Some of Biden's 'most loyal' donors gripe they've been 'forgotten and discarded'


Despite his having bigger fish to fry, some of President Biden's "most loyal contributors and top fundraisers" are feeling neglected and ignored amid the ongoing pandemic, the chaos and lack of progress on Capitol Hill, and the foreboding results of Tuesday's off-year elections, The New York Times reports.
"There is a basic chorus, which is we're forgotten and discarded," one major Biden bundler told the Times. "It's very discouraging. We don't exist."
"There's no outreach whatsoever," added another. "Nonexistent," noted two more. "People feel hung out to dry," another explained.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Though "donor grousing" is a tale as old as time, the "sheer breadth of complaints about the Biden White House's operation is striking," says the Times.
What's more, in at least one case, prominent donors have reportedly begun to withhold funds until progress is made on "substantive policy changes," including the passge of contentious voting rights legislation, which is unlikely to advance without filibuster reform. Specifically, hedge fund executive S. Donald Sussman, one of the "financial pillars of the Democratic ecosystem," has reportedly made clear "he is pausing his political giving" until a voting rights package moves forward, writes the Times.
Certain officials and allies worry that neglecting donors and bundlers now, combined with stalled voting legislation, could disrupt fundrasing efforts into next year and beyond. But others, including some donors themselves, have opted to let the president slide given the current state of affairs.
"They have an incredible list of priorities to fix," said Robert Wolf, a bundler for former President Barack Obama. "My view is the last thing that should be on anyone's mind should be the donor community."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
"They took office with a national plague going on," added Democratic fundraiser and former Pennsylvania governor Ed Rendell, claiming he and others were therefore "rational about giving them a pass."
Brigid Kennedy worked at The Week from 2021 to 2023 as a staff writer, junior editor and then story editor, with an interest in U.S. politics, the economy and the music industry.
-
August 31 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Sunday’s political cartoons include FEMA's new scheme, Gavin Newsom's antics, and a clue in the Epstein files
-
Disarming Hezbollah: Lebanon's risky mission
Talking Point Iran-backed militia has brought 'nothing but war, division and misery', but rooting them out for good is a daunting and dangerous task
-
Woof! Britain's love affair with dogs
The Explainer The UK's canine population is booming. What does that mean for man's best friend?
-
RFK Jr. names new CDC head as staff revolt
Speed Read Kennedy installed his deputy, Jim O'Neill, as acting CDC director
-
DC prosecutors lose bid to indict sandwich thrower
Speed Read Prosecutors sought to charge Sean Dunn with assaulting a federal officer
-
White House fires new CDC head amid agency exodus
Speed Read CDC Director Susan Monarez was ousted after butting heads with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over vaccines
-
DOGE put Social Security data at risk, official says
Speed Read DOGE workers made the personal information of hundreds of millions of Americans vulnerable to identity theft
-
Court rejects Trump suit against Maryland US judges
Speed Read Judge Thomas Cullen, a Trump appointee, said the executive branch had no authority to sue the judges
-
Trump expands National Guard role in policing
Speed Read The president wants the Guard to take on a larger role in domestic law enforcement
-
Trump says he's firing Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook
Speed Read The move is likely part of Trump's push to get the central bank to cut interest rates
-
Abrego released from jail, faces Uganda deportation
Speed Read The wrongly deported Kilmar Abrego García is expected to be detained at an ICE check-in and deported to Uganda