Judd Legum

Judd Legum @JuddLegum

Please get vaccinated — PolitiTweet.org

Judd Legum @JuddLegum

@FeministaJones I take your point on calling it “obscure.” That was clumsy. It was a rich academic discourse. It just wasn’t mentioned on Fox News. — PolitiTweet.org

Judd Legum @JuddLegum

@kaysteiger Thanks Kay! @tesszeeks — PolitiTweet.org

Judd Legum @JuddLegum

13. https://t.co/JhoV1QDaTS will continue to peel back the onion and keep you informed. We always follow the money. For updates and accountability journalism, sign up ➡️ https://t.co/TfpCItdVSo — PolitiTweet.org

Judd Legum @JuddLegum

12. The actual spending by the Thomas W. Smith foundation on anti-CRT efforts is likely much higher since we don't have 2020 spending and many of the groups set up specifically to attack CRT were not created until 2020 https://t.co/i68eRCOCUo — PolitiTweet.org

Judd Legum @JuddLegum

11. The Thomas W Smith Foundation is also funding numerous media orgs that are producing an avalanche of anti-CRT columns & "reporting" @DailyCaller (100K) @FDRLST (100K) @NRO (45K) @prageru (100K) @RealClearPR (200K) @amspectator (210K) @amconmag (100K) https://t.co/i68eRCOCUo — PolitiTweet.org

Judd Legum @JuddLegum

10. Other major recipients of money from the Charles W. Smith Foundation include The Heritage Foundation (525K), ALEC (425K), and the State Policy Network (3.57M), three organizations behind the flood of state legislation to ban CRT https://t.co/i68eRCOCUo — PolitiTweet.org

Judd Legum @JuddLegum

9. The top recipient of money from the Thomas W. Smith Foundation is the Manhattan Institute. It received $4.32 million from 2017 to 2019. It employs Chris Rufo, who is the leading source of misinfo on CRT Smith sits on the Manhattan Institute board https://t.co/i68eRCOCUo — PolitiTweet.org

Judd Legum @JuddLegum

8. A https://t.co/Gl6evXRDcZ investigation found that between 2017 and 2019, the Thomas W. Smith foundation donated $12.75 million to at least 21 organizations attacking CRT. (The foundation's 2020 spending won't be available until later this year.) https://t.co/i68eRCOCUo — PolitiTweet.org

Judd Legum @JuddLegum

7. It would be hard for Piereson and the Thomas W. Smith foundation to generate excitement around tired arguments opposing diversity and racial equality. It's easier to advocate against CRT, a term that sounds scary but no one really understands. https://t.co/i68eRCOCUo — PolitiTweet.org

Judd Legum @JuddLegum

6. Piereson claims that "racial bigotry and violence against women" is not a big problem on college campuses, calling concern about such issues "irrational." This is the person who is funding a constellation of groups attacking CRT https://t.co/i68eRCOCUo — PolitiTweet.org

Judd Legum @JuddLegum

5. Piereson also opposes classes dedicated to the study of women, Black people, or the LGBTQ community in universities, saying these topics lack "academic rigor." https://t.co/i68eRCOCUo https://t.co/cRdRWYkxNg — PolitiTweet.org

Judd Legum @JuddLegum

4. Piereson opposes all efforts to address economic or racial inequality -- even those undertaken by private charities. He wrote about this in a series of columns published in 2019. https://t.co/i68eRCOCUo https://t.co/P83TaJSTUW — PolitiTweet.org

Judd Legum @JuddLegum

3. Who is Thomas W. Smith? He runs a hedge fund out of Boca Raton Florida and keeps a low profile His foundation has no website, but is run by James Piereson, a fellow at the Manhattan Institute Piereson is prolific and provides insight into what motives the foundation's giving — PolitiTweet.org

Judd Legum @JuddLegum

2. Non-profits and media orgs promoting anti-CRT hysteria keep their funding SECRET Private foundations, however, have to disclose their spending to the IRS Looking at this data, one group kept appearing again and again: The Thomas W. Smith Foundation https://t.co/i68eRCOCUo — PolitiTweet.org

