Exclusive: Rep. Darrell Issa bashes liberal podcasters for “politically profiting” off Los Angeles fires

One veteran political strategist called Pod Save America’s work “the most evil shit I have ever seen.” Here's why.

Rep. Darrell Issa (R., Calif.) lambasted a liberal podcast for “politically profiting” off of the Los Angeles fires; the California lawmaker exclusively told the Washington Reporter that ActBlue, the Democratic Party’s online fundraising platform, should reject the fundraiser.

“If you want to help those impacted by the California wildfires, please donate at http://votesaveamerica.com/relief,” Pod Save America tweeted above its interview with Gov. Gavin Newsom (D., Calif.), who spent hours talking on the podcast. The link takes users to a fundraising page hosted by Vote Save America Action — leading to widespread condemnation, including from Issa.

“We call on ActBlue to decline this fundraiser,” Issa said. “This isn’t just politicizing a horrific disaster that’s still occurring. It’s politically profiting off it.”

While Pod Save America’s Jon Favreau insisted that “we don't bother people who donate through our relief funds,” one veteran political strategist called Pod Save America’s work “the most evil shit I have ever seen” because the money that it raises through its 501(c)(4) goes directly to the amount it can spend on causes that benefit solely Democrats.

Luke Thompson, a veteran GOP strategist, responded directly to Favreau’s claim elsewhere that “there is a Vote Save America PAC that raises money for candidates and causes, and there is Vote Save America Action, a c4 non-profit used for charitable donations like this” by calling it a “lie.”

“A 501c4 is NOT A CHARITY,” Thompson tweeted. “It’s a social welfare organization that can spend just under 50% of its programming budget on electioneering. These are colloquially known as ‘dark money’ groups. Contributions are not disclosed and are not tax deductible. NOT A CHARITY.” Shortly after Thompson’s reply, Favreau blocked him.

According to experts, (c)(4)s don’t have to disclose their donors, but they are required to spend the majority of their programming expenditures on social welfare. The rest of the cash they spend can go directly to political advocacy — promoting or attacking candidates for election.

Dark money groups frequently have to get creative to spend the social welfare portion of their programming budget. But money raised for these charities that passes through the (c)(4) allows for money raised elsewhere to go to electioneering ads. “This is prima facia non-political cap space that they are generating,” the veteran strategist strategist told the Reporter.

“Let’s say they raise $6 million in money for the fire that they pass on to these [501(c)(3)s]. The next $4 million that they take in from a major donor can go directly to a super PAC undisclosed without having to take a haircut. This lets a major donor give $4 million undisclosed to a Democrat super PAC. This is like the most evil shit I have ever seen. Using a (c)(4) to generate dark money cap space on the back of the worst natural disaster in recent California history is such appalling behavior.”

Newsom’s office did not respond to a request for comment about whether the governor felt it is appropriate for Pod Save America to raise funds in this manner. Issa, for his part, slammed his governor.

“Gavin Newsom hasn’t done much except whine on the Obama bros l podcast and lie to fire victims about being on the phone with Joe Biden,” Issa told the Reporter.