{
  "version": "1.0.0",
  "generatedAt": "2026-05-07T04:57:21.692Z",
  "findingType": "finding",
  "findingId": 16,
  "contentHash": "6b01c7ee5b64282bce591cbbf7cf173590c399bfe6da86ce9072728bb897de88",
  "title": "Single Strategic Node Manages Both Parties' Political Operations Across Crypto and AI Industries",
  "summary": "A single pair of political operatives — Zac Moffatt (co-founder of Targeted Victory, Global Chair of Stagwell) and Josh Vlasto (partner at Bamberger & Vlasto, spokesperson for Fairshake) — simultaneously manages the crypto industry's $193 million political spending operation (Fairshake network) and the AI industry's $100 million+ political spending operation (Leading the Future network). The same personnel network extends through both industries: Targeted Victory VP Logan Dobson runs Stand With Crypto (crypto candidate scoring); former Targeted Victory VP Nathan Leamer runs Build American AI (AI candidate scoring). The PAC infrastructure maintains partisan separation — Think Big PAC (Democratic) and American Mission PAC (Republican) for AI; Protect Progress (Democratic) and Defend American Jobs (Republican) for crypto — while sharing strategic leadership and compliance infrastructure. Stagwell, the parent company of Targeted Victory, also owns SKDK, a Democratic-aligned communications firm, allowing a single corporate entity to service both parties' digital industry advocacy. Combined, these networks control over $300 million in political spending capacity for the 2026 cycle.",
  "methodology": "This finding was identified through systematic investigation of 17 entities. Evidence was classified as \"critical\" severity based on source verification tier (investigative_journalism, investigative_journalism, financial_journalism, news_reporting, financial_journalism, investigative_journalism, press_release, financial_journalism, news_reporting). The finding was reviewed under editorial status \"published\".",
  "sources": [
    {
      "url": "https://www.transformernews.ai/p/the-gop-consultancy-at-the-heart-ai-industry-targeted-victory",
      "label": "Transformer News: The GOP consultancy at the heart of the industry's AI fight",
      "type": "primary"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://www.transformernews.ai/p/the-tech-non-profit--digital-first-project-american-resolve-sending-most-money-targeted-victory",
      "label": "Transformer News: Tech non-profit sending most of its money to Targeted Victory",
      "type": "primary"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/28/crypto-pac-fairshake-bill-vote.html",
      "label": "CNBC: Crypto PAC Fairshake touts $193 million war chest",
      "type": "primary"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/white-house-irked-leading-future-new-100m-ai-super-pac-rcna239392",
      "label": "NBC News: White House irked by Leading the Future",
      "type": "primary"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://fortune.com/2025/08/26/openai-president-greg-brockman-andreessen-horowitz-super-pac-ai-pro-innovation/",
      "label": "Fortune: OpenAI's president and Andreessen Horowitz leading $100M push against AI laws",
      "type": "primary"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://readsludge.com/2025/08/26/ai-industry-picks-up-cryptos-big-money-playbook/",
      "label": "Sludge: AI Industry Picks up Crypto's Big Money Playbook",
      "type": "primary"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ai-industry-launches-leading-the-future-to-drive-us-ai-leadership-economic-growth-national-security-and-innovation-302537548.html",
      "label": "PR Newswire: AI Industry Launches Leading the Future",
      "type": "primary"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-04-21/crypto-pacs-amass-180-million-war-chest-for-midterm-races",
      "label": "Bloomberg: Crypto Political Groups Build $180 Million War Chest",
      "type": "primary"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://thehill.com/policy/technology/5738308-crypto-industry-midterms-war-chest/",
      "label": "The Hill: Crypto industry wades into midterms with hefty war chest",
      "type": "primary"
    }
  ],
  "queries": [
    {
      "description": "Finding record lookup",
      "table": "findings",
      "parameters": {
        "id": 16
      }
    },
    {
      "description": "Involved entity resolution",
      "table": "entities",
      "parameters": {
        "names": [
          "Zac Moffatt",
          "Josh Vlasto",
          "Targeted Victory",
          "Stagwell Inc.",
          "Bamberger & Vlasto",
          "Leading the Future (LTF)",
          "Fairshake PAC",
          "Think Big PAC",
          "American Mission PAC",
          "Protect Progress PAC",
          "Defend American Jobs PAC",
          "Build American AI",
          "Stand With Crypto Alliance",
          "Andreessen Horowitz (a16z)",
          "OpenAI / Greg Brockman",
          "Coinbase",
          "Ripple Labs"
        ]
      }
    }
  ],
  "dataSnapshot": {
