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PULSE POINTS:
❓What Happened: The Federal Elections Commission (FEC) has initiated an investigation into Representative Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) over campaign donations made through ActBlue.
👥 Who’s Involved: Rep. Jasmine Crockett, the FEC, conservative advocacy group Coolidge-Reagan Foundation, and ActBlue.
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📍 Where & When: The complaint was filed in March 2025; the FEC notified the group on April 2, 2025.
💬 Key Quote: FEC assistant general counsel Wanda D. Brown informed, “The respondents will be notified of this complaint within five business days.”
⚠️ Impact: The scrutiny could impact Rep. Crockett’s campaign financing and bring attention to ActBlue’s fundraising operations.
IN FULL:
The Federal Elections Commission (FEC) has initiated an inquiry into donations to Rep. Jasmine Crockett‘s (D-TX) campaign. The inquiry will focus on contributions made via ActBlue, a platform for Democratic fundraising currently under increased scrutiny over allegations centered on foreign straw donations.
According to the FEC, its investigation seeks to determine whether donations made through ActBlue and designated for Crockett’s campaign adhere to federal campaign finance laws, given suspicious patterns in when the contributions were made.
A March 2025 complaint by the Coolidge-Reagan Foundation, a conservative advocacy organization, prompted the FEC’s action. The group has raised concerns over the nature of the fundraising activities linked to Rep. Crockett and allegations of voter intimidation. On April 2, 2025, the FEC formally communicated its intent to review these matters to the foundation.
Dan Becker, attorney for the Coolidge-Reagan Foundation, was informed of the investigation through a letter from FEC’s assistant general counsel for complaints examination and legal administration, Wanda D. Brown. Brown indicated that the parties involved would be notified promptly, and any additional information gathered would be shared with the Office of the General Counsel.
At the core of the complaint is a case involving a donor, reportedly linked to 53 individual donations amounting to $595 made using the ActBlue portal. These donations were attributed to a 73-year-old Texas resident, Randy Bes. However, Bes’s spouse reportedly denied knowledge of these transactions. This has led to further suspicion regarding the legitimacy of such donations, possibly mirroring a pattern seen amongst other contributions.
“Rep. Crockett, through her principal campaign committee Respondent Jasmine for U.S., has received thousands of other donations through ActBlue totaling over $870,000,” the complaint filed with the FEC states, before continuing: “It is unclear how many of these are similarly fraudulent transactions, made in the name of unsuspecting innocent people who did not actually provide the funds.”
PULSE POINTS:
❓What Happened: The state of Michigan has decided not to comply with a directive from the Department of Education demanding schools eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
👥 Who’s Involved: President Donald J. Trump, Michigan Superintendent Michael Rice, Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Craig Trainor.
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📍 Where & When: Michigan, United States.
💬 Key Quote: Michigan State Superintendent Michael Rice insisted, “Pre-K-12 programs that promote diversity representing all children, regardless of race, and inclusion of all children, regardless of race, do not inherently harm particular groups of children and are not de facto violations of Title VI.”
⚠️ Impact: This position underscores Michigan’s commitment to DEI initiatives, while other states, like Indiana, have chosen to comply with federal directives. The national discourse on the legality and value of DEI initiatives in education continues.
IN FULL:
Michigan is rejecting a federally imposed directive demanding schools cut diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. The move comes in response to a recent memo from the Department of Education. The Trump administration’s directive urged schools nationwide to align with its interpretation of federal civil rights law, which limits the use of racial considerations in education settings.
Michigan State Superintendent Michael Rice asserts that the state adheres to all federal civil rights mandates. He emphasized the importance of DEI efforts, proclaiming them both lawful and vital. Rice contends that “Pre-K-12 programs that promote diversity representing all children, regardless of race, and inclusion of all children, regardless of race, do not inherently harm particular groups of children and are not de facto violations of Title VI.”
The February memo from the Department of Education mandates that educational institutions cease using racial preferences in decisions regarding admissions and scholarships and outlines potential consequences for noncompliance, including investigations or loss of federal funding. However, a number of state education leaders have joined Michigan in resisting the Trump administration directive, including in Colorado, New York, Pennsylvania, and Illinois. Each state claims it already meets federal civil rights guidelines.
Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Craig Trainor argues that DEI initiatives lead to discrimination, favoring one group over another. “For decades, schools have been operating on the pretext that selecting students for ‘diversity’ or similar euphemisms is not selecting them based on race. No longer. Students should be assessed according to merit, accomplishment, and character—not prejudged by the color of their skin,” Trainor stated in February. He warned: “The Office for Civil Rights will enforce that commitment.”
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