Judd Legum @JuddLegum

1. In 2020, Critical Race Theory was an obscure academic theory In 2021, a chorus of voices claims CRT an existential threat to the country Who is financing this effort? We've identified an obscure foundation funding at least 21 groups attacking CRT https://t.co/i68eRCOCUo — PolitiTweet.org

Judd Legum @JuddLegum

Maybe I'm remembering this wrong but Trump lost the popular vote in 2016 and won a narrow Electoral College victory and Hillary quickly conceded and there was no violence whatsoever? And then Biden won in 2020 and there was a violent attack on the United States Capitol — PolitiTweet.org

Judd Legum @JuddLegum

Another cool part of the thread was when he suggests that the reason judges kept on throwing out Giuliani's ridiculous lawsuits is not because they were ridiculous but because there were riots planned if Trump won and judges "have families too." — PolitiTweet.org

Judd Legum @JuddLegum

The "mega viral" Twitter thread about why Trump supporters believe the election was stolen contains: 1. Absolutely no evidence that even a single fraudulent ballot was cast 2. A completely incorrect assertion that voting rules were "illegally" changed prior to the election — PolitiTweet.org

Judd Legum @JuddLegum

Impressive that Phelan blames Texas Democrats for jeopardizing funding for the legislative branch. That funding passed during the regular session but was vetoed by Governor Abbott — PolitiTweet.org

Judd Legum @JuddLegum

That newsletter, which was published 13 days ago does not include a date. It says, “Published a week ago” — PolitiTweet.org

Judd Legum @JuddLegum

Malcom Gladwell, the featured writer on Facebook’s new newsletter platform, Bulletin, hasn’t written a newsletter since the platform launched on June 29. (It was a partial transcription of a podcast episode.) — PolitiTweet.org

Judd Legum @JuddLegum

Texas Democrats are willing to use their power. — PolitiTweet.org

Judd Legum @JuddLegum

9. We'll continue to follow this story because Hervis Rogers deserves justice. Sign up for the newsletter for updates and accountability journalism. https://t.co/TfpCItdVSo — PolitiTweet.org

Judd Legum @JuddLegum

8. Paxton thinks Rogers should be behind bars for decades because he attempted to vote more than 25 years after his conviction. Meanwhile, Paxton has been under indictment for securities fraud for more than 5 years and is running for reelection https://t.co/lBM9QRpPFN — PolitiTweet.org

Judd Legum @JuddLegum

7. Texas officials have known about Rogers eligibility issue since 2020, but he is only being charged now. He was arrested as the legislature considers a bill to restrict voting. Governor Abbott cited his arrest on Fox as proof voter fraud was real https://t.co/lBM9QRpPFN — PolitiTweet.org

Judd Legum @JuddLegum

6. Rogers lives in Harris County and voted in Harris County. But Paxton is prosecuting him in neighboring Montgomery County -- on the whitest and most conservative counties in Texas. https://t.co/lBM9QRpPFN — PolitiTweet.org

Judd Legum @JuddLegum

5. Texas law requires voters to KNOWINGLY vote when they aren't eligible. But AG Ken Paxton is prosecuting cases against people who didn't know their eligibility. Crystal Mason was sentenced to 5 years. Her case is on appeal. https://t.co/lBM9QRpPFN — PolitiTweet.org

Judd Legum @JuddLegum

4. Rogers was released from jail because of a successful crowdfunding effort The special session of the TX legislature is considering legislation that would prevent crowdfunding bail in many cases If that bill was law, Rogers might still be behind bars https://t.co/lBM9QRpPFN — PolitiTweet.org

Judd Legum @JuddLegum

3. Rogers, a 62-year-old man who allegedly committed a non-violent crime w/no victims, had bail set at 100K! There are 60K people behind bars in Texas jails 3 of 4 haven't been convicted of a crime They are incarcerated because they can't afford bail https://t.co/lBM9QRpPFN — PolitiTweet.org