Sludge

Pipeline CEO Turned Senator Wants to Limit States’ Power to Block Pipelines readsludge.com/2026/10/09/pip…

New: actual gas pipeline CEO Sen. Alan Armstrong (R-OK) says his legislation weakening environmental reviews for pipelines will be in the permitting reform bill, to be taken up after the midterms. He stands to make a fortune more if Williams Companies' stock rises.

When Alan Armstrong left Williams for the Senate, the company board preserved $2.8 million of his stock so he “would not be financially penalized for his public service.” Then he introduced a bill limiting states’ power to block pipelines.

New at @Sludge: readsludge.com/2026/10/09/pip…

NEW: Former Williams CEO-turned-senator Alan Armstrong is advancing legislation to limit states’ power to block pipelines. He holds tens of millions in Williams stock, including performance-based awards that pay out after he leaves office. readsludge.com/2026/10/09/pip…

Rep. McCaul's wife owns stock in a company that's won contracts with the government, including a spot on a $1.5 billion DHS program operating under a 2018 law her husband helped pass.

It's time to ban congressional stock trading, including spouses.
readsludge.com/2026/10/06/rep…

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As powerful Rep. Michael McCaul (past chair of Homeland Security) of #TX10 was introducing counter-drone legislation, his household was buying six figures' worth of stock in top contractor CACI International.

New from @petercastagno_

readsludge.com/2026/10/06/rep…

NEW: Rep. Michael McCaul has repeatedly worked to expand the government's counter-drone programs while his spouse trade stock in CACI International, a leading counter-drone contractor. readsludge.com/2026/10/06/rep…

At a Congressional Black Caucus Foundation panel on data centers, former Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, who sits on the board of an Exelon utility and co-chairs a gas industry group, called opposition to data centers "fear mongering." readsludge.com/2026/10/02/bla…

NEW: The Congressional Black Caucus is working toward a consensus on data centers. Its nonprofits have taken $1.6 million from Big Tech and hosted execs from Meta, Microsoft, and Entergy. Aides recently toured a data center with a tech-funded think tank. readsludge.com/2026/10/02/bla…

NEW: Kalshi and Polymarket are fighting states over authority to regulate their billions of dollars in sports betting as gambling. Donald Trump Jr. has large stakes in both.

The companies have been loading up with revolving-door hires from both sides of the aisle... 🧵

NEW: Trump's CFTC is suing states on behalf of prediction market companies like Kalshi and Polymarket—both investments of Donald Trump Jr.

The rivals have been loading up on revolving-door lobbyists this year in their push for industry-friendly federal oversight by the CFTC.

NEW: A satellite company backed by JD Vance’s fund just won a Space Force award. If the investment pays off, Vance could make millions: he holds a stake in the fund and is entitled to more than half of its manager’s share of investment profits. readsludge.com/2026/09/26/sat…

"His office again refused to comment when asked by Sludge in June." - on Gov. Wes Moore's pattern of declining questions on antitrust enforcement:

NEW: As Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan defended sending U.S. weapons to Israel and denied its assault on Gaza was genocide. In his first year out of office, he collected $560,000 in corporate speaking fees. readsludge.com/2026/09/23/jak…

Congress has failed to regulate AI, but has managed to profit from booming AI stocks. Over 100 lawmakers have up to hundreds of millions of dollars invested in AI, according to a new analysis of financial disclosures.

readsludge.com/2026/09/18/her…

Members of key congressional committees have millions of dollars invested in AI.

More than one in four reps on House Science, which oversees federal R&D, holds AI stocks.

Nearly one in four reps on House Judiciary, which oversees liability and antitrust, has money in AI firms.

Where does Gov. Wes Moore stand on Lina Khan and antitrust?

In 2024, after Khan was criticized by billionaire Reid Hoffman, Moore spoke of a need for "different philosophies" than the Biden admin.

This week, we asked @iamwesmoore if he agreed with Hoffman's shift on Khan...