Earlier this year, I spent some time talking to rich Americans trying their luck running for Congress.
Such campaigns typically fail! Still, several self-funders I talked to insisted they could pull it off.
Now it’s time to track their progress, starting with… (1/🧵)
www.notus.org/2026-electio...
New: Political groups are still forfeiting money donated by Sam Bankman-Fried and FTX executives years after the crypto exchange’s collapse.
Democrats’ Senate Majority PAC alone is expected to return another $1 million in tainted funds.
www.notus.org/money/sam-ba...
Sam Bankman-Fried has been in the news a bit this week as he seeks a Trump pardon, but as @markalfred.bsky.social of @notus.com writes, a bunch of political committees continue to feel the pain from Bankman-Fried’s crimes here in the 2026 midterms. www.notus.org/money/sam-ba...
Alabama Republican Rodney Walker. The wealthy cattle rancher and oil businessman loaned his Senate campaign $1.8 million.
He did not advance to the runoff this week.
Walker came in fourth, netting 4% of the vote.
New: Devin Nunes has a staggering $14.5 million stockpiled in his old campaign account.
His lawyer says it’s “for a potential future election.”
Comes after federal regulators asked Nunes’ mom (his campaign treasurer) about the campaign cash.
www.notus.org/money/devin-...
Every election cycle, dozens of rich Americans spend millions trying to get themselves elected.
They have an abysmal track record — but the candidates I spoke to insist it’s worth it to try.
“This is God testing me, saying, ‘Put your money where your mouth is.’”
www.notus.org/2026-electio...
FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford held onto millions worth of stock in an airline company his agency regulates for his first seven months in the top job.
Before starting, he’d signed an ethics agreement promising to fully divest from the company within 90 days
www.notus.org/money/bryan-...
Scoop: The Treasury Department official leading the agency’s terrorist financing prevention efforts invested in oil & gas, nuclear energy and cybersecurity funds in the week preceding the Iran war
www.notus.org/money/treasu...
SCOOP: The Pentagon failed to warn ships carrying supplies for the US military before starting the war in Iran.
The ships got stuck in the Persian Gulf.
They’re still stuck. And for a month, they were stuck w/ a group of college students — merchant marine cadets.
FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford agreed to sell of his millions of dollars in airline stock within 90 days of his confirmation to government service.
As @markalfred.bsky.social of @notus.com reports, Bedford was quite tardy.
www.notus.org/money/bryan-...
