https://votedown.org Updates, opinion pieces, and campaign finance news from VoteDown.org — where activism hits Congress in the wallet. en-us Wed, 01 Jan 2025 14:00:00 EST Mon, 05 May 2025 08:57:12 EDT 60 https://votedown.org/news/story?id=63 VoteDown is a dream of an American Democracy where Congress actually listens to the people they represent. After so many years of Congress ignoring average American voices, having them kow tow to Dark Money Special Interests, while distracting the populace... Wed, 26 Jun 2024 12:43:35 EDT https://votedown.org/news/story?id=63 https://votedown.org/news/story?id=228 There’s a rising tide in the Democratic Party — and the establishment is hoping you don’t notice.Across the country, young, passionate progressives are stepping up to challenge long-time incumbents who may have good voting records but have lost touch... Mon, 05 May 2025 08:57:12 EDT https://votedown.org/news/story?id=228 https://votedown.org/news/story?id=226 In a brazen display of executive overreach, President Donald Trump has weaponized federal funding to punish cities, universities, and organizations that oppose his political agenda. From slashing billions in research and public health grants to coercing... Wed, 30 Apr 2025 09:46:51 EDT https://votedown.org/news/story?id=226 https://votedown.org/news/story?id=225 Outrage Grows Over Cowardly Silence as Tariffs Threaten RecessionAmerica is sleepwalking into economic disaster, and Congress is holding the door wide open.This week, the Trump Administration unilaterally imposed sweeping new tariffs—again. And once more,... Thu, 03 Apr 2025 09:35:58 EDT https://votedown.org/news/story?id=225 https://votedown.org/news/story?id=223 Like most of us, I’m furious - but not surprised - to see money in politics rear its ugly head again in the current tariff discussions with Mexico and Canada. The American public, by and large, hates this idea. Polls show upwards of 60% of citizens oppose... Thu, 13 Mar 2025 15:41:35 EDT https://votedown.org/news/story?id=223 https://votedown.org/news/story?id=217 It’s a tale as old as democracy itself, yet in 2025, the disparity between who Congress listens to—big donors or everyday citizens—feels more infuriating than ever. The numbers don’t lie, and they paint a grim picture: lawmakers are drowning in campaign... Thu, 06 Mar 2025 00:00:00 EST https://votedown.org/news/story?id=217 https://votedown.org/news/story?id=219 The 2024 congressional elections are over, but the stench of big money lingers, a noxious reminder that democracy is increasingly a game of wallets, not votes. It’s not just the campaigns, awash in billions from corporate PACs and megadonors, that reveal... Sat, 08 Mar 2025 00:00:00 EST https://votedown.org/news/story?id=219 https://votedown.org/news/story?id=216 In a brazen display of cowardice and disdain for the very people they claim to represent, Republican lawmakers are now shirking their fundamental duties by avoiding in-person town hall meetings. This reprehensible tactic is a transparent attempt to dodge... Tue, 04 Mar 2025 16:34:53 EST https://votedown.org/news/story?id=216 https://votedown.org/news/story?id=213 As of February 2025, a seismic controversy is shaking the halls of Congress, exposing the corrosive grip of political donations on our democracy. The pharmaceutical industry’s relentless campaign contributions are silencing lawmakers, blocking desperately... Thu, 27 Feb 2025 00:00:00 EST https://votedown.org/news/story?id=213 https://votedown.org/news/story?id=211 Trump’s Project 2025 is steamrolling education, and Congress is letting it happen—thanks to a flood of corporate cash. This week, Republicans in the House pushed a $5 billion tax credit for private schools, gutting public education funding. It’s straight... Mon, 24 Feb 2025 00:00:00 EST https://votedown.org/news/story?id=211 https://votedown.org/news/story?id=212 The swamp’s drowning in cash, and Congress is holding the hose. Trump and Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) are gunning to gut the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)—$40 billion in taxpayer funds for global good—without... Fri, 21 Feb 2025 00:00:00 EST https://votedown.org/news/story?id=212 https://votedown.org/news/story?id=133 Gun violence in America is an ongoing tragedy. Each new school shooting leaves a scar on our collective conscience, and yet, despite our growing outrage, the political machine continues to churn without substantive action. The recent shooting at Apalachee... Wed, 18 Sep 2024 16:22:33 EDT https://votedown.org/news/story?id=133 https://votedown.org/news/story?id=131 The recent article from Politico highlights the growing concern among Republican leaders in Congress about a significant fundraising gap between their party and Democrats as the 2024 elections approach. With Democrats far outpacing Republicans in grassroots... Tue, 03 Sep 2024 08:34:11 EDT https://votedown.org/news/story?id=131 https://votedown.org/news/story?id=129 In the relentless struggle to curb the corrupting influence of money in politics, the *No Gratuities for Governing Act of 2024* emerges as a critical battleground. This legislation, recently introduced by a bipartisan group of U.S. House members, aims... Thu, 29 Aug 2024 16:53:31 EDT https://votedown.org/news/story?id=129 https://votedown.org/news/story?id=111 In July 2024, Senator JD Vance made headlines for all the wrong reasons. During a speech, Vance referred to a significant portion of the electorate as "Childless Cat Ladies," a derogatory term that quickly sparked outrage across the political spectrum.... Sat, 24 Aug 2024 08:20:47 EDT https://votedown.org/news/story?id=111 https://votedown.org/news/story?id=115 Project 2025 seeks to replace career government experts with political appointees, targeting the so-called "deep state." This shift could lead to unqualified appointees in critical roles, such as entomologists in the Department of Agriculture or administrators... Sun, 25 Aug 2024 08:31:25 EDT https://votedown.org/news/story?id=115 https://votedown.org/news/story?id=93 Why Politicians Fear Dark MoneyIn the intricate dance of American politics, one player wields an almost unrivaled power: dark money. This untraceable flow of funds from powerful interests can make or break politicians, often subverting the democratic... Mon, 19 Aug 2024 16:49:14 EDT https://votedown.org/news/story?id=93 https://votedown.org/news/story?id=94 In today's politically charged climate, a significant gap exists between the will of the American people and the actions of Congress. This discrepancy raises questions about the influence of dark money in politics and its role in shaping legislative priorities.... Mon, 19 Aug 2024 16:49:36 EDT https://votedown.org/news/story?id=94 https://votedown.org/news/story?id=95 The core message around every election season is that we need to MOBILIZE MOBILIZE MOBILIZE, because we need to throw out the bums who are representing us and replace them with someone new. Then, someone new comes in, and, unsurprisingly, they prove to... Mon, 19 Aug 2024 16:50:23 EDT https://votedown.org/news/story?id=95 https://votedown.org/news/story?id=96 In the bustling corridors of social and political discussions, there's an echoing sentiment that seems to resonate louder each passing day. It's the perception held by a large swath of the American populace: the belief that their representatives in Congress... Mon, 19 Aug 2024 16:51:34 EDT https://votedown.org/news/story?id=96