Citizens United v. FEC

DeSantis-linked super PAC broke new ground in pushing campaign finance rules in Iowa in support of a 2nd-place finish

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, January 17, 2024

Never Back Down, the Ron DeSantis super PAC, played an outsized role in the Iowa caucuses campaign of the Florida governor.

Key Points: 
  • Never Back Down, the Ron DeSantis super PAC, played an outsized role in the Iowa caucuses campaign of the Florida governor.
  • The only limits currently imposed are that super PACs can’t contribute directly to federal candidates’ campaign funds, and they can’t coordinate with campaigns.
  • In the 2024 Iowa caucuses campaign, the DeSantis-backing super PAC staked out some new territory by largely funding the candidate’s ground game, recruiting and training organizers in Iowa and sending them out early to engage Iowa Republicans face-to-face.
  • And the super PAC touted that the candidate’s wife went door to door with Never Back Down canvassers.

Cal State Dominguez Hills, Winston Salem State University, and Cal State Pomona Lead Tenth Annual Social Mobility Index (SMI)

Retrieved on: 
Monday, December 18, 2023

CollegeNET, Inc. , a major provider of web-based on-demand technologies for higher education, today released the tenth annual Social Mobility Index (SMI) , led this year by #1 California State University Dominguez Hills.

Key Points: 
  • CollegeNET, Inc. , a major provider of web-based on-demand technologies for higher education, today released the tenth annual Social Mobility Index (SMI) , led this year by #1 California State University Dominguez Hills.
  • This year’s dramatic SMI moves by a handful of famous institutions now following the lead of social mobility bellwethers such as Cal State, SUNY, CUNY and Winston-Salem State, may help restore our public’s faith in higher education.
  • RIGGED explains how the long prevailing wealthist value system in U.S. higher education limits opportunity and upward mobility and thus undermines U.S. democracy.
  • RIGGED builds on the historical premise that growing economic imbalance ultimately leads to social unrest, political upheaval, and war.

CBMJ Completes Purchase of American Media Periscope, Creating a New Patriot Media Company

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, September 27, 2023

SCOTTSDALE, AZ, Sept. 27, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NewMediaWire - CBMJ Inc. Conservative Broadcast Media & Journalism (CBMJ) today announced that it has completed the purchase of American Media Periscope for $2.2M, solidifying the combination of two powerhouse “New Media” companies in the patriot media world.

Key Points: 
  • SCOTTSDALE, AZ, Sept. 27, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NewMediaWire - CBMJ Inc. Conservative Broadcast Media & Journalism (CBMJ) today announced that it has completed the purchase of American Media Periscope for $2.2M, solidifying the combination of two powerhouse “New Media” companies in the patriot media world.
  • CBMJ will issue a $2.0M non-interest bearing note payable over 4 years and issue 2.0M shares of Restricted Common stock.
  • Conservative Broadcast Media & Journalism is publicly traded under the symbol CBMJ.
  • Mark Schaftlein, CEO of both Conservative Broadcast Media & Journalism and Capital Consulting Inc., says, "We are delighted that we have closed the transaction and we welcome the opportunity to build a Patriot based media company.

CBMJ to Purchase American Media Periscope (AMPNews) Combining New Media Patriot Powerhouses

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, August 31, 2023

via NewMediaWire – CBMJ Inc. Conservative Broadcast Media & Journalism (OTC:CBMJ) today announced that it has agreed to purchase American Media Periscope ( AMPNews ) for $2.25 million dollars, solidifying the combination of two powerhouse “new media” companies in the patriot media world.

Key Points: 
  • via NewMediaWire – CBMJ Inc. Conservative Broadcast Media & Journalism (OTC:CBMJ) today announced that it has agreed to purchase American Media Periscope ( AMPNews ) for $2.25 million dollars, solidifying the combination of two powerhouse “new media” companies in the patriot media world.
  • With the asset purchase of AMPNews by CBMJ, Americans can invest in a publicly traded patriot media company for the first time.
  • "Conservative Broadcast Media Journalism (CBMJ) is acquiring conservative and Christian new media firms to build scale to compete with the massive publicly traded fake news conglomerates.
  • Edelkamp reacted to the merger by saying, "Get ready for something new that no one is doing in the patriot media space.

Progressives' embrace of Disney in battle with DeSantis over LGBTQ rights comes with risks

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, July 27, 2023

Ron DeSantis over LGBTQ rights and whether those rights should be acknowledged – let alone taught – in schools has spurred an unlikely alliance between progressives and one of the world’s biggest entertainment companies.

Key Points: 
  • Ron DeSantis over LGBTQ rights and whether those rights should be acknowledged – let alone taught – in schools has spurred an unlikely alliance between progressives and one of the world’s biggest entertainment companies.
  • Progressive groups such as The Human Rights Campaign have welcomed Disney to their cause, while progressive columnists at The Daily Beast and MSNBC have cheered Disney’s recent lawsuit against DeSantis.
  • Disney v. DeSantis raises questions of how advocates of free speech and democracy should approach a situation when a corporation joins their side.

Power to persuade

    • Corporations spend billions of dollars each year to lobby Congress and billions more lobbying state legislators.
    • They finance think tanks and foundations that promote their views and interests.
    • Progressives have blasted the decision for unleashing torrents of corporate cash that they say is corrupting the political system.
    • In the statement that caused trouble with DeSantis, Disney showed itself a reasonable partner for advocates of LGBTQ rights.

