The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for April 23, 2025

A parade of well-known brands and CEOs lavished a post-election tribute of $239 million dollars to the Trump-Vance Inaugural Committee,  according to a new filing with the Federal Election Commission.  What was it used for?  Voters will likely never know.

Let’s start with the $5 million dollar donation by Pilgrim’s Pride, one of the world’s largest meat processors and subsidiary of a Brazilian company.  Cryptocurrency company Ripple gave almost $4.9 million, followed by billionaire investment banker Warren Stephens.  Stephens’ contributions to the inaugural and another $4 million to two Trump Super PACs likely earned him the nomination to be ambassador to the UK. 

In the latest FEC report, 61 donors gave  $1 million dollars or more.  Manufacturers included Toyota, Tyson, Boeing, and Nvidia.  Unsurprisingly, fossil fuel companies like Occidental, ExxonMobil and Chevron were on the list, as were pharmaceutical companies Merck, Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer and trade association PhRMA.  The transportation sector included United Airlines, Fedex, Uber and Delta.   McDonalds, Target, Verizon, Comcast and Amazon each gave $1 million as well.   

Federal Election Commission detail report:

What do donors get for their money?  Apple CEO Tim Cooke, who donated a million, got a tariff exception for Apple’s Chinese made products.  And where does that money go?  Federal law does not require disclosure of expenses for inaugural committees.

See the list of donors at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

American Democracy Minute – What are the Rules as to How Contributions to Inaugural Committee Funds Are Spent?  There Aren’t Any.
Federal Election Commission – Schedule 13-A Summary for the Trump-Vance Inaugural Committee
Trump-Vance Inaugural Committee (via FEC) – Submitted Records
Federal Election Commission – Itemized Donations
Open Secrets – Warren Stephens donations in the 2023-24 Election Cycle
Yahoo Finance – Chicken, crypto, and Nvidia: The companies that helped Trump’s inauguration shatter fundraising records

CNBC – Apple regains $3 trillion market cap after Trump exempts tariffs on iPhones
Groups Taking Action:

Common Cause, Public Citizen,  C.R.E.W., Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State

Please follow us on Facebook and Bluesky Social, and SHARE! 

Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

Want ADM sent to your email?  Sign up here!

Are you a radio station?  Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network’s Audioport and PRX

#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #DonaldTrump #InauguralFund #MoneyinPolitics #Corruption

The post 61 Individual and Corporate Donors Gave $1M or More to Trump’s Inaugural.  Where did the $239M Go?  We’ll Likely Never Know. appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Jan. 16, 2025

Today’s Script

(Variations occur with audio due to editing for time. Today’s Links below the script)

Our recent reporting explored the massive contributions to Donald Trump’s inaugural fund, reportedly reaching $170 Million dollars.  What are the rules as to how that money is spent?  The short answer is, there aren’t any.

The Federal Election Commissions allows private donations to support inaugural activities.  This year, that’s a parade, a rally, two luncheons, a tea, three dinners, three inaugural balls, and fireworks at Trump’s Sterling golf club.  The FEC requires reporting of donations over $200 dollars, but sets no limits or dictates how it’s used. Of the known inaugural donors, crypto platform Ripple has contributed the most, at $5 Million dollars. 

Taxpayers foot some of the bill, including security for the inauguration itself.  Let’s say that the Trump inauguration has 12 events, and they cost an astronomical $2 million dollars each – a whopping $24 Million dollars.  That leaves $146 Million left.  When the inauguration is over, will we know how the leftover money will be used? 

We won’t.  While a Trump campaign source told the New York Times some would be used for Trump’s Presidential library, there are no rules dictating how that money is used.  

The Inaugural Fund Integrity Act is expected to be re-introduced in Congress in January, which would set a limit of $50,000, require immediate disclosure of contributions over $1000, and ban corporate and SuperPAC donations.   But the legislation STILL doesn’t require disclosure of how that extra money gets spent.   

Find more at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl. 

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

Yahoo Finance – (2017) Here’s how much an inauguration costs, and who pays for it

Congressional Research Service – (2013) The Presidential Inauguration: Basic Facts and
Information
Federal Election Commission – Funding inaugural committee activities
CBS News –  (2014) How much do state dinners cost? They ain’t cheap
Spectrum News – Trump’s second inauguration celebration will last four days. Here’s the schedule
National Archives – Federal Code § 104.21 Reporting by inaugural committees.
Public Citizen – Billionaires, Millionaires and Lobbyists Cozy Up to Trump by Flooding the Inauguration with Record-Breaking Donations
Public Citizen – Contribution Tracker: Corporations and Billionaires Funnel Millions Into Trump Inauguration Committee
U.S. Congress – H.R.6312 – Inaugural Fund Integrity Act

Groups Taking Action:
Common Cause, Public Citizen,  C.R.E.W., Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State

Please follow us on Facebook and Bluesky Social, and SHARE! 

Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

Want ADM sent to your email?  Sign up here!

Are you a radio station?  Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network’s Audioport and PRX

#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #TrumpInauguration #Inauguration #PoliticalCorruption #EndCitizensUnited

The post What are the Rules as to How Contributions to Inaugural Committee Funds Are Spent?  There Aren’t Any. appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Jan. 15, 2025

Today’s Script

(Variations occur with audio due to editing for time. Today’s Links below the script)

Donald Trump’s inaugural committee has received $170 Million dollars in contributions, and it’s expected to reach $200 Million – almost double his 2017 total.  

Yes, the contributions pay for the inaugural balls, but inaugural funds are also a vehicle for corporate “pay to play” contributions, currying favor for federal contracts, lenient legislation, or access to the President. 

The Associated Press reported January 9th that the totals were far beyond President Trump’s $107 Million in 2017, and President Biden’s $62 Million in 2021.  

The Federal Election Commission oversees inaugural contributions, and any donation of $200 or more must be reported  – but 90 days after the contribution is made and long after the spotlight is gone.   There are no individual or corporate contribution limits, and only foreign nationals are barred from donating.  

Among the known 2024 inaugural donors, Amazon, Meta, Open AI Toyota, Ford General Motors and Boeing all made public statements when they donated $1 Million each.  Banking, pharmaceutical, and communications companies contributed seven figures, according to the Wall Street Journal. 

Energy company Chevron said in a statement to Reuters, “Chevron has a long tradition of celebrating democracy by supporting the inaugural committees of both parties.”  Or perhaps, they’re sending a message to someone.

We have more on the pay-to-play history of inaugurations at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

Federal Election Commission – Funding inaugural committee activities
National Archives – Federal Code § 104.21 Reporting by inaugural committees.
CNN/AP – Trump’s inaugural committee has already raised a record $170 million in donations
Federal Election Commission – Inaugural committee reporting

Open Secrets – First Trump Administration: 2017 Inauguration Donors
Courthouse News – (2017) Trump Inaugural Committee Reported to FEC for Violations
Open Secrets – (2019) –  Shining a light on inaugural committees
Open Secrets – (2019) – Companies that funded Trump’s inauguration came up big in 2017

Groups Taking Action:

Common Cause, Public Citizen,  C.R.E.W.

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State

Please follow us on Facebook and Bluesky Social, and SHARE! 

Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

Want ADM sent to your email?  Sign up here!

Are you a radio station?  Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network’s Audioport and PRX

#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #TrumpInauguration #PaytoPlay #CorporateInfluence

The post Donations to Trump’s Inauguration May Reach $200M, Funding the Parade, Inaugural Balls  . . . and Pay-to-Play Influence appeared first on American Democracy Minute.