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Tipsheet

Newsom, Other Democrats Solicit Funds for ActBlue

AP Photo/Matt Slocum

Since the fires hit California this month, and even before with his petty dismissal of Donald Trump, Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom has been particularly terrible when it comes to handling the situation. Not only has he been ranting about Trump and supposed "disinformation" and "misinformation," he thought it would be fitting to prioritize appearing on "Pod Save America," co-hosted by former aides of former President Barack Obama. As if the move to go on such a far-left podcast wasn't bad enough, the episode was used as a way to solicit donations for ActBlue, a Democratic platform. 

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The link in question, directing to an ActBlue website, mentions the charities of Latino Community Foundation, Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation, United Way of Greater Los Angeles, and California Community Foundation Wildfire Relief Fund, which are supposedly vetted. 

That partisans like former Obama aides are the ones supposedly doing the vetting doesn't offer much comfort. At least one such group, the Latino Community Foundation, is also problematic with its claim from last month about how "immigrant families face unprecedented threats." 

California is particularly tolerable of illegal immigration, and is even a sanctuary state.

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Beyond how Newsom's appearance on the program and his overall response to the disaster have not been a good look, there are further problems with the governor and "Pod Save America" soliciting donations through such a platform. ActBlue has been wracked with some serious fraud allegations.

Last October, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton raised concerns about "suspicious donations" made through ActBlue, specifically when it comes to "suspicious actors" using the platform to make "straw political donations." As his office pointed out, "it appears that straw donations are systematically being made using false identities, through untraceable payment methods."

The situation gets particularly shady when it comes to how ActBlue admitted to Congress last month that as recently as September, they were still accepting foreign gift card donations.

Also last month, The Daily Signal's Tony Kinnett covered concerns with such donations in an episode of "The Tony Kinnett Cast," with that episode from December 13 dedicated to discussing "Democrat Donor Network CAUGHT Using Foreign Money."


Just as Newsom hasn't taken too kindly to people daring to question his poor response to the fires and other related decisions, neither have the Democratic co-hosts of the podcast. 

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Bonchie, from our sister site of RedState, who also wrote about ActBlue donations on Sunday, was responding to a post from co-host Jon Favreau saying "f**k you" to Jeff Blehar for daring to take notice of how those who wish to donate have to give their emails.

Still, another co-host, Jon Lovett, whined about "lies by rightwing a**holes" and shared that very same link as one shared by the Pod Save America account above, urging people to "see for yourself and donate now..."

Getting so touchy and cursing at people when soliciting donations tend to not resonate well.

Newsom isn't the only Democratic politician to solicit donations for the platform Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) begged for donations through ActBlue, claiming "100% of your donation will go directly to these organizations."

At least in Warren's case, there's added context from Community Notes about ActBlue, which may soon find its way to posts from others, including Newsom, the Pod Save America account, and co-hosts. 

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Tellingly, the context points out that ActBlue takes out "3.95% of all transactions," linking to ActBlue's own website on pricing as a source. One can also donate to those organizations directly, rendering ActBlue's role moot. 

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