Elon Musk & the Billionaire Bros?
Thank Citizens United.
Last month marked the 15th anniversary of Citizens United, the Supreme Court decision that
opened the floodgates of mega-donors, corporate funding, and dark money in politics. The phalanx of billionaires in the front row at Trump's inauguration, and Elon Musk's unprecedented power in the administration are the ultimate manifestation of this decision. Follow the money in the 2024 election:
A record $4.5 billion in outside spending was made in the 2024 elections, that's 800% more outside money than was spent in the last presidential election before Citizens United.
Two-thirds of the outside spending in the 2024 election came from groups that do not fully disclose the source of the funding.
Three donors provided $521 million to support Trump in the 2024 election, more than one-third of all the money raised.
More than $300 million was spent to support Trump’s campaign by wealthy donors who have since been appointed to various positions in the administration.
Elon Musk, the world's richest man, spent more than a quarter of a billion dollars to elect Trump. Now, he literally has the keys to the U.S. Treasury.
While the impact of big money was most glaring in the Trump campaign, both parties have courted mega-donors and leveraged dark money. In 2024 anonymous sources directed more than $1 billion, at a minimum, to independent political committees supporting candidates on both sides of the aisle. This explains in no small part why efforts to overturnCitizens Unitedhave been wholly unsuccessful over the last 15 years, despitepublic opinionopposing the decision and multiple attempts to enact a constitutional amendment limiting campaign contributions and requiring donor transparency. The 2024 election and its aftermath is a wake-up call --- it's time to act AGAIN!
Common Cause has renewed advocacy efforts in support of a constitutional amendment to restore limits on campaign donations and require donor disclosure, and passage of the Freedom to Vote Act and DISCLOSE Act. Learn more and sign the petition here.
Put your money where your vote is: check out Goods Unite Us, a handy app that can help you make purchase and investment decisions in line with your values, and advocate to companies about their political contributions and support. This won't stop dark money, but letting corporations know we are holding them accountable is a step in the right direction.
And, finally, pat yourself on the back if you voted in 2024 AGAINST Amendment 6 to repeal public financing for statewide campaigns. The amendment, which thankfully failed, was placed on the ballot by the FL Legislature to eliminate the state match for small-dollar campaign contributions, amplifying the influence of big-money donors.
Sign the Petition Now!
There is still time to sign and share this petition opposing action by the State Attorney's Office to drop charges in the attack at the Beaches Library early voting site. We are asking the office to reconsider its decision, and urging area legislators to explore legal remedies to protect citizens' safety and First Amendment rights at polling sites in the future. We plan to deliver the petition, which is nearing 500 signatures, to the State's Attorney and members of the Duval Delegation this week. Dropping charges sends a dangerous message that this type of threatening behavior is acceptable and will be tolerated at polling sites. Speak out against voter intimidation by signing and sharing the online petition!
Protest Demands Scott Uphold Constitution, Oppose
Dangerous Nominees
BAM members joined more than 50 protestors from Indivisible Mandarin, Indivisible Jacksonville Riverside, and other progressive groups as part of nationwide demonstrations last week. Our purpose: to hold U.S. Senator Rick Scott and other elected officials accountable for failing to uphold the Constitution, and to oppose dangerous nominees for top posts in the administration. Representatives were unsuccessful in getting a meeting with Scott's staff despite multiple attempts to contact his offices in both Jacksonville and DC. Watch coverage of the protest here.
Let's keep up the pressure! The volume of calls to congressional offices has burgeoned from a few dozen to more than 1,500 per minute in the last three weeks, crashing in-boxes. Contact FL Senators Rick Scott and Ashley Moody directly or through Nix the Noms. You can also connect to their offices through the Capitol switchboard: (202) 224-3121. Keep trying! They are counting messages and calls. If you need a boost to keep resisting, check out Sixteen Ways Trump Has Been Defeated, Blocked, or Forced to Back Down Since He Won the November Elections.
Rep. Nixon: Use Your Power at Home
How can we effectively advocate for the issues we care about with a GOP super-majority in the FL Legislature? Engage legislators and voters at home! That was the advice of FL Rep Angie Nixon in last week's preview of the 2025 session hosted by Jax NOW, BAM, and Indivisible Mandarin. The process starts at home, according to Nixon, that means showing up at politicians' events and demanding attention, writing op-eds, holding local press conferences, calling and meeting with lawmakers in their districts, and getting local voters to understand our power --- even with legislators who oppose our issues. Click here to view a recording of Nixon's presentation and find out more about upcoming events and advocacy opportunities highlighted on the call. Find more pre-session informational events here.
More Things To Do!
MLK Day Parade (rescheduled!) - Monday, February 17th 9 a.m. Everbank Field to Prime Osborne Convention Center. Join Duval DEMS, Moms Demand Action, Jax NOW, and other groups! Register with Duval DEMS here, or email Nancy Staats to join Jax NOW at the event.
Help Elect Josh Weil in District 6 - Check out these opportunities to support Josh Weil's campaign in the April 1 special congressional election. The district includes the southern part of St. Johns County.
About contributions - We have been asked about contributing to organizations that are fighting against Trump's overreach. We suggest checking out Oath, which offers a vetted, data-driven list of groups working to protect democracy. Oath takes no fees off the top and you can split your contribution among multiple organizations that rate as effective.
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