Politics and profits

    • Corporations’ loyalties tend to lie with profits and shareholders, and the political principles that companies embrace may get quickly discarded when profits are threatened.
    • The Vanguard Group’s retreat from the Net Zero Asset Managers initiative to reduce carbon emissions when it felt pressure from investors reveals this vulnerability.
    • But because corporations are market-oriented, they can be even more inconsistent allies than is usually the case with politicians, parties and interest groups.
    • Thus, conservatives were staggered to learn that Chick-fil-A, a reliable supporter of conservative causes, hired a vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion.

Diane Evans, "Legendary" Campaign Finance Consultant, Steps Down as Principal of Evans & Katz LLC, After 27 Years; Evans & Katz Relaunches as Katz Compliance

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, March 28, 2023

WASHINGTON, March 28, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- If you've worked in the progressive political arena over the last 30 years, you likely worked with Diane Evans and her firm, Evans & Katz LLC. Evans kept a low profile by design while her team processed and reported billions of campaign dollars for their clients and discreetly righted the ships of many a floundering political organization or campaign.

Key Points: 
  • Katz Compliance, formerly known as Evans & Katz LLC (E&K), announced today that E&K's founder, Diane Evans, is stepping down as Principal after 27 years in the intriguing and convoluted world of campaign finance.
  • Today, Katz Compliance, formerly known as Evans & Katz LLC (E&K), announced today that founder, Diane Evans, is stepping down as Principal after 27 years in the intriguing and convoluted world of campaign finance.
  • The company has relaunched as Katz Compliance to be led by compliance industry veteran Cassie Tinsmon, who previously served as the vice president of compliance and operations for E&K.
  • "For nearly three decades, Diane played a critical role in defining what a campaign finance consulting firm was capable of," said Cassie Tinsmon, President, Katz Compliance.

DeleteMe Relaunches 'What's My Vote Worth' Calculator Ahead of Midterm Elections

Retrieved on: 
Monday, October 31, 2022

Voters can input their age, ethnicity, state, party affiliation, and voter history into the calculator to determine the financial value of their vote and the approximate sum that advertisers spent targeting them this year.

Key Points: 
  • Voters can input their age, ethnicity, state, party affiliation, and voter history into the calculator to determine the financial value of their vote and the approximate sum that advertisers spent targeting them this year.
  • The calculator was first launched in the lead up to the 2020 presidential election, in which U.S. political campaigns spent over $7 billion on political advertising.
  • Two years later, spending has now surpassed $9 billion for the 2022 midterm elections.
  • It's absurd, and it's largely powered by an abundance of our private information available online," said DeleteMe CEO Rob Shavell.

End Citizens United // Let America Vote Releases 2022 State Democracy Scorecard

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, September 27, 2022

Very few states have taken action to address the corrupting influence of dark money, which has grown dramatically in the 12 years since the Citizens United decision.

Key Points: 
  • Very few states have taken action to address the corrupting influence of dark money, which has grown dramatically in the 12 years since the Citizens United decision.
  • End Citizens United // Let America Vote Action Fund is a leading anti-corruption and voting rights organization committed to getting big money out of politics and protecting the freedom to vote.
  • We work to end our rigged political system by electing democracy champions, passing meaningful legislative reforms, and elevating these issues in the national conversation.
  • We work in partnership with legislative champions and key allies to overturn the Supreme Courts Citizens United v. FEC decision, end the unlimited and undisclosed money in politics, and protect and expand the freedom to vote.

Supreme Court Case Challenging SEC’s Unlawful Admin. Proceedings Draws Strong Amicus Support

Retrieved on: 
Friday, July 8, 2022

Ms. Cochran requests that her case be heard before a real Article III federal court that is competent to decide the claims at issue.

Key Points: 
  • Ms. Cochran requests that her case be heard before a real Article III federal court that is competent to decide the claims at issue.
  • Ten briefs were filed in support of Ms. Cochran and against SECs deeply flawed administrative proceedings.
  • NCLAs lead counsel on the case, Senior Litigator Peggy Little, successfully argued it before the en banc Fifth Circuit.
  • Latham & Watkins partner Greg Garre, a former Solicitor General of the United States, is Counsel of Record at the U.S. Supreme Court.

Jamie McLeod-Skinner’s Victory Highlights The Power Of Running on Anti-Corruption

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, May 31, 2022

That anti-corporate PAC, anti-corruption message yet again proved to be salient with voters, especially against a sitting politician who took millions from corporate PACs and frequently sided with corporate special interests.

Key Points: 
  • That anti-corporate PAC, anti-corruption message yet again proved to be salient with voters, especially against a sitting politician who took millions from corporate PACs and frequently sided with corporate special interests.
  • That's why we are seeing this message resonante in districts across the country, from urban centers in swing states like Pittsburgh to rural districts in Oregon.
  • Many, if not all, of the ultra-MAGA Republicans who are running for Congress this cycle are backed or propped up by corporate money.
  • Democrats need to aggressively expose Republicans for consistently putting corporate special interests and their big donors above doing whats right for working Americans."