    "id": "16",
    "title": "Single Strategic Node Manages Both Parties' Political Operations Across Crypto and AI Industries",
    "findingType": "structural",
    "description": "A single pair of political operatives — Zac Moffatt (co-founder of Targeted Victory, Global Chair of Stagwell) and Josh Vlasto (partner at Bamberger & Vlasto, spokesperson for Fairshake) — simultaneously manages the crypto industry's $193 million political spending operation (Fairshake network) and the AI industry's $100 million+ political spending operation (Leading the Future network). The same personnel network extends through both industries: Targeted Victory VP Logan Dobson runs Stand With Crypto (crypto candidate scoring); former Targeted Victory VP Nathan Leamer runs Build American AI (AI candidate scoring). The PAC infrastructure maintains partisan separation — Think Big PAC (Democratic) and American Mission PAC (Republican) for AI; Protect Progress (Democratic) and Defend American Jobs (Republican) for crypto — while sharing strategic leadership and compliance infrastructure. Stagwell, the parent company of Targeted Victory, also owns SKDK, a Democratic-aligned communications firm, allowing a single corporate entity to service both parties' digital industry advocacy. Combined, these networks control over $300 million in political spending capacity for the 2026 cycle.",
    "severity": "critical",
    "evidenceSummary": "Moffatt's dual role confirmed by his own X/Twitter bio ('Global Chair, Communications & Advocacy @Stagwell, Forever a fan of @TargetedVictory; here to make sure Innovation Wins @LeadingFutureAI') and NBC News, Fortune, CNBC reporting. Vlasto's dual role confirmed by CNBC ('Fairshake's spokesman, Josh Vlasto'), Transformer News, and Leading the Future's own press release. Personnel network documented by Transformer News: Dobson (TV VP → Stand With Crypto), Leamer (TV VP → Build American AI → American Resolve nonprofit whose president was also a TV executive). Fairshake's $193M war chest confirmed by CNBC, Bloomberg, The Hill. Leading the Future's $100M+ initial funding confirmed by PR Newswire launch release, Fortune, NBC News, WSJ. Anti-Bores spending ($444K) confirmed by Transformer News FEC analysis. Sherrod Brown defeat ($40M) confirmed by CNBC, Cryptopolitan, The Hill.",
    "publicInterest": "The same two individuals manage the political strategy for both the crypto and AI industries, across both parties, through a network of PACs that maintain the appearance of partisan independence while sharing leadership and infrastructure. This means that when bipartisan 'compromise' legislation emerges from congressional committees, both the 'Republican position' and the 'Democratic position' may have been shaped by the same strategic advisors working for the same industry funders. The structure has already been deployed to defeat Senator Sherrod Brown ($40M spent), target state legislators who pass AI safety bills ($444K against NY Assemblyman Alex Bores), and advance federal preemption language designed to override state-level consumer protections.",
    "sourceTypes": [
      "investigative_journalism",
      "investigative_journalism",
      "financial_journalism",
      "news_reporting",
      "financial_journalism",
      "investigative_journalism",
      "press_release",
      "financial_journalism",
      "news_reporting"
    ],
    "sourceUrls": [
      {
        "url": "https://www.transformernews.ai/p/the-gop-consultancy-at-the-heart-ai-industry-targeted-victory",
        "label": "Transformer News: The GOP consultancy at the heart of the industry's AI fight"
      },
      {
        "url": "https://www.transformernews.ai/p/the-tech-non-profit--digital-first-project-american-resolve-sending-most-money-targeted-victory",
        "label": "Transformer News: Tech non-profit sending most of its money to Targeted Victory"
      },
      {
        "url": "https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/28/crypto-pac-fairshake-bill-vote.html",
        "label": "CNBC: Crypto PAC Fairshake touts $193 million war chest"
      },
      {
        "url": "https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/white-house-irked-leading-future-new-100m-ai-super-pac-rcna239392",
        "label": "NBC News: White House irked by Leading the Future"
      },
      {
        "url": "https://fortune.com/2025/08/26/openai-president-greg-brockman-andreessen-horowitz-super-pac-ai-pro-innovation/",
        "label": "Fortune: OpenAI's president and Andreessen Horowitz leading $100M push against AI laws"
      },
      {
        "url": "https://readsludge.com/2025/08/26/ai-industry-picks-up-cryptos-big-money-playbook/",
        "label": "Sludge: AI Industry Picks up Crypto's Big Money Playbook"
      },
      {
        "url": "https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ai-industry-launches-leading-the-future-to-drive-us-ai-leadership-economic-growth-national-security-and-innovation-302537548.html",
        "label": "PR Newswire: AI Industry Launches Leading the Future"
