emphasis in original:

After subtracting these massive operational costs—the payments to Mothership, the fees for texting services, the cost of digital ads and list rentals—the final sum delivered to candidates and committees is vanishingly small. My analysis of the network's FEC disbursements reveals that, at most, $11 million of the $678 million raised from individuals has made its way to candidates, campaigns, or the national party committees.

But here's the number that should end all debate:

This represents a fundraising efficiency rate of just 1.6 percent.

Here's what that number means: for every dollar a grandmother in Iowa donates believing she's saving democracy, 98 cents goes to consultants and operational costs. Just pennies reach actual campaigns.

these Democratic fundraising emails and texts have always given off scam vibes. but now we have data to confirm the vibes.

if you had asked me, as someone who is deeply cynical about politics, what percentage of the funds raised make it to the actual campaigns, never in a million years would I have guessed that it's as low as 1.6%.

absolutely absurd. shut it down. clean house. primary every single Democrat.