Current Affairs The Dark Money Behind “Progressive” Influencers (w/ Taylor Lorenz & John Ross)
Sep 6, 2025
In this riveting discussion, Taylor Lorenz, a technology journalist and author of Extremely Online, delves into her investigation of dark money networks like the 1630 Fund that secretly underwrite Democratic influencers. She highlights the ethical dilemmas of influencer marketing in politics, the suppression of critical narratives, and the Democratic Party's reliance on social media for messaging. The conversation also critiques the lack of transparency around funding sources and calls for greater accountability in journalism and political discourse.
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Chorus Linked To Dark-Money Fund
- Chorus operated as a nonprofit front for an influencer program tied to the 1630 Fund, a liberal dark-money group.
- Taylor Lorenz found contracts showing Chorus described itself as a project of the 1630 Fund and ran paid messaging sessions for creators.
Secrecy And Control In Creator Contracts
- Contracts required creators to keep the funder secret and route public disclosures through Chorus first.
- Agreements also restricted criticism among program members and funneled bookings through Chorus' newsroom.
Opaque Donors Drive Hidden Agendas
- Dark-money groups raise and funnel large sums while hiding donor identities, so we often cannot trace who funds political influence programs.
- Lorenz highlights a $50 million gift to the 1630 Fund whose donor and agenda remain undisclosed.
