New Database Exposes Billions In Foreign Money Funding Lefty Groups, Causes
Democrats have yet another scandal on their hands as the 2026 midterm election cycle enters its peak phase.
Americans for Public Trust on Friday launched a new database designed to help lawmakers, watchdog groups, journalists, and the public track the flow of foreign money into American politics.
According to the organization, the database has already identified more than $5 billion in foreign-linked spending and is expected to continue expanding as additional information is collected.
And some of the biggest recipients include the Sixteen Thirty Fund, the ClimateWorks Foundation, and the Gates Medical Research Institute, all left-wing groups that support Democrat causes and priorities, according to APT.
“As we enter the height of midterm election season, it is critical that the public is aware of the vast sums of foreign funds flowing across our borders to influence the outcomes of our political battles,” APT Executive Director Caitlin Sutherland told The Center Square.
Per its website, Americans for Public Trust works on “restoring trust by holding the powerful accountable.”
Sutherland told the outlet “whether through ballot initiatives, issue advocacy, or voter registration, American politics is indisputably being shaped by foreign cash.”
“That’s why we’ve created this first-of-its-kind database to help the public untangle the complex web of foreign money bankrolling leftwing nonprofits,” Sutherland added, per the outlet.
The new database is called Follow Foreign Money and so far, it’s tracked more than 520 groups, discovered more than 12,000 records, and tracked $5 billion-plus in foreign spending.
And there is much more out there to be found, the group says.
APT said that “foreign governments, foreign charities, and foreign nationals are actively exploiting loopholes on the state and federal level that allow their money to flow into important policy fights and electoral tools.”
“Foreign money funding advocacy in the United States is a threat to our democracy and must be exposed and stopped,” the group added.
Americans for Public Trust said that while federal law prohibits foreign nationals from making direct political contributions to U.S. candidates and campaigns, foreign money can still be used to finance certain election-related activities, including lobbying, protests, ballot initiative campaigns, and ballot-harvesting efforts.
According to the organization, Swiss billionaire Hansjörg Wyss is among the most prominent foreign donors identified in its database.
APT reports that Wyss has contributed more than $300 million to the Sixteen Thirty Fund, among other organizations, per The Center Square, which also reported in 2024 that the fund helped financially support Amendment 3 in Missouri, which enshrined abortion into the state’s constitution.
During debate over the issue, Missouri Sen. Ben Brown (R) cited foreign-funded ballot campaigns as an example of the potential influence of overseas money in state politics, arguing that foreign donors could “essentially purchase amendments” to a state constitution through multimillion-dollar contributions.
Missouri subsequently joined several other states in prohibiting foreign money from being used to finance ballot initiative campaigns.
According to Americans for Public Trust, other foreign-based donors that have contributed to U.S. nonprofit organizations include the London-based Arcadia Fund, the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, the IKEA Foundation, and other international philanthropic organizations.
The watchdog organization also said that higher education is influenced by foreign money, with “nearly $12 billion from China and Qatar – countries that are openly hostile to the United States – [having] flooded the American higher education system for decades.”
Also, climate activism throughout the country is being supported by foreign funding, as “a group of foreign ‘charities’ has spent almost $2 billion bankrolling U.S. policy fights and advancing an extreme climate agenda,” APT said.
BREAKING: Dolly Parton’s Cause Of Death Revealed: ‘Brief Battle’
Dolly Parton’s death came after a brief battle with cancer, her representatives revealed Tuesday.
The country music legend died Aug. 25 at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville. She was 80.
Parton had been admitted to the cancer center Friday, four days before her death. Her representatives confirmed the cancer diagnosis in a statement to PEOPLE but did not disclose what type she had.
“Our beloved Dolly Parton spent her life and career bringing joy, laughter, hope and integrity into everything she touched. Her unmatched generosity reached the lives of countless people whom she would never meet, yet she was always there to offer a helping hand,” the statement read.
“Whether it be the hundreds of millions of books donated through her invaluable Imagination Library or funding research that helped create a lifesaving vaccine used around the world, Dolly’s unconditional love for all people was the guiding force for her lasting impact. After bravely facing a brief battle with cancer, Dolly departed her Earthly life today at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center surrounded by loved ones,” the statement concluded.
