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I've been running Follow the Crypto since 2024. Today I'm relaunching it as Tech Influence Watch, expanded to cover AI political spending alongside crypto. They’ve spent more than $400 million this election cycle, and now you can follow it in close to real time.

influence.citationneeded.news/

Here’s the full story behind the Tech Influence Watch launch, including what I found while building it and why it matters now: citationneeded.news/tech-influ…

#crypto #cryptocurrency #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #USpol #USpolitics #CitationNeededNewsletter


I’m launching Tech Influence Watch as AI follows crypto into politics

Most voters don’t know that crypto and AI companies have spent more than $400 million this cycle to buy Congress. Let’s make that spending visible.
Molly White (Citation Needed)
#ai #crypto #cryptocurrency #artificialintelligence #uspol #uspolitics #citationneedednewsletter

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in reply to Molly White

Molly White
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Molly White
• •

The crypto industry spent $130 million buying the 2024 elections. Over a dozen pro-crypto Congresspeople were installed, and regulatory destruction followed. Now AI is running the same play, with the same strategists and funders. Following only crypto would be telling half the story.

#crypto #cryptocurrency #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #USpol #USpolitics #CitationNeededNewsletter

#ai #crypto #cryptocurrency #artificialintelligence #uspol #uspolitics #citationneedednewsletter
in reply to Molly White

Molly White
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Molly White
• •

Crypto and AI companies have also poured $7 billion+ into Trump directly. Afterwards, 21+ SEC cases/investigations against crypto companies were dropped, regulators did a U-turn on crypto policy, and the industry was invited to write their own rules.

influence.citationneeded.news/…

#crypto #cryptocurrency #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #USpol #USpolitics #CitationNeededNewsletter

Featured Tracker Quid pro quo Besides their Congressional election spending, companies have poured billions into Trump and his family. Enforcement cases were dropped, investigations were closed, and industries were invited to write their own regulations. $7.4 billion+ to Trump & family by tracked entities United Arab Emirates $4.3B Advanced AI chips access, 15% stake in TikTok, ... Saudi Arabia $2B F-35 fighter jets agreement Justin Sun and Tron $232.7M SEC case settled, criminal investigation likely ended, ... Andreessen Horowitz $139.9M Four employees installed in White House positions View full tracker →

Quid pro quo | Tech Influence Watch

Companies are reaping the benefits of their contributions to Trump and other politicians.
Tech Influence Watch
#ai #crypto #cryptocurrency #artificialintelligence #uspol #uspolitics #citationneedednewsletter
in reply to Molly White

Molly White
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Molly White
• •

Most voters have no idea any of this is happening. These PACs run ads about jobs and immigration — never mentioning crypto or AI. 73% of voters disapprove of officials having crypto business ties, but 55% didn't even know Trump is personally involved in the industry (per CoinDesk).

But when voters do find out, the spending can backfire. In Illinois, candidates who called out the crypto money against them won their primaries despite being vastly outspent. Transparency is the only counter to this.

#crypto #cryptocurrency #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #USpol #USpolitics #CitationNeededNewsletter

Money involved in this election Raja Krishnamoorthi (D): Raised $31.4M ($57.8k from industry donors), $412k in outside spending to support ($30.2k from crypto PACs), $3.34M in outside spending to oppose Juliana Stratton (D): Raised $4.79M ($1k from industry donors), $9.07M in outside spending to support, $10.4M in outside spending to oppose ($9.99M from crypto PACs) Robin Kelly (D): Raised $3.47M ($2k from industry donors), $1.28M in outside spending to support ($285k from crypto PACs) Dick Durbin (D): Raised $2.38M Don Tracy (R): Raised $2.33M Jeannie Evans (R): Raised $1.28M Casey Chlebek (R): Raised $202k Spending by crypto- and AI-focused committees FairShake (crypto) Total spending $9,866,091 to oppose Juliana Stratton in the primary $9,866,091 Protect Progress (crypto) Total spending $434,834 to oppose Juliana Stratton in the primary $119,643 to support Raja Krishnamoorthi in the primary $30,183 to support Robin Kelly in the primary $285,008
Money involved in this election La Shawn Ford (D): Raised $653k, $2.48M in outside spending to oppose ($2.48M from crypto PACs) Anthony Driver Jr. (D): Raised $249k, $564k in outside spending to support Danny Davis (D): Raised $101k Kina Collins (D): Raised $54.9k Chad Koppie (R): Patricia Easley (R): Spending by crypto- and AI-focused committees FairShake (crypto) Total spending $2,475,780 to oppose La Shawn Ford in the primary $2,475,780
#ai #crypto #cryptocurrency #artificialintelligence #uspol #uspolitics #citationneedednewsletter
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