A New Chapter: Why I Am Leaving OpenSecrets – And What’s Next

After nearly a decade of following the money at OpenSecrets, I’ve made the difficult decision to step away. Transparency and government accountability work has been a cornerstone of my life for years, and it has been the privilege of a lifetime to contribute to that fight at such a storied organization.

For years, I’ve had the honor of working with a team of dedicated colleagues to shine a light on the forces wielding financial power to shape our political system. I’m immensely proud of what we accomplished at OpenSecrets.

But integrity and accountability aren’t mere professional ideals to me — they’re at the core of who I am. They guide my work and the impact I want to have. Staying true to these values sometimes means taking bold steps, no matter how hard and no matter how scary. That’s why I’ve made the tough but necessary decision to move on from my role at OpenSecrets and carve out a new path.

What’s Next?

As I step into this next chapter as an independent expert and freelance investigative journalist, my commitment to uncovering the truth remains unwavering.

I’m excited to announce that I’m already working with the Sunlight Research Center as Director of Investigations. In this capacity, I’ll be working alongside an incredible team to equip journalists across the country with research support and advanced training, empowering them to elevate their investigations into political influence, corruption and other topics that are important to their local audiences.

I also have some really exciting projects in the works with other organizations that I hold in the highest regard, tackling some of the most pressing issues in transparency and accountability.

These projects are only the beginning.

The investigations I lead — and the work I support — will continue to expose the powerful interests seeking to influence our political system. Whether through political donations, lobbying, digital media, or other more opaque channels, my goal is to uncover the hidden power structures that often go unnoticed.

But I’m going beyond just crunching numbers.

I’ll be diving even deeper into the powerful forces shaping our political processes and trying to sway our opinions from the shadows, as well as the systems that allow corruption, power manipulation, and hidden influence to thrive.

Every investigation will be grounded in rigorous, fact-based analysis. I’m committed to finding answers to the tough questions and providing access to authenticated information to help you to make informed, meaningful decisions.

Introducing Influence Brief

To that end, I’m thrilled to announce that I am launching Influence Brief, a newsletter dedicated to providing research-driven investigations and breaking news on key levers of political influence.

Starting in the new year, Influence Brief will deliver research-driven insights, guides, and deep dives into the issues that impact the core of responsive governance. Influence Brief is more than a traditional political newsletter —- I hope to build a go-to resource for understanding and exposing the most important stories in political influence, corruption, and power across the political spectrum.

Influence Brief will go beyond just data and numbers, offering:

• In-depth, data-driven analysis on political donations, lobbying, and campaign finances, breaking down complex data into understandable and actionable insights.

• Exclusive investigative reports that uncover corruption, hidden money flows, and influence operations that often escape public scrutiny.

• Real-time updates on lobbying, digital ad spending, and the organizations and individuals shaping policy decisions.

• Expert commentary on how these financial forces impact elections, governance, and public policy.

• Interactive content and opportunities for engagement, enabling subscribers to dive deeper into the issues and participate in discussions that matter.

• Tools, tips, resources, and training for journalists, policymakers, advocates, academics, independent researchers and anyone else who is interested in seeking to understand campaign finance, political influence, and accountability journalism.

Above all, my goal is to build a home for in-depth, fact-based insights you need to make informed decisions in an increasingly complex political environment.

Transparency has never been more critical. But in a world inundated with deceptive and manipulated content, it’s harder than ever to tell fact from fiction.

That’s why Influence Brief goes beyond just reporting — it ensures the information you receive is reliable, accurate, and rigorously verified.

Without conscientious and thorough vetting, even well-intentioned efforts to increase transparency can inadvertently fuel conspiracy theories or spread distrust. Lack of proper safeguards to ensure quality and accuracy of data or other information can have far-reaching real life consequences, potentially eroding trust in institutions rather than strengthening it.

That’s why Influence Brief isn’t just about breaking news — it’s about ensuring that the information you receive is the full, accurate story. Whether you’re a journalist, advocate, researcher, or just someone who cares deeply about the truth, subscribing to Influence Brief gives you access to trusted, in-depth analysis that uncovers the hidden forces behind power and influence — and gives you the tools to do so yourself.

Influence Brief will help you stay ahead of the curve when it comes to understanding the complex forces at play in our political system by providing access to fact-based analysis. Above all, my goal is to create a hub for in-depth, fact-based insights that empower you to navigate the complexities of today’s political and information landscape.

I won’t just provide the latest scoop, I’ll walk you through the process of verifying the facts. And if you’re a journalist working on a story, segment, or investigation of your own, please don’t hesitate to reach out for data, insights, on commentary on political influence and government accountability as well.

The Road Ahead

I want to express my deepest gratitude to everyone who has supported me on this journey. Leaving OpenSecrets hasn’t been easy, but I’m heartened by the opportunities ahead.

This is a moment to build something new, something impactful — and I’d love for you to be part of it.

If this interests you or you just want to follow along, please consider subscribing to Influence Brief to stay updated on my latest work as well as new training tools and other opportunities.

By subscribing, you’re not just helping my work continue — you’ll gain access to the expert analysis, cutting-edge investigation, and resources to help you navigate the complexities of political influence, election integrity, government accountability, and financial transparency.

Whether you’ve been following my work for years or are just discovering it, I’m excited to see what we can build together in this next chapter.

The best is yet to come.