      },
      {
        "url": "https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-04-21/crypto-pacs-amass-180-million-war-chest-for-midterm-races",
        "label": "Bloomberg: Crypto Political Groups Build $180 Million War Chest"
      },
      {
        "url": "https://thehill.com/policy/technology/5738308-crypto-industry-midterms-war-chest/",
        "label": "The Hill: Crypto industry wades into midterms with hefty war chest"
      }
    ],
    "reviewStatus": "published",
    "goblin": {
      "name": "Scryxi",
      "slug": "scryxi"
    },
    "createdAt": null
  },
  "entities": [
    {
      "id": "120",
      "name": "Andreessen Horowitz (a16z)",
      "slug": "andreessen-horowitz-a16z",
      "type": "company"
    },
    {
      "id": "32223",
      "name": "Zac Moffatt",
      "slug": "zac-moffatt",
      "type": "person"
    },
    {
      "id": "29188",
      "name": "Coinbase",
      "slug": "coinbase",
      "type": "company"
    },
    {
      "id": "32311",
      "name": "Bamberger & Vlasto",
      "slug": "bamberger-vlasto",
      "type": "organization"
    },
    {
      "id": "32310",
      "name": "Stagwell Inc.",
      "slug": "stagwell",
      "type": "organization"
    },
    {
      "id": "32304",
      "name": "Fairshake PAC",
      "slug": "fairshake",
      "type": "organization"
    },
    {
      "id": "32305",
      "name": "Stand With Crypto Alliance",
      "slug": "stand-with-crypto",
      "type": "organization"
    },
    {
      "id": "32308",
      "name": "Josh Vlasto",
      "slug": "josh-vlasto",
      "type": "person"
    },
    {
      "id": "32309",
      "name": "Targeted Victory",
      "slug": "targeted-victory",
      "type": "organization"
    },
    {
      "id": "32312",
      "name": "Leading the Future (LTF)",
      "slug": "leading-the-future",
      "type": "organization"
    },
    {
      "id": "32313",
      "name": "Think Big PAC",
      "slug": "think-big-pac",
      "type": "organization"
    },
    {
      "id": "32314",
      "name": "American Mission PAC",
      "slug": "american-mission-pac",
      "type": "organization"
    },
    {
      "id": "32315",
      "name": "Protect Progress PAC",
      "slug": "protect-progress",
      "type": "organization"
    },
    {
      "id": "32316",
      "name": "Defend American Jobs PAC",
      "slug": "defend-american-jobs",
      "type": "organization"
    },
    {
      "id": "32317",
      "name": "Build American AI",
      "slug": "build-american-ai",
      "type": "organization"
    },
    {
      "id": "32318",
      "name": "Ripple Labs",
      "slug": "ripple",
      "type": "organization"
    }
  ],
  "verificationSteps": [
    "Retrieve finding #16 from the findings table and confirm title, description, and severity match this bundle.",
    "Visit source: https://www.transformernews.ai/p/the-gop-consultancy-at-the-heart-ai-industry-targeted-victory — confirm the claim described in the evidence summary.",
    "Visit source: https://www.transformernews.ai/p/the-tech-non-profit--digital-first-project-american-resolve-sending-most-money-targeted-victory — confirm the claim described in the evidence summary.",
    "Visit source: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/28/crypto-pac-fairshake-bill-vote.html — confirm the claim described in the evidence summary.",
    "Visit source: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/white-house-irked-leading-future-new-100m-ai-super-pac-rcna239392 — confirm the claim described in the evidence summary.",
    "Visit source: https://fortune.com/2025/08/26/openai-president-greg-brockman-andreessen-horowitz-super-pac-ai-pro-innovation/ — confirm the claim described in the evidence summary.",
    "Visit source: https://readsludge.com/2025/08/26/ai-industry-picks-up-cryptos-big-money-playbook/ — confirm the claim described in the evidence summary.",
    "Visit source: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ai-industry-launches-leading-the-future-to-drive-us-ai-leadership-economic-growth-national-security-and-innovation-302537548.html — confirm the claim described in the evidence summary.",
    "Visit source: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-04-21/crypto-pacs-amass-180-million-war-chest-for-midterm-races — confirm the claim described in the evidence summary.",
    "Visit source: https://thehill.com/policy/technology/5738308-crypto-industry-midterms-war-chest/ — confirm the claim described in the evidence summary.",
    "Cross-reference involved entities (Zac Moffatt, Josh Vlasto, Targeted Victory, Stagwell Inc., Bamberger & Vlasto, Leading the Future (LTF), Fairshake PAC, Think Big PAC, American Mission PAC, Protect Progress PAC, Defend American Jobs PAC, Build American AI, Stand With Crypto Alliance, Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), OpenAI / Greg Brockman, Coinbase, Ripple Labs) in the entities table.",
    "Verify the SHA-256 content hash by re-generating the JSON bundle and hashing it."
  ]
}