A Dark Money Group Is Funding High-Profile Democratic Influencers
12 days ago
- #political-influencers
- #media-strategy
- #dark-money
- Democratic influencers were offered $8,000 per month to join Chorus, a secretive program funded by The Sixteen Thirty Fund, aimed at bolstering Democratic messaging online.
- The contract required secrecy about payments and restricted the type of political content creators could produce, leading to debates among influencers.
- Influencers, including prominent figures like Eliza Orlins and Laurenzo, discussed collective bargaining but ultimately accepted the terms due to limited negotiation power.
- The program mandates that creators cannot disclose their involvement or funding sources, raising ethical concerns about transparency in political messaging.
- Chorus aims to build progressive media infrastructure, offering advocacy training and messaging support, but critics argue it creates a middleman for independent media.
- The Sixteen Thirty Fund, a major Democratic dark money group, has spent hundreds of millions on progressive causes, with minimal donor transparency.
- Some creators, like Keith Edwards, criticized the program as 'predatory,' while others, like Chesko, saw it as an opportunity for access to resources.
- Republicans have a more established independent media ecosystem, while Democrats struggle to adapt to digital influence, relying on outdated strategies.
- Ethical concerns were raised about the program's secrecy and restrictions, with experts questioning whether matching opponents' tactics is justified.
- The controversy highlights the Democratic Party's challenges in navigating the new media landscape and engaging effectively with digital creators.