Jim Acosta & Theodore Schleifer Podcast Episode · Fast Politics with Molly Jong-Fast · April 4 · 46m

Come for @jimacosta.bsky.social stay for @teddyschleifer.bsky.social

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/f...

Wealthy Donors Are Hiding Political Money in Secretive Nonprofits

In 2024, 40%+ of the nearly $2B raised by the largest Dem super PACs came from entities that did not disclose their donors — twice the rate of undisclosed donations to the largest GOP super PACs, per a @nytimes.com analysis.

@teddyschleifer.bsky.social & @datab.ae on Dems’ embrace of gray money.

Crypto Industry Targets Al Green, a Texas Democrat Who Voiced Concerns

NEWS: The crypto super PACs are going after Rep. Al Green, first big Dem target of 2026 cycle.

From @teddyschleifer.bsky.social and me www.nytimes.com/2026/02/12/u...

Meta Begins $65 Million Election Push to Advance A.I. Agenda

NEWS:

Meta is about to start a $65 million midterms push — its biggest political effort in its 20 years in business.

Meta is standing up two super PACs that this week will drop money in races in Texas and Illinois to push A.I.

www.nytimes.com/2026/02/18/t...

The Richest 2026 Players: A.I., Crypto, Pro-Israel Groups and Trump All have amassed enormous war chests, new filings show, making them the financial wild cards of this year’s midterm elections and feared political spenders.

Our #plutocracy at work: Entering election year 2026, Donald Trump has his worst presidential polling #s — and his biggest-ever campaign war chest. His super PAC opened 2026 with $304 million in cash. @teddyschleifer.bsky.social

Brin Gives $20 Million to California Political Group After Leaving State

NEWS:

Sergey Brin is making a $20 MILLION donation in California politics, his most significant and visible political investment ever.

The Google co-founder is going to play in the 2026 midterms. Comes just after he left California over its wealth tax.

www.nytimes.com/2026/01/28/u...

NEWS:

Bernie Marcus, just before his death in 2024, made a $100 million donation to a new dark-money organization.

The check went to a new 501(c)4 group called Forward America Inc.

The Republican mega-donor will have influence long after his death.

Trump Picks a Jet-Setting Pal of Elon Musk to Go Get Greenland (Published 2025)

It's an interesting time to be Trump's pick as Ambassador to Denmark.

My profile of Ken Howery, the Elon friend that Trump asked to go get Greenland.

www.nytimes.com/2025/01/16/u...

Nearly $900 Million Flowed in Secret to Help Harris and Trump in 2024

More than $500 million of secret money donations to the leading nonprofit that helped Harris/Biden in 2024 came from just 10 donations.

One contribution was $97.5 million. Donor unknown.

@teddyschleifer.bsky.social has the tax filings —> www.nytimes.com/2025/12/17/u...

"It is largely going towards Musk's own projects."

@teddyschleifer.bsky.social and @stephruhle.bsky.social talk about how Elon Musk's charitable foundation uses its money on the #Nightcap.

Fears About A.I. Prompt Talks of Super PACs to Rein In the Industry

SCOOP —

A new super PAC is afoot, funded by some people in the AI industry, to challenge the first super PAC from Andreessen Horowitz and OpenAI executives.

$50 million is being raised, likely from Anthropic execs and AI safety advocates, to fight back.

www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/u...

ok, send me your Tokyo / Kyoto / Osaka / Hiroshima restaurant recs

NEW:

Here come the big Democratic and Republican donors in the California redistricting fight.

Lots of inside-the-room details on the $200 million campaign from billionaires.

www.nytimes.com/2025/09/03/u...

Gates Foundation Quietly Cuts Ties With Firm Linked to Democrats

SCOOP from @teddyschleifer.bsky.social:

The Gates Foundation has decided to stop funding Arabella Advisors-managed nonprofits that are a major hub of Democratic dark money -- & an increasing subject of scrutiny from Trump allies.

Best place to stay for October hiking in Japan?

Matsumoto
Hakuba
Nagano
Takayama
Kamikochi

Advice please!

Larry Ellison Wants to Do Good, Do Research and Make a Profit

For all the Elon Musk coverage, it's kinda shocking how little scrutiny there is of the world's *second* richest person.

Larry Ellison is spending hundreds of millions of dollars on for-profit companies that he is calling his new charitable project.

www.nytimes.com/2025/08/12/b...

