Meetings where a political party select its presidential and vice presidential candidates

As companies from Coca-Cola to Amazon to Citigroup appear to be tripping over one another to declare that they are “pausing” or “reassessing” donations to Republicans who sought to overturn the election — and, in some cases, suspending giving to both parties — they might want to look at a company that didn’t say anything. That company is IBM . It didn’t need to issue a mea culpa for a simple reason. It doesn’t donate to candidates on either side of the aisle — at all, ever. IBM is one of only a handful of large companies in the United States that are not involved in direct political giving to candidates. It has no political action committee. Even when it gives money to trade groups, it restricts its money from being funneled to candidates. It was a policy put in place more than a century ago by Thomas J. Watson, the founding father of the modern IBM. “We should not use IBM time, money or materials for political purposes,” Mr. Watson’s son, Thomas J. Watson Jr., … [Read more...] about ‘An Epiphany Moment’ for Corporate Political Donors May Have Arrived

Big businesses often donate to both political parties and say their support is tied to narrow issues of specific interest to their industries. That practice became increasingly fraught last week, after a pro-Trump mob stormed the Capitol and some Republican lawmakers tried to overturn Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s win in the presidential election. A flurry of companies have since reviewed political giving via their corporate political action committees: Morgan Stanley is suspending all PAC contributions to members of Congress who did not vote to certify the results of the Electoral College, a spokesman said. Marriott said it would pause donations from its PAC “to those who voted against certification of the election,” a spokeswoman told DealBook. She did not say how long the break would last or how the hotel chain would decide when to resume donations. The chemicals giant Dow said it was suspending all PAC contributions “to any member of Congress who voted to object to the … [Read more...] about Big companies pause their political contributions.

Tenggara Strategics (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta   ● Mon, February 6, 2023 2023-02-06 07:00 0 d5259e4d93052b0e76bee70b050a6e74 4 Academia the-brief Free Kaesang Pangarep, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s youngest son, is planning to embark on a political career, following in the footsteps of his father, older brother Gibran Rakabuming Raka and brother-in-law Bobby Nasution. With the revelation of Kaesang’s political ambitions, allegations into Jokowi’s attempt to build a political dynasty is once again in the spotlight. Kaesang is known for his range of businesses in the food and beverage (F&B) industry, with many established together with Gibran, such as Markobar, Chili Pari, Mangkokku and Sang Pisang, which remains Kaesang’s largest business to date. In addition, Kaesang is also listed as the coowner of football club Persis Solo along with State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) Minister Erick Thohir. Adding to his status as the President’s son, Kaesang also … [Read more...] about Analysis: Jokowi political dynasty: Kaesang hints at political ambitions

The donor network created by the billionaire industrialist brothers Charles G. and David H. Koch is preparing to get involved in the presidential primaries in 2024, with the aim of turning “the page on the past” in a thinly veiled rebuke of former President Donald J. Trump, according to an internal memo. The network, comprising an array of political and advocacy groups that have been backed by hundreds of ultrawealthy conservatives, has been among the most influential forces in American politics over the past 15 years, spending nearly $500 million supporting Republican candidates and conservative policies in the 2020 election cycle alone. But it has never before supported candidates in presidential primaries. The potential move against Mr. Trump could motivate donors to line up behind another prospective candidate. Thus far, only the former president has entered the race. The memo went out to the affiliated activists and donors after a weekend conference in Palm Springs, … [Read more...] about Taking Aim at Trump, Koch Network Will Back G.O.P. Primary Candidates

ARLINGTON, Va. — The rise of Donald J. Trump, with his hostility toward free trade and vow to protect entitlements, is a sharp rebuke to the free-market principles long championed by the billionaire brothers Charles G. and David H. Koch. But if the Koch brothers have lost the battle for conservative values in 2016, they are also quietly preparing for a long war. Their secret weapon is the Grassroots Leadership Academy: a training program dreamed up by the Americans for Prosperity Foundation, the political education arm of the Koch network, and intended to groom the next generation of conservative activists to shape the future of the Republican Party. Taking inspiration from icons of the left like Saul Alinsky, the Marxist-inspired Frankfurt School, and even President Obama’s Organizing for Action , the academy offers classes like “Messaging to the Middle” (about reaching not just the conservative base but also persuadable voters), community organizing and how to wage a … [Read more...] about With Koch Brothers Academy, Conservatives Settle In for Long War

