The AP and other sources are reporting that corrupt MAGA thug, chronic liar and criminal Elon Musk says he is going to cut back on political spending, presumably campaign and other "contributions."
There are at least two apparent issues. One is that djt has promised Musk huge payoffs and no more cash is needed. That is possible. The DoJ has already stopped investigations into Musk criminality. The payoff may already be paid.
The other is, thanks to our corrupt, authoritarian USSC, the dense opacity that now shields and defends bribery of both state and federal politicians.
I asked Pxy, Deep Research mode:
Q: Is there any reliable way to verify if Musk actually reduces his political spending? I thought that unlimited funds can now be donated in anonymity.A: Verifying this claim faces considerable challenges due to the complex landscape of campaign finance disclosure rules. While some donations remain transparent through mandatory reporting, significant pathways exist for anonymous political giving that could make itdifficultimpossible to fully track whether the world's wealthiest person or anyone else actually decreaseshistheir political spending. (corrections added for accuracy)Musk's political giving has seen a dramatic evolution. According to OpenSecrets data, prior to 2024, he had contributed over $1 million to political causes since 2002, splitting donations relatively evenly between Democrats and Republicans 18. However, in 2024, he redirected his financial influence dramatically toward Republican candidates, with his contributions exceeding $288 million according to a Washington Post analysis 2. This included funding America PAC, which raised $263 million to support Trump through voter outreach operations in key swing states 2.
.... long analysis ....
Shell Companies and Multiple Entities
Donations can be further obscured through shell companies or by passing through multiple entities. The Brennan Center notes that contributions to super PACs from shell companies and nonprofits that don't disclose their funding sources reached $1.3 billion during the 2024 election cycle—more than the previous two election cycles combined 1 2.
Conclusion
While Musk's directly disclosed donations can be monitored through FEC filings and services like OpenSecrets, there's no comprehensive way to verify his total political spending if he utilizes donation channels that don't require disclosure. The current campaign finance system allows unlimited funds to flow through dark money channels, making complete verification of his pledge practically impossible.
I think that Musk is an insulting, cynical liar. He will donate as much in secret as he believes will get an acceptable ROI. This is about business and profit, nothing else. The American federal government and state governments are now open to full-blown MAGA-style kleptocracy.