A secretive dark money network tied to the Democratic Party is quietly funding online influencers to push left-wing messaging, according to a new report.
The “Chorus Creator Incubator Program” is backed by the Sixteen Thirty Fund, a nonprofit that has poured hundreds of millions into Democratic causes. WIRED magazine revealed that the program pays select influencers up to $8,000 per month while requiring them to keep the arrangement secret. Contracts reviewed by WIRED reportedly barred participants from disclosing who funds them, or even admitting they were being paid.
Among those tied to the program are Gen Z activist Olivia Julianna, YouTube host David Pakman, and “Politics Girl” Leigh McGowan. Others include Loren Piretra, a former Playboy executive turned Occupy Democrats personality, and Arielle Fodor, a TikTok teacher with over a million followers. Together, Chorus boasted of a collective reach of more than 40 million followers and 100 million weekly views.
Watchdog groups warn the secrecy is deliberate and dangerous. “For democracy to thrive, we need transparency around who is paying for political messages,” said Elizabeth Dubois, a University of Ottawa professor who studies digital politics.
Some influencers pushed back. TikTok star V Spehar said Chorus used their image in fundraising decks without permission. Progressive YouTuber Kat Abughazaleh, now running for Congress, accused the group of doing the same. Others defended the program as a way to sustain online content creation.
The Sixteen Thirty Fund has long been described as the left’s version of the Koch network. It funneled $400 million into the 2020 election cycle alone and nearly $200 million into ballot measures in 2022. Just four donors reportedly provided two-thirds of its most recent revenue.
Critics say the influencer payments are another way Democrats obscure the true source of their funding while shaping political discourse online.