MINOT, N.D. — Heidi Heitkamp, a Democratic Senate candidate, called Leonard Rademacher a few weeks ago looking for his vote, but Mr. Rademacher, a 74-year-old retiree, was feeling ill, so Ms. Heitkamp called him back. “I said: ‘Heidi, save your breath. I’m voting for you,’ ” Mr. Rademacher recalled, marveling at her personal attention. “I don’t necessarily agree with her, but I trust her.” Gary Volk backed Ms. Heitkamp, a former state attorney general, after she sat for four hours on a slab of concrete next to what was once his house, listening to his struggles to recover from catastrophic flooding last year. Larry Windus’s mind was made up by an encounter with her opponent, Representative Rick Berg, a Republican, that ended with the candidate turning his back on him. “He’s not very personable,” said Mr. Windus, 55, a dishwasher at Charlie’s Main Street Cafe here. Senate Republicans considered the state in their column when Senator Kent Conrad, a veteran Democrat, announced his … [Read more...] about ‘North Dakota Nice’ Plays Well in Senate Race

President Obama’s political team is fanning out across the country in pursuit of an ambitious goal: raising $50 million to convert his re-election campaign into a powerhouse national advocacy network, a sum that would rank the new group as one of Washington’s biggest lobbying operations. But the rebooted campaign, known as Organizing for Action , has plunged the president and his aides into a campaign finance limbo with few clear rules, ample potential for influence-peddling, and no real precedent in national politics. In private meetings and phone calls, Mr. Obama’s aides have made clear that the new organization will rely heavily on a small number of deep-pocketed donors, not unlike the “super PACs” whose influence on political campaigns Mr. Obama once deplored. At least half of the group’s budget will come from a select group of donors who will each contribute or raise $500,000 or more, according to donors and strategists involved in the effort. Unlike a presidential … [Read more...] about Obama’s Backers Seek Big Donors to Press Agenda

President Joe Biden is facing backlash from New Hampshire Democrats over his plan for the 2024 presidential primary. The Democratic National Committee (DNC) approved a new schedule for the primary on Saturday that would bump South Carolina, a traditionally conservative state, to the first race that would determine which candidate will be the party's presidential nominee. Democrats say the shift will empower Black voters, a substantial voting bloc for the party who dominate the southern state's Democratic Party . However, the new schedule would strip New Hampshire of its longtime "first in the nation" status , enraging local Democrats who pledged to fight the change. New Hampshire's federal delegation—comprised of Senator Jeanne Shaheen, Senator Maggie Hassan , Representative Annie Kuster, and Representative Chris Pappas, all Democrats—issued a joint statement blasting Biden's plan on Saturday. "No party committee gave New Hampshire the first-in-the-nation primary," … [Read more...] about Joe Biden’s primary plan will fail, Democrats in New Hampshire promise

Former President Donald Trump likes to boast about his endorsement record of political candidates—and with good reason. All 55 candidates that Trump has backed in Republican primaries have all either won or advanced to runoff elections. That streak will end eventually—you can't defy the law of averages and politics forever. However, his endorsement win-loss record is set to stay high, or even improve. Newsweek has analyzed Trump's political endorsements for 2018, 2020 and 2022, confining the data to Senate , House and gubernatorial races. Data was taken from Ballotpedia , the nonpartisan online political encyclopedia. Here's what was found: In 2018, Trump's overall endorsement success rate—whether the candidates he endorsed won office—was at best hit-and-miss. He was successful 56 percent of the time. But in 2020, his success rate jumped: Trump endorsees won 78 percent of the time, nearly 4 in 5 candidates. What changed? Trump started backing more candidates, partly due … [Read more...] about Trump’s Endorsement Record Is Improving: Here’s the Key to His Success

Follow our live coverage of Nancy Pelosi’s Taiwan visit . TAIPEI, Taiwan — In Washington, there has been anxious debate over whether Speaker Nancy Pelosi should risk the visit. In Beijing, there have been anger and threats . In Taiwan, where Ms. Pelosi landed late Tuesday, the new flare-up in tensions has been met with a subdued defiance. Politicians from Taiwan’s two main political parties have offered support for the trip, a sentiment echoed by many in the self-ruled democracy of more than 23 million people, which China claims as its own. While China released videos of planes and missiles flying to menacing music, one popular meme in Taiwan remade Ms. Pelosi as a powerful Taoist goddess. A Taiwanese politician wagered a chicken cutlet giveaway over her visit. Inured to living in one of the world’s most dangerous geopolitical flash points, Taiwanese people have largely taken the prospect of the visit in stride. That steely nonchalance belies a political reality that … [Read more...] about As Pelosi Arrives, Quiet Defiance in Taiwan