Shortly before adjourning for 2025, the Senate passed two bills to broaden disclosure and registration requirements related to the regulation of foreign agents under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (“FARA”) and the Lobbying Disclosure Act (“LDA”): the Disclosing Foreign Influence
Inside Political Law
Updates on developments in campaign finance, lobbying & government ethics law
Inside Political Law, published by Covington & Burling LLP, focuses on legal and regulatory issues related to political activities and campaign finance in the United States. The blog covers topics such as the formation and operation of super PACs, corporate and industry political contributions, compliance with election laws, investigations involving members of Congress and political staff, and enforcement actions related to nonprofit organizations and foreign agent registration. It provides guidance on navigating complex political law matters, including recent developments in federal and state regulations, enforcement trends, and strategic considerations for political consultants, corporations, and nonprofits engaged in political advocacy and campaign finance.
Latest from Inside Political Law - Page 4
New York City Council Poised to Reinvigorate Investigative Authorities and Issue Subpoenas to the Private Sector
Among a wave of noteworthy results in this fall’s off-year elections, Zohran Mamdani’s selection as the next Mayor of New York City was perhaps the most closely watched and widely discussed. Though much of that commentary has focused on the…
Is a Political Law Shareholder Proposal Under Your Tree? Strategies for Responding in the New Year
The 2025 proxy season saw significant developments with respect to proposals calling on companies to disclose information about their political contribution activity and lobbying activity, including an increase in support for political contribution proposals. That stronger support, particularly against the…
Corporate and Industry “Mega PACs”: The Next Frontier for Super PACs
Since the landmark Citizens United decision in 2010, super PACs have become a fixture of U.S. political campaigns. But despite the initial anticipated boom in corporate influence in elections, most super PAC funding to date has come from wealthy individuals, closely-held corporations,…
Forming and Operating Super PACs: A Practical Guide for Political Consultants in 2026
Practical Advice for Nonprofits and Donors After the Presidential Memorandum on “Countering Domestic Terrorism and Organized Political Violence” and Reported IRS Enforcement Changes
A series of actions by the Trump Administration and certain state law enforcement officials have indicated that the nonprofit sector may face special scrutiny. These actions include the following:
- On September 25, 2025, President Trump issued National Security Presidential Memorandum/NSPM-7,
…
Handling Investigations of Members of Congress and Congressional Staff: A How-To Guide for Chiefs of Staff
It may begin with an unusual media inquiry or a sudden spike in interest on social media. Just as often, it starts with a non-public request for documents or other evidence. Your boss or your staff have been accused of…
DOJ Posts (then Takes Down) Seventeen New Advisory Opinions Regarding the Foreign Agents Registration Act
Following an announcement in September that the White House intends to deploy the Foreign Agents Registration Act (“FARA”) to investigate persons with foreign ties that “foment political violence,” the FARA Unit of the Department of Justice (“DOJ”) quietly (and maybe…
Tax Exemption and Constitutional Vagueness – What Freedom Path Means for 501(c)(4) Organizations
The recent decision in Freedom Path, Inc. v. Internal Revenue Service addressed whether the IRS’s standards used to deny Freedom Path’s tax exemption as a 501(c)(4) organization were unconstitutionally vague. The United States District Court for the District of Columbia partially agreed…
Congressional Ethics Investigations: An Overview of Processes, Challenges, and Implications for Private Actors
Following a string of high-profile investigations targeting Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle, congressional ethics investigations are more visible than ever. Indeed, as we recently explored, the House Ethics Committee in particular may be moving…