The “Jolene” singer had also been dealing with kidney and autoimmune issues before her death, PEOPLE previously reported.
Just days earlier, Dolly Parton opened up about her declining health and acknowledged that she had put off addressing some medical issues while caring for her husband, Carl.
“As I’ve shared in video messages throughout the past year, I am dealing with some health issues that I just didn’t pay attention to when I was watching over [my husband] Carl. You know, this isn’t the first time I’ve had to manage something like this. Back in the early ’80s, I was down for several months with female issues, and I was struggling with my weight at the time too, so it’s not like I haven’t been through hard times with my health,” Parton told PEOPLE.
Her nephew, Bryan Seaver, announced her death in an Instagram video Tuesday on behalf of the Parton and Owens family.
“My name is Bryan Seaver, son of Cassie Parton, and I’m representing the Parton and Owens family today announcing the passing of my aunt, Dolly Rebecca Parton Dean, Sister, Sis and Granny to one generation and Gigi to the next,” he says in the video.
Seaver, who served as Parton’s head of security for more than two decades, said she had asked him years earlier to deliver the announcement.
“This video announcement is something Dolly asked of me years ago, before I fully absorbed it as a future reality,” he continued. “As her head of security for more than two decades, a role my father Larry held before me, I have imagined the heaviness of this moment but haven’t truly felt it until now.”
Seaver said the moment brought immense pride and heartbreak, but he took comfort in his faith that Parton had been reunited with Carl and other loved ones.
Seaver added: “It is an honor, an honor that is mixed with absolute pride and great sadness. But sadness lies with us, not with Dolly. Dolly has lived in the light and is in the arms of Jesus, surely met by Carl, her parents and countless othe
Shocking 'truth' behind Prince Harry's decision to quit major role
Prince Harry should have "resigned in disgrace" from the board of a controversial African wildlife charity, a commentator says. James Walker makes the bombshell remark in Wednesday's episode of this publication's podcast, Daily Expresso.
He and the show's host, JJ Anisiobi, delve into the Duke of Sussex's dramatic decision to step down from African Parks. James, commenting on the controversy, said: "When you hear about this stuff and how long it's been going on for, you should be resigning in disgrace. [Harry] should be saying: 'I'm not touching that with a barge pole. That is a failed entity. We're going nowhere near it'.
"But no. He's still saying he's going to 'support their mission'. And again this Caroline Pearce, executive director of Survival International, goes on to say: 'His departure doesn't undo that record'.
"She alleged that African Parks was aware of the abuses for years, but it was only after Survival complained to Harry that the charity finally commissioned an investigation."
James added: "Well, she's got a point."
It emerged on Monday (August 24) that Harry was no longer a board member of the wildlife charity.
The conservation organisation has admitted that human rights abuses were committed by its rangers against members of the semi-nomadic Baka group in Congo-Brazzaville.
African Parks has said since that it has improved its safeguarding processes both in the Odzala-Kokoua National Park and institutionally.
Its admission followed an independent human rights investigation into allegations guards managed and paid by the charity had beaten, raped and tortured indigenous people in Odzala-Kokoua National Park.
Harry was president of the charity for six years before he became a member of its board of directors in 2023.
A spokesman for the Duke said he remains an active and avid supporter of African Parks. He added: "The Duke is proud of his 10 years with African Parks and fully supports the ongoing strengthening of its board.
"His commitment to conservation in Africa continues and he remains a supporter of African Parks’ mission."
Human rights organisation, Survival International, said it had been calling on Harry to step down from African Parks for years.
The group's director, Caroline Pearce, said in a statement: "It’s outrageous that for 10 years Prince Harry has served African Parks while the organisation has been responsible for abuse and violence against Indigenous people.
"His departure doesn't undo that record — African Parks itself must now be held accountable, and must abandon this model of fortress conservation for good."
Survival International said indigenous peoples know how best to manage their land and the idea outsiders know better is racist and colonial.
