NEW —
Tech billionaires are plotting sweeping, secret plans to boost Joe Biden.
We go inside the worlds of Reid Hoffman, Eric Schmidt, Laurene Powell Jobs and Dustin Moskovitz, who are spending their millions to oust Trump.
Exclusive details here —>
vox.com/recode/2020/5/…
Tech billionaires are plotting sweeping, secret plans to boost Joe Biden.
We go inside the worlds of Reid Hoffman, Eric Schmidt, Laurene Powell Jobs and Dustin Moskovitz, who are spending their millions to oust Trump.
Exclusive details here —>
vox.com/recode/2020/5/…
Reid Hoffman could spend $100 million this cycle.
He was a special guest of Biden's campaign on a call last week. His message to Silicon Valley's product minds?
“We don’t need you to go and build anything new,“ Hoffman said. "There’s no time for that.”
vox.com/recode/2020/5/…
He was a special guest of Biden's campaign on a call last week. His message to Silicon Valley's product minds?
“We don’t need you to go and build anything new,“ Hoffman said. "There’s no time for that.”
vox.com/recode/2020/5/…
Eric Schmidt, the former CEO of Google, is heavily funding a secretive group called STAC Labs that is working with Democratic state parties to help them model their data.
This is Eric Schmidt's 2020 strategy.
vox.com/recode/2020/5/…
This is Eric Schmidt's 2020 strategy.
vox.com/recode/2020/5/…
Perhaps no Democratic mega-donor is more whispered about than Dustin Moskovitz.
Moskovitz's 2020 strategy, in a few words?
Experiments. Experiments. Experiments.
He is taking the thinking of Mind the Gap "to an ever bigger extreme" this cycle.
vox.com/recode/2020/5/…
Moskovitz's 2020 strategy, in a few words?
Experiments. Experiments. Experiments.
He is taking the thinking of Mind the Gap "to an ever bigger extreme" this cycle.
vox.com/recode/2020/5/…
Not all Dems are happy with the billionaires' influence.
The head of the Nebraska Democratic Party:
“I would never walk into Google or anywhere else and say, ‘Your model sucks."
“I don’t second-guess them, and I’m asking them not to second-guess us.”
vox.com/recode/2020/5/…
The head of the Nebraska Democratic Party:
“I would never walk into Google or anywhere else and say, ‘Your model sucks."
“I don’t second-guess them, and I’m asking them not to second-guess us.”
vox.com/recode/2020/5/…
Laurene Powell Jobs is doubling down on voter-registration groups this cycle.
Powell Jobs hosted a dozen major donors, like Biz Stone and Ron Conway, at an intimate event at Emerson Collective's HQ in March to hear from Stacey Abrams' FairFight & others.
vox.com/recode/2020/5/…
Powell Jobs hosted a dozen major donors, like Biz Stone and Ron Conway, at an intimate event at Emerson Collective's HQ in March to hear from Stacey Abrams' FairFight & others.
vox.com/recode/2020/5/…
There are few more fascinating stories in Silicon Valley right now than a secretive donor group known as Mind the Gap.
The Voter Participation Center and a linked group are in the process of
raising $56 million by June 30 thanks in part to Mind the Gap.
vox.com/recode/2020/5/…
The Voter Participation Center and a linked group are in the process of
raising $56 million by June 30 thanks in part to Mind the Gap.
vox.com/recode/2020/5/…
Democratic billionaires are struggling to coordinate.
Reid Hoffman put $18m into a data startup he started, Alloy.
Meanwhile, Eric Schmidt put his money into the similar Democratic Data Exchange.
And with all that, Democrats still think they're behind.
vox.com/recode/2020/5/…
Reid Hoffman put $18m into a data startup he started, Alloy.
Meanwhile, Eric Schmidt put his money into the similar Democratic Data Exchange.
And with all that, Democrats still think they're behind.
vox.com/recode/2020/5/…
In 2016, Eric Schmidt embeded a group of data minds within the Clinton campaign.
Four years later, he is convinced that the real problem is that Democrats don't know how to ~use~ the data.
So he has invested in over 20 startups through OneOne Ventures.
vox.com/recode/2020/5/…
Four years later, he is convinced that the real problem is that Democrats don't know how to ~use~ the data.
So he has invested in over 20 startups through OneOne Ventures.
vox.com/recode/2020/5/…
Dustin Moskovitz’s team is drilling Democratic operatives on how they can justify their effectiveness if they want his money.
One thing he has funded? A study with Voto Latino to see how to turn out Hispanic voters. A super interesting experiment here —>
vox.com/recode/2020/5/…
One thing he has funded? A study with Voto Latino to see how to turn out Hispanic voters. A super interesting experiment here —>
vox.com/recode/2020/5/…
Reid Hoffman’s political adviser says in a 12-page memo that Dems need to build “trusted media channels with peer-to-peer elements” & “content that has a journalistic flavor.”
“When truth is tribal, traditional media and advertising can’t reach voters.”
vox.com/recode/2020/5/…
“When truth is tribal, traditional media and advertising can’t reach voters.”
vox.com/recode/2020/5/…
If I could’ve focused on a fifth major Silicon Valley donor for this story, I would’ve added Karla Jurvetson, who is also going to spend a ton.
One person who I would ~not~ expect a lot from? Sean Parker, who has largely faded from huge political gifts.
vox.com/recode/2020/5/…
One person who I would ~not~ expect a lot from? Sean Parker, who has largely faded from huge political gifts.
vox.com/recode/2020/5/…
Details on Reid Hoffman's spending over the last few years:
• $18 million on Alloy, his data play
• ~$15 million on MotivAI, a digital ad firm that has been mired in controversy
• ~$10 million on ACRONYM, a leading (and controversial) digital shop
vox.com/recode/2020/5/…
• $18 million on Alloy, his data play
• ~$15 million on MotivAI, a digital ad firm that has been mired in controversy
• ~$10 million on ACRONYM, a leading (and controversial) digital shop
vox.com/recode/2020/5/…
Democrats are concerned that COVID-19 will be a “distraction” for its billionaire class.
“You’re prioritizing your time to think right now, and the money follows your time,” said one Biden fundraiser. “How much time do you have to think about Joe Biden?”
vox.com/recode/2020/5/…
“You’re prioritizing your time to think right now, and the money follows your time,” said one Biden fundraiser. “How much time do you have to think about Joe Biden?”
vox.com/recode/2020/5/…
Dustin Moskovitz has sunk millions into the Voter Participation Center, which has been raking in Silicon Valley cash.
The Voter Participation Center is closely linked with Mind the Gap, one of the most under-appreciated forces in Democratic politics.
vox.com/recode/2020/5/…
The Voter Participation Center is closely linked with Mind the Gap, one of the most under-appreciated forces in Democratic politics.
vox.com/recode/2020/5/…
Here's the 2020 play of Mind the Gap, the major tech donor group:
"Our mandate is simple: to identify all efforts that will be more cost-effective than giving directly to candidate campaigns or SuperPACs, and fund them up to the point of maximal impact."
vox.com/recode/2020/5/…
"Our mandate is simple: to identify all efforts that will be more cost-effective than giving directly to candidate campaigns or SuperPACs, and fund them up to the point of maximal impact."
vox.com/recode/2020/5/…
