Let me tell you, as someone who tries to keep a finger on the pulse of what’s really happening behind the political curtain, Judd Legum’s Popular Information newsletter is a goldmine. I subscribed last year, mostly because I’m obsessed with tracing the tangled threads of misinformation, especially since 2016. Every time I dive into one of his columns, I find myself nodding along, impressed by the sheer depth of his research and the clarity of his writing. It’s like having a trusted guide through the murky waters of political spin.
Recently, one particular column practically jumped off my screen. It was titled, “A GOP dirty tricks operation, exposed,” and honestly, it felt like a bombshell. The subtitle alone – “Following the breadcrumbs from a ‘progressive’ super PAC to a powerful Republican operative” – was enough to hook me. It started with an introduction to a group called “Lead Left.” Now, when you hear a name like that, and they describe themselves as being against “MAGA extremists” and pushing back on agendas that undermine progress, it sounds pretty good, right? Who wouldn’t want to stand up to that? It feels like something the entire Democratic Party could rally behind. And for a moment, I admit, I thought, “Finally, some real action!” This PAC started spending big money, over $3 million, on Democratic primary candidates across the country since May 7th. On the surface, it all seemed to be heading in a fantastic direction for Democrats.
But here’s where the story takes a dark turn, the kind that makes your stomach clench. It turns out, “Lead Left” wasn’t channeling this money towards genuinely strong Democratic contenders. Instead, they were backing candidates with serious, glaring political liabilities. Take Maureen Galindo in Texas, for example. “Lead Left” poured a staggering $900,000 into her campaign. Galindo, a sex therapist, had made some truly shocking antisemitic comments online. She even Instagrammed about transforming ICE detention centers into a “prison for American Zionists” and a “castration processing center for pedophiles which will probably be most of the Zionists.” I mean, these aren’t just extreme; they’re abhorrent. What’s even crazier is that her own campaign had only managed to raise less than $11,000, with a good chunk of that coming from her own pockets. It was clear as day: “Lead Left” wasn’t trying to elect a Democrat; they were trying to set up a weak opponent who would be easy for Republicans to defeat in the general election. Thankfully, Galindo lost her primary, and a stronger Democratic candidate, Johnny Garcia, won. This means the Republicans now face a more formidable challenge in a district that was redrawn to be tough for Democrats, proving that sometimes, even the best-laid “dirty tricks” can backfire.
Legum’s team at Popular Information didn’t stop there. They dug deep, meticulously tracing the breadcrumbs to uncover the real mastermind behind “Lead Left.” And, perhaps unsurprisingly to those of us who follow these things closely, it led straight to a prominent Republican operative: Caleb Crosby. This guy isn’t just some low-level staffer; he’s the treasurer of the primary super PAC for the Republican House caucus. In other words, he’s deeply invested in getting more Republicans elected. The depth of Popular Information’s reporting on this is incredible, really getting into the granular details, so I highly recommend diving into the full Substack post if you want all the nitty-gritty. They also exposed another similar wolf in sheep’s clothing: a PAC called “Roosevelt Society Action.” Doesn’t that name just scream progress and Democratic values? You’d think so, right? But this PAC abruptly showed up and started spending hundreds of thousands of dollars attacking Democratic Senator Sheldon Whitehouse in Rhode Island. It’s truly a masterclass in deception, designed to mislead and manipulate voters.
All of this just underscores a crucial point that I find myself repeating constantly: Republicans are pulling out all the stops, using every trick in the book, to secure and maintain as many seats as possible come November. They are incredibly skilled at pushing disinformation, and they’ve been honing this craft for decades. It still boggles my mind when I hear people say that disinformation isn’t happening or that 2024 will be a perfectly “free and fair” election. That’s just not reality. We’re seeing it everywhere, from these elaborate PAC schemes to highly targeted ads designed to sway voters away from candidates like VP Harris, not to mention the ongoing efforts of voter suppression in Republican-led states. It’s a constant, insidious battle, and we all need to be vigilant.
So, here’s my plea, my human appeal: pay close attention. Scrutinize the ads that pop up in your feeds. Question what your friends are sharing online. Don’t just take things at face value. Be prepared to share the truth, to direct people to a candidate’s actual website, where they can find factual information directly from the source. The health of our democracy depends on an informed populace. This battle isn’t just for political operatives; it’s for all of us. And speaking of keeping important voices alive, it’s worth remembering that platforms like Daily Kos, where I’m writing this, rely on readers like us, not corporate giants, to stay afloat and continue exposing these critical truths. Our collective power truly matters, and staying informed is our first and most vital line of defense.