Connect the Dollars Project

06/09/2026

Most voters don’t know that crypto and AI companies have spent more than $400 million this cycle to buy Congress. Let’s make that spending visible. Share this post!

Tracking cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence industry influence on 2026 elections in the United States.

06/09/2026

06/09/2026

Larson and Bronin both say the other is bought and paid for. Here are the facts about their campaigns.

Larson and Bronin both say the other is bought and paid for. Here are the facts about their campaigns.

06/02/2026

Punchbowl News: “Something strange is happening in several crucial House Democratic primaries.”

“Mysterious super PACs are quietly emerging and spending heavily to boost candidates whom many top Democrats view as less formidable, or even toxic, in general elections. Three of these stealthy groups spent a collective $4.3 million so far in five primaries in Nebraska, Pennsylvania, California, Texas and New Jersey.”

“The source of these groups’ funding is obscured. That’s somewhat common in the post-Citizens United era of dark money. But what’s truly baffling is that it’s nearly impossible to tell who is behind these super PACs. And their operators are becoming incredibly skilled at covering their tracks.”

PRESENTED BY IN THIS EDITION Mystery PACs roil Democratic primaries Cornyn, Paxton brawl reaches finish line US forces hit Iran as peace talks continue

05/27/2026

Judging by more than 16,400 comments recently posted on a federal government website, you’d think there was a groundswell of older Americans demanding that federal officials hike payments to their Medicare Advantage health insurance plans.

Yet about 82% of the comments are identical to a letter that appeared on the website of a secretive advocacy group called Medicare Advantage Majority, a data analysis by KFF Health News has found.

The “dark money” group does not reveal its funders or much else — other than to say it is “dedicated to protecting and strengthening Medicare Advantage” and is “powered by hundreds of thousands of local advocates nationwide.”

https://ctnewsjunkie.com/2026/03/16/medicare-advantage-dark-money-group-attempts-to-win-higher-payments-for-insurance-companies/?

Medicare Advantage insurers say a proposal by the Trump administration to keep their payments nearly flat next year may lead to service cuts that harm seniors struggling to afford health care. A decision is due by early next month.

05/04/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1bTJefpep8/?mibextid=wwXIfr

04/23/2026

"I’m talking about basic betrayals of public office, trust, and confidence-in-leadership that are the table stakes of good government.​" Garrett Graff

Swirling scandals—from the Pentagon to DHS to the IRS to the Labor Department—that represent basic betrayals of public office, trust, and confidence-in-leadership that should be the table stakes of good government.

04/23/2026

"I’m talking about basic betrayals of public office, trust, and confidence-in-leadership that are the table stakes of good government." Garrett Graff

04/20/2026

Tom Swan, executive director and a lobbyist for the Connecticut Citizen Action Group, argued that two industries stand out in terms of influence.

“There’s absolutely no doubt that the utilities and the health care industries have way too much power at the State Capitol,” Swan said, asserting that Connecticut citizens pay higher health care costs and utility costs because of the sway those monopolistic industries hold.

Do the companies or groups that spend the most have an outsized influence in Hartford?

04/17/2026

https://ctmirror.org/2026/04/16/larson-bronin-in-a-tight-battle-for-campaign-donations/

Some of the biggest contributors to candidates for CT's 1st Congressional District were state legislators, PACs and Hollywood.