Forget DOGE. Musk Is Suddenly All In on AI Podcast Episode · Elon, Inc. · 07/15/2025 · 35m

What's it like to cover Elon Musk?

I spoke to my good friend and tremendous reporter @teddyschleifer.bsky.social for our Elon Inc. podcast about how he's covering the world's richest man

Teddy's covers Musk as closely as anyone - great perspective!

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/f...

Elon Musk Consulted Curtis Yarvin, Right-Wing Thinker, on Third Party

NEWS:

Elon Musk 🤝 Curtis Yarvin

The billionaire and right-wing thinker spoke late last week about Musk's third-party push, per sources briefed.

www.nytimes.com/2025/07/09/u...

Liberal Fund-Raising Drive Seeks $250 Million to Aid Pushback Against Trump

NEW exclusive from NYT:

Liberal Fund-Raising Drive Seeks $250 Million to Aid Pushback Against Trump

A group of progressive funders are quietly preparing a big-money effort to protest Trump's attacks on democratic values.

www.nytimes.com/2025/07/08/u...

It’s Hard to Create a Third Party, Even for Elon Musk

NEW:

Some people who are friends with Mr. Musk’s Republican advisers privately worry about those advisers’ career prospects should they attach themselves to an anti-Trump effort.

The White House is watching.

www.nytimes.com/2025/07/07/u...

Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan Narrow CZI’s Focus to Science Efforts The tech titan and his wife once had sprawling ambitions for their Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. Now their efforts in politics, education and housing have been cut back to focus on science.

Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan once pledged to fix American education, transform U.S. public policy and “cure all disease.” But now their aims have downsized, jarring some allies of their philanthropy.

Vance Keeps Aggressive Summer Fund-Raising Schedule for G.O.P.

JD Vance's upcoming fundraising schedule —

July 7: San Diego

July 22: Nantucket

July 29: Jackson Hole

www.nytimes.com/2025/07/01/u...

The Narrowing of Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan’s Philanthropy

In 2015, Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan wrote a beautiful letter to their new daughter, Max.

It was the foundational document for the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative.

One problem: Five paragraphs of their letter disappeared until we told them last week.

www.nytimes.com/2025/06/28/t...

Doing a big 🇯🇵 Japan 🇯🇵 trip later this year. Everything is on the table.

Please send recs!

Here's a fun thing that a top donor to Andrew Cuomo's super PAC just told me.

The Clintons and Kamala Harris Descend on a Hamptons Wedding of Liberal Royalty

This morning, we have the world's most important scoop in The New York Times.

The guest list for the Huma Abedin / Alex Soros wedding

www.nytimes.com/2025/06/14/u...

Musk Spoke to Trump Privately Before Posting Message of ‘Regret’ It remains to be seen how Mr. Trump will handle the attempted rapprochement and whether the two men’s relationship can be restored.

NEWS:

Elon Musk and Donald Trump very privately spoke on Monday night.

Musk called Trump, and that led to Musk's post overnight that he had "regrets."

Scoop from us

www.nytimes.com/2025/06/11/u...

Who Will Replace Elon Musk as the Leader of DOGE? Joe Gebbia, a close friend of Mr. Musk’s, is expected to be a part of a small council of advisers that will oversee the Department of Government Efficiency.

Can Anyone Replace Elon Musk? www.nytimes.com/2025/06/10/u...

Can Anyone Replace Elon Musk? Joe Gebbia, a close friend of Mr. Musk’s, is expected to be a part of a small council of advisers that will oversee the Department of Government Efficiency.

Scoop: Even after Musk's public feud with Trump, his allies are poised to take over DOGE. Joe Gebbia, co-founder of Airbnb and board member of Tesla, and Anthony Armstrong, a former Morgan Stanley banker who worked on the Twitter deal, are in talks to lead the initiative nytimes.com/2025/06/10/u...

Can Anyone Replace Elon Musk? Joe Gebbia, a close friend of Mr. Musk’s, is expected to be a part of a small council of advisers that will oversee the Department of Government Efficiency.

NEWS:

Who is taking over for Elon Musk?

The billionaire Joe Gebbia?

The banker Anthony Armstrong?

Gebbia and Armstrong are likely on a small council of DOGE officials who oversee Musk's signature project, per sources.

With @kateconger.com + Nick Nehamas.

www.nytimes.com/2025/06/10/u...