the globe for near real-time analysis with AI. The company has longtime ties to China, from collaborating on technology projects with state-owned firms to startup investment from Tencent.

Lutnick’s Family Firm Holds Stake in China-Tied Satellogic

Cantor Fitzgerald is a key investor in satellite imagery company Satellogic, which is angling for U.S. defense and intelligence contracts as it works for a Chinese state-tied data company.

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Sludge @sludge.bsky.social · 18d

Howard Lutnick's family-owned firm is a key investor in Satellogic, a satellite imagery company whose new strategy is to bag U.S. defense and intelligence contracts—and which has long ties to China. Other partners include SpaceX and Palantir.

Lutnick’s Family Firm Holds Stake in China-Tied Satellogic

Cantor Fitzgerald is a key investor in satellite imagery company Satellogic, which is angling for U.S. defense and intelligence contracts as it works for a Chinese state-tied data company.

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Sludge @sludge.bsky.social · 18d

Cantor Fitzgerald, Howard Lutnick's family-owned firm, is a key investor in Satellogic, a satellite imagery company angling for U.S. defense and intelligence contracts—as it works for a Chinese state-tied data company.

Satellogic's partners also include Palantir and SpaceX. New investigation:

Lutnick’s Family Firm Holds Stake in China-Tied Satellogic

Cantor Fitzgerald is a key investor in satellite imagery company Satellogic, which is angling for U.S. defense and intelligence contracts as it works for a Chinese state-tied data company.

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Sludge @sludge.bsky.social · 21d

NEW: Democratic PR firm SKDK says it’s dropping its work with the Israeli government one day after Sludge reported it was under contract to build a social media bot program to “flood the zone” with pro-Israel messaging. readsludge.com/2025/09/17/f...

Following Sludge Report, SKDK Says It’s Dropping Its Israel Contract

The Democratic PR firm was under contract with Israel to build a social media bot program, but says it never worked on such a program.

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Sludge @sludge.bsky.social · 22d

NEW: Democratic firm SKDK has agreed to run a bot farm on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and other social media sites for the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs in order to "flood the zone" with pro-Israel messages.

readsludge.com/2025/09/15/d...

Democratic PR Firm to Run Bot Army for Israel

A new FARA document reveals SKDK's plan to "flood the zone" with social media bots as part of its $600,000 contract with Israel.

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Sludge @sludge.bsky.social · 22d

NEW: Children and niblings of Trump allies including RFK Jr., Chris LaCivita, and Susie Wiles are landing lucrative lobbying jobs, helping clients like Novo Nordisk and GEO Group secure wins from Trump's administration. readsludge.com/2025/09/15/t...

Trump Allies’ Children and Niblings Cash in on Lobbying Boom

The next generation of Trumpworld lobbyists are landing major clients and scoring policy wins.

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Reposted by Sludge

LittleSis @mapthepower.bsky.social · Sep 5

As ICE ramps up its attacks on immigrant workers and families, corporations and oligarchs are set to profit by supplying ICE with everything from surveillance tech and airline transportation to cloud services and bank financing. littlesis.org/news/the-bil...

The Billionaire Oligarchs and Corporations Profiting from ICE’s Deportation Machine - Little Sis

A primer on the billionaire barons and corporate profiteers enabling ICE's deportation apparatus

littlesis.org

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Sludge @sludge.bsky.social · 26d

Republicans denied votes on all Dem amendments, including ones that would have limited the Trump admin's use of the military domestically.

Many Dems voting for a $1T defense budget are in the conservative Blue Dog Coalition, self-described "fiscal hawks" who are staying silent on defense policy.

screengrab of the Blue Dog Coalition website, in the 119th Congress, showing two of the conservative Dem group's co-chairs, Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA) and Rep. Vicente Gonzalez (TX)

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Sludge @sludge.bsky.social · 26d

17 House Dems voted with Republicans to pass a trillion-dollar defense budget for FY26, a bill stuffed with "culture war" amendments.

The must-pass NDAA included GOP measures blocking gender transition care in the military, abortion care, diversity initiatives, clean energy programs, and more.

Blue Dog Democrats Vote for Trillion-Dollar Defense Budget

The Blue Dog Coalition, a group of self-described fiscal conservatives led by Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA), largely voted for the GOP-crafted bill pushing defense spending above $1 trillion.

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Sludge @sludge.bsky.social · 26d

17 House Dems voted with Republicans for the defense funding bill that will push defense spending above $1 trillion. Many of them are in the Blue Dog Coalition, who are self-described fiscal conservatives. The Pentagon has never passed an audit.

Blue Dog Democrats Vote for Trillion-Dollar Defense Budget

The Blue Dog Coalition, a group of self-described fiscal conservatives led by Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA), largely voted for the GOP-crafted bill pushing defense spending above $1 trillion.

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Sludge @sludge.bsky.social · 27d

California lawmakers must soon decide on two bills on PFAS, known as “forever chemicals," before the end of the legislative session. State lobbyists are getting paid by the petrochemical industry that opposes a ban on PFAS in consumer products—as well as by its supporters.

Lobbyists Cash In on Both Sides of PFAS Fight

California water ratepayers are funding lobbyists who simultaneously represent chemical companies that oppose PFAS regulation.

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Sludge @sludge.bsky.social · 29d

After Trump's election last year, contractors Palantir and GEO Group hired the lobbying firms of his campaign fundraisers. Now the companies' government revenue is soaring (Palantir's rising by half, GEO Group's doubling)—and the lobbyists are raking in record cash.

Trump-Tied Ballard Partners Becomes the Highest-Paid Lobbying Firm in D.C.

The firm, which employed Attorney General Pam Bondi and other Trump administration officials as lobbyists, saw its lobbying revenue skyrocket by 300% year-over-year.

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Sludge @sludge.bsky.social · 29d

Ballard Partners, where Bondi worked before her confirmation, has been lobbying the DOJ on behalf of clients like Walgreens, American Express—and Bondi's former lobbying client Amazon.

The DOJ has not disclosed to watchdog groups how it is handling Bondi's recusals on any "substantial" involvement.

Trump-Tied Ballard Partners Becomes the Highest-Paid Lobbying Firm in D.C.

The firm, which employed Attorney General Pam Bondi and other Trump administration officials as lobbyists, saw its lobbying revenue skyrocket by 300% year-over-year.

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Sludge @sludge.bsky.social · 29d

Bondi would be barred from participating in any DOJ matter that would potentially involve Ballard Partners clients, e.g.:

- Palantir
- TikTok
- UnitedHealth
- Ripple
- US Sugar
- Chevron
- Robinhood
- Trump-targeted law firms Kirkland & Ellis and Simpson, Thacher & Bartlett...

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