Gavin Newsom And Elizabeth Warren Caught Using California Wildfire Relief Donations To Fundraise For Democrats
In the wake of the devastating Los Angeles wildfires, Governor Gavin Newsom and Senator Elizabeth Warren have come under scrutiny for their deceptive fundraising methods.
On January 12, 2025, reports emerged that Warren, along with California Governor Gavin Newsom, directed supporters to donate to wildfire relief efforts through ActBlue, a Democratic fundraising platform. This approach diverts a portion of every donation away from direct relief and directly to Democrat officials and candidates.
ActBlue, while facilitating contributions to various causes, charges a 3.95% processing fee on each donation. Additionally, donors are also subscribed to future communications from Democrat political action committees. Obviously, this deceptive practice caused intense backlash as many people pointed out how unethical it is to use a partisan platform for disaster relief fundraising.
Eventually, a community note explaining the deception was added to Warren's post on X. “This is a blatant exploitation of a crisis,” wrote one person. “People think they’re helping victims, but they’re actually funding a political agenda," added another.
While these devastating wildfires ravage communities, this move is a sad reminder of how politicians exploit crises to consolidate power and advance their agendas under the guise of aid. This is a pattern in modern Democrat politics: leveraging fear and tragedy to further enrich and empower the political class. We saw another striking example of this during the COVID-19 pandemic, when public fear was weaponized to enact sweeping policies that increased government control while failing to deliver meaningful solutions.
These politicians promised safety and security in exchange for liberty. Meanwhile, businesses shuttered, livelihoods were destroyed, and government spending ballooned without accountability. Just like the pandemic, the California wildfires offer an opportunity for opportunistic politicians to exploit a tragedy. The donation link was framed as a way to support victims, yet the funds flow through an entity with a clear political interest. Donors who believed they were aiding immediate disaster relief instead contributed to a political machine.
The failure to recognize this pattern allows it to continue. The political class not only enriches itself but also expands its influence, all at the expense of the people they claim to represent.
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