CHART OF THE WEEK: 24 states have asked Congress to propose a constitutional amendment restoring authority to limit election spending. SCOTUS decisions including Citizens United enabled unlimited outside spending. Oklahoma is the latest, per American Promise.
See how your political contributions compare to Elon Musk's.
Bar chart showing the 10 members of Congress who made the most stock transactions in 2025. Rep. Ro Khanna made the most (4,284).
CHART OF THE WEEK
At the #StateOfTheUnion, President Trump backed a bill to ban lawmakers and their families from buying stocks. Another bill would bar them from owning stocks at all.
Some members reported tens of millions in trade value in 2025.
Chart:
In the 2024 cycle just 18% of donations to House campaigns came from inside the district, while Senate candidates raised only 28% from in-state donors. www.opensecrets.org/news/reports...
Wordle gave me the finger today.
⬜⬜🟩⬜⬜
⬜⬜🟩⬜⬜
⬜⬜🟩⬜⬜
⬜🟩🟩⬜⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
If you are going to the @principlesfirst.bsky.social conference in Maryland this weekend, stop by the exhibition hall to learn how you can use @opensecrets.org to follow the money and hold those in power accountable.
Happy Valentine's Day!
Jon Voight outlived Paul Walker and James Van Der Beek.
OpenSecrets provides reporting and data critical to transparency and accountability. It's great to see our work used by the public.
“When you have control over sequencing and timing, you have a lot of power,” said Ray La Raja, a professor of political science at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
On @ms.now, @weeknightmsnow.bsky.social co-host @michaelsteele.bsky.social cited our data while discussing criticism of the Trump administration from GOP megadonor Ken Griffin. “Is the public interest being served?” he said, calling for renewed focus on ethics in public service.
Watch:
The Pitt
Democrats hold a fundraising edge in key Senate races, while Republicans lead in many competitive House contests. With narrow margins in both chambers, early money could shape who controls Congress after 2026.
🔗 Read more
www.opensecrets.org/news/2026/02...
NBC just played Homecoming King by @guster.bsky.social heading into a commercial of the Patriots-Chargers game. Nice Boston reference.
Know a good reporter who understands campaign finance? Send them my way because I'm hiring at @opensecrets.org. www.opensecrets.org/about/career...
Try one of the "ocean" dishes at Adolfo's on Frenchman Street and hang out at the jazz and blues clubs there. Way better than the madness of Bourbon Street.
“You are not entitled to a response from us, or anyone, ever,” is what a US Education Department spokesperson wrote to one of our reporters, @megomatz.bsky.social, after she repeatedly tried to get comment from the department and its officials. My column on the condemnation of good journalism.
After going to the Giants game today, I really needed this to lift my spirits. Thank you.
As the midterms near, the cost of running for Congress continues to climb, even in safe seats. Our reporting details how billions in campaign and outside spending are narrowing the field of who can run and whose voices carry weight.
Read more⬇️
www.opensecrets.org/news/2025/12...
Retiring Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene built one of Congress’ most prolific small-dollar fundraising operations, fueling independence from party leadership and PACs.
Our analysis looks at how that model shaped her clashes with party leaders. www.opensecrets.org/news/2025/12...
"OpenSecrets has been at the forefront of the transparency movement for more than four decades ... helping tie together what those donation dollars often yield in terms of government contracts or legislation," writes @pkcapitol.bsky.social @washingtonpost.com
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
I prefer this one.
Hey folks 👋 I'm the reporter who revealed immigration agents detained 170+ citizens this year
My fellowship w/ProPublica has been incredible, but it wraps January. I'm looking for my next gig. Please reach out to share leads & opportunities! nicolemfoy@gmail.com
www.propublica.org/people/nicol...
Movie you’ve watched more than six times with a gif. Hard mode: no Stars (Wars nor Trek), LOTR, or Marvel, Disney Animated or Pixar.
SCOOP: Bipartisan group of nearly 100 former legislators call for a ban to individual stock trades by current members of Congress.
Among them: Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle, House Majority Leader Dick Gephardt, Olympia Snowe and Fred Upton.
www.opensecrets.org/news/2025/12...
At OpenSecrets, we believe nonprofit news is a vital public service, just like public libraries or schools, and it deserves community-wide support.
Can we count on you to support nonprofit news on #GivingTuesday?
Donate today: action.opensecrets.org/a/donate
What do people say "amen" instead of "awomen"?
Because they read hymns, not hers.
You are absolutely right about the Bell parts. I read the book after watching the series and was fascinated by Bell, first for hating the telephone and the for racing to invent a metal detector.
Maybe the next project for the BadAss Grandmas for Democracy.
