The latest wildfire devastation in California has ignited not just the forests but a wave of outrage over what many see as shameless opportunism by Democrats using the disaster as a fundraising tool. At the center of the storm is ActBlue, the Democratic Party’s controversial fundraising platform, which has been used to funnel "relief" donations—complete with a built-in cut for the organization and what some allege is a dark money agenda.
California Governor Gavin Newsom, already under fire for his handling of the wildfires, added fuel to the flames with his appearance on Pod Save America, a left-leaning podcast hosted by former Obama staffers. Instead of focusing on disaster response, Newsom made a fundraising pitch that directed listeners to ActBlue. Within hours, Senator Elizabeth Warren followed suit, posting a similar link that prominently displayed her campaign logo at the top of the donation page.
If you want to help those impacted by the California wildfires, please donate at https://t.co/QrPa8M4aRi https://t.co/fegP5tndlk
— Pod Save America (@PodSaveAmerica) January 11, 2025
The issue isn't just the optics—it’s the mechanics. ActBlue takes a 3.95% cut of every donation, and there’s no transparent accounting of how the remaining funds are distributed. Worse yet, critics argue that the platform’s use in this context may have less to do with helping wildfire victims and more to do with exploiting the disaster for political gain.
According to political strategists speaking to The DC Reporter, this isn’t merely a case of poor judgment—it’s a calculated maneuver to manipulate campaign finance rules. By running funds through a 501(c)(4) charity linked to ActBlue, Democrats can create what one veteran strategist called "dark money cap space," effectively freeing up other funds for undisclosed partisan spending. The strategy, described as "the most evil thing I’ve ever seen," uses charitable contributions to offset spending limits, enabling millions in untraceable donations to super PACs.
To help support the communities around L.A. being devastated by wildfires, can you split a donation between the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation and United Way of Greater Los Angeles? 100% of your donation will go directly to these organizations: https://t.co/EtgMfHrEtq
— Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) January 11, 2025
This is where the outrage peaks: not only are donations being skimmed and rerouted, but the supposed beneficiaries—organizations like the “Latino Community Foundation”—may not even be focused on wildfire relief. Critics argue that such groups are more aligned with partisan goals, such as open-border advocacy, than providing direct aid to those displaced by the fires.
The question on everyone’s mind is simple: Why funnel money through ActBlue at all? If the goal is genuine relief, why not direct donors straight to reputable charities or organizations with proven track records in disaster response? The answer seems to be as cynical as it is obvious. ActBlue’s involvement provides Democrats a way to build voter databases, bolster fundraising metrics, and potentially funnel funds into political campaigns—all under the guise of helping wildfire victims.
This is the group @jonfavs is bragging about routing money to through ActBlue.
The relief fund is a front for an open borders communist organization. https://t.co/WBHagNwbL6
— Oilfield Rando (@Oilfield_Rando) January 11, 2025
Attempts to get clarity from figures like Jon Favreau, one of the Pod Save America hosts, have been met with silence. The reasoning behind this convoluted system remains murky, but as the pieces come together, the pattern is hard to ignore. This isn’t about vetting charities or ensuring efficient aid. It’s about leveraging a crisis to further a political agenda.