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DataRepublican (small r) @DataRepublican - I'd been looking at PAC contributions when I should have been looking at the people who actually have daily access to the Capitol - the media. The true lobbyists. 
Punchbowl News represents a whole lot of powerful industries and they are unflinching admirers of Senate Majority Leader John Thune. 
John Thune is the "paid influencer ecosystem." X merely exposed how that machinery works in the Senate. 
Just look at the posts of @AndrewDesiderio , their senior Senate "correspondent." Almost every single one is about defeating the SAVE America Act and praising Thune. 
Punchbowl isn't shy about where their money comes from. Founder Jack Sherman himself admitted that 90% of Punchbowl's revenue is from "corporate sponsorships." They made 10 million dollars in revenue their first year... what kind of "journalist" company pulls that off? 
The podcast featuring them outright describes their business model as getting their money from "sponsorships bought by trade groups and companies looking to get their public affairs messaging in front of those making and influencing policy."
Punchbowl got in ethical hot water when they treated a whole bunch of lobbyists to luxury box seats at a NFL game. 
If you want to know why SAVE America Act is being slow-walked... 
Start with @PunchbowlNews.
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Punchbowl News @PunchbowlNews
@JakeSherman and @apalmerdc break down all you need to know on #TheDailyPunch. 
https://youtube.com/watch?v=X2GmLRbvSfo
https://x.com/DataRepublican/status/2031354814005997922

DataRepublican (small r) @DataRepublican - .@AndrewDesiderio @PunchbowlNews @emilyjashinsky Figured the model out. Corporate names coming up. 
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DataRepublican (small r) @DataRepublican. @PunchbowlNews would you like to comment on this business model I've reversed engineered of how you keep @LeaderJohnThune in line?
https://x.com/DataRepublican/status/2031372772514083157

DataRepublican (small r) @DataRepublican - . @AndrewDesiderio @PunchbowlNews @emilyjashinsky And the crossover corporations involved in donating to Thune ... also happen to be virtually all of Punchbowl's sponsors. @Punchbowl can I suggest that you rename yourself to "Thunebowl?" Seems more honest. https://t.co/GEgYdtDYeB
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DataRepublican (small r) @DataRepublican
Punchbowl, would you also like to comment on how virtually every major sponsor of yours has donated to John Thune for a total of 1.2 million? 
@AndrewDesiderio, any comments?
https://x.com/DataRepublican/status/2031374474071912574

DataRepublican (small r) @DataRepublican - .@PunchbowlNews would you like to comment on this business model I've reversed engineered of how you keep @LeaderJohnThune in line?
https://x.com/DataRepublican/status/2031372626682429660

DataRepublican (small r) @DataRepublican - @PunchbowlNews @LeaderJohnThune Punchbowl, would you also like to comment on how virtually every major sponsor of yours has donated to John Thune for a total of 1.2 million? @AndrewDesiderio, any comments?
https://x.com/DataRepublican/status/2031373741234729067

DataRepublican (small r) @DataRepublican - @PunchbowlNews @LeaderJohnThune @AndrewDesiderio By the way ... the only people who are sponsoring me on this are my $3/month subscribers. I don't know any heavy hitter here who's been approached to go against SAVE America Act. John Thune is your paid influencer. This is the mother of all projections.
https://x.com/DataRepublican/status/2031374141614600696

DataRepublican (small r) @DataRepublican - Thank you! I am supported by $3/month subscriptions here on X.
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Phil Shatz @Phil_Shatz
Its this quality of work which makes me proud to be one of your subscribers.
https://x.com/DataRepublican/status/2031220153040646179
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