The California Oligarch Index reveals that the state’s top 99 political donors spent $5.8 billion from 2005 to 2024, more than the bottom 99.9% of residents combined.
The California Oligarch Index reveals that the state’s top 99 political donors spent $5.8 billion from 2005 to 2024, more than the bottom 99.9% of residents combined.
Sure. The bottom 99.9% of 39 million people gave less than 99 donors. Convenient math. Except small-dollar giving under the reporting threshold never shows up. Dark money never shows up. Ballot committees, nonprofits, pass-through PACs — none of it. Show me the methodology, the source data, and what “donation” even covers. Otherwise this is a number in search of a headline.