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Dial tone: The merger of our two all-time least favorite media companies â€” Bell South and AT&T â€” has created what is likely to be the all-time worst media company, but has also created the world’s largest politcal action committee donor to federal elections, according the Congressional Quarterly.

The combined contributions to federal candidates totals $2,740,883 for the 2005-2006 election cycle through 11/27/06. The total may go higher when activity is reported for the 11/28-12/31 period.

The combination of the two corporationâ€™s federal PAC giving totals $3,911,758. This includes the $2,740,883 to federal candidates; an additional $784,125 being given in the same period to leadership PACs; $260,000 more given to national party committees, and $126,750 more to other party committees.

With these two PACs becoming affiliated they will share a common contribution limit to specific candidates. This may affect the future amount contributed.

Here’s CQ’s ranking of top corporate PAC givers. Trish, please note that United Parcel Service gave more than twice as much to Republicans as it did to Dems. But then, so did FedEx.

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Poetic Justice

Verbatim

“The man is afraid of the voice of the people and that the people understand and know what he’s doing. He’s trying to stifle the ability of journalists to let the people of America know what’s really going on with their government.”

— “Kamala Harris called President Donald Trump’s ban of CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House ‘absolutely abhorrent,’” The Wrap reports.

“Not one of them is trained in technical skills. Not one research PhD, as opposed to China, where half the cabinet is science and technology PhDs. We’re led by grifters and fools.”

— Columbia professor Jeffrey Sachs, on X, on President Trump’s 35-person cabinet.

“Mr. President, some of your immigration enforcement efforts have gone too far… The same Hispanics who helped you get to the White House in 2024 feel betrayed today.”

— Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL), breaking with President Trump in a direct-to-camera video.

Numerati

1,000

10%

“The unprecedented spate of mid-decade redistricting for the U.S. House has changed the congressional districts for one-tenth of Americans and significantly altered the makeup of at least one-fifth of districts, according to a new study,” the Associated Press reports.

71%

A new Fox News Poll finds 71% of voters think the Trump administration lacks a clear strategy for ending the Iran War, including 95% of Democrats, 83% of independents, and 43% of Republicans. Sixty percent say U.S. military action against Iran was the wrong decision, while just 37% say it was right.

$9.5 billion

“The Trump administration last year spent $9.5 billion on paid administrative leave for federal workers as part of its plan to shrink the government and save taxpayers money, according to a new estimate by a congressional watchdog,” CNN reports.

470

Reuters has documented at least 470 targets of retribution under Trump’s leadership – from federal employees and prosecutors to universities and media outlets. The list illuminates the sweeping effort by the president and his administration to punish dissent and reshape the government.