Following last week’s election results, a new era of political possibility is upon us. But with climate tipping points fast approaching, Big Tech’s hard lurch to the right ongoing, and MAGA already regrouping, what happens from here could not be more critical.
As the newly-empowered Democrats prepare for power, here are 3 things Stop the Money Pipeline will be focused on in this new political era.
1. Stopping the Dirty Data Center Deal: Before the new Congress is even seated, we need to stop the energy permitting legislation, known as the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act, that is being fast-tracked through this lame duck Congress.
The precise causes of the election results are still being debated, but one thing is clear: this election was an absolute repudiation of Big Tech’s dystopian vision for our future.
In Georgia, Ohio, Michigan, Texas (where Governor-elect Hinojosa appeared in a campaign ad shooting Flock cameras), and elsewhere, opposition to data centers, AI, and Big Tech, helped propel Democrats to power. Out of 40 data center ballot initiatives across the country, opponents of data centers won 39.
The Dirty Data Center Deal needs to be stopped not only because it would lock in more gas-powered data centers, but because it would just be a terrible political move.
After this week’s election, Democrats should be siding with the supermajority of people opposed to data centers, not voting for a bill championed by Big Tech that will superfire data center construction even more.
2. Ending Immunity: Perhaps my favorite video released on election night was one from the Democratic Oversight Committee, celebrating Ranking Member Representative Robert Garcia’s two-word warning to the Trump Administration: Lawyer Up.
From Elon Musk eviscerating government agencies charged with regulating his companies to the Trump family making billions through tungsten mines in Kazakhstan and shadowy crypto schemes, the scale of corruption over the last two years has been truly unprecedented.
And now that they have the gavel, Democrats need to not only ensure accountability for such corruption, but use the power of Congress to educate the American public about how Trump and Musk enriched themselves to the tune of billions over the last two years, as everyday Americans struggled to pay for groceries and gas.
3. Making Climate a Top Priority Again: Over the last two years, as Trump has spent billions fighting clean energy, the media, the corporate world, and even deep blue states, such as California and New York, have also rolled back climate commitments. In this, they have been significantly aided by centrists who’ve championed deprioritizing climate as a political issue.
Yet in 2026 alone, climate-driven heatwaves killed at least 50,000 Europeans and a single climate disaster in Nepal probably killed more than 6,000. As we approach climate tipping points, we absolutely need to make the climate crisis a top-tier priority political issue once again.
This shouldn’t be hard. Global heating is making everything from groceries to owning a home more expensive, and nearly two-thirds of voters support a transition to 100% renewables by 2050.
And at a time when Americans are sick and tired of corporate influence over politicians, Big Oil just donated $182 million in the midterms to elect their favored politicians.
Our job as we head into this new political era is clear: we must build a movement powerful enough to end immunity for billionaires and win transformational climate policy that also makes life more affordable for everyday people. But first, we need to stop the Dirty Data Center Deal.
For ways to get plugged in right away, check out the news and updates from across the Stop the Money Pipeline Network below.
In Solidarity
- Alec Connon, Stop the Money Pipeline, coalition director.
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News and Updates from the Coalition
- Stopping the Dirty Data Center Deal
If you haven’t yet urged Members of Congress to oppose BAAJA, (aka: the Dirty Data Center Deal), join nearly 6,000 STMP supporters and email your Member of Congress.
And once you have sent your email, use this tool to call them, too. Calls are more impactful than emails and this tool makes it so it should take you less than five minutes. (You can also check out whether your Senator has taken a position on BAAJA here. If they haven’t, or voted yes to advance it in yesterday’s initial vote, it’s critical that they hear from you.)
– Stop the Money Pipeline 2.0
After finishing up a coalition recommitment process, we’re excited to announce that there are 108 organizations that are now formally a part of the Stop the Money Pipeline Network. Our partners range from frontline environmental justice groups to global NGOs, but we all have one thing in common: a commitment to end the fossil fuel industry and defeat far-right authoritarianism.
We’ll get our website updated in the coming weeks, but for now you can view the full list of our Stop the Money Pipeline Network Partners here.
To get involved with one of our local partners, check out our STMP Local Partner Map.
– Investigate Musk, Investigate DOGE
This month, we had a huge breakthrough in the Investigate DOGE campaign – and not only because of the election results.
On October 23rd, The Washington Post published a bombshell piece announcing that Senator Blumenthal, the Ranking Member on the Senate Subcommittee on Investigations, “intends to investigate Musk and DOGE.”
Not only that, but the Post credited our campaign with pushing the Democrats towards real accountability on Elon: "Activist group Investigate DOGE has channeled the spirit of the Tesla Takedown movement, which staged anti-Musk demonstrations outside Tesla showrooms, calling for Musk and DOGE alumni to face congressional scrutiny."
Check out the piece here, and our video explainer here.
– Protecting our right to protect oil & gas pipelines
Sigh. In addition to BAAJA, there’s another piece of bad legislation in Congress that needs to be stopped: pipeline “safety” legislation currently being considered would expose people to 20 years in federal prison for participating in protests that slow down or temporarily halt the construction of an oil or gas pipeline.
The Water Protectors protecting their homelands at Standing Rock from the Dakota Access pipeline? If this bill passes, nonviolent activists engaging in these types of protests in the future would be subjected to serious felony charges.
Email Senator Cantwell―the Democrats' lead negotiator on the final text of the bill―and urge her to protect our right to nonviolent protests. To learn more, check out our video explainer here.
– Insurers are blowing the whistle
Last month, insurance insiders blew the whistle on how the insurance industry is responding to the climate crisis.
In a bombshell memo and a Guardian op-ed, senior leaders at major insurance companies revealed how the insurance industry is responding to the climate crisis: First, they’re raising prices, making insurance unaffordable for many, especially low-income and marginalized people. Second, they’re reducing what policies cover–we’ve already seen this in states like California, Louisiana, and Florida. And finally, they’re “simply withdrawing” from entire communities, leaving people without protection and forced to foot the entire bill after a disaster.
Contact your State Insurance Commissioner to demand they regulate Big Insurance’s ability to pass the costs of the climate crisis onto the rest of us.
– State-led solutions to the climate-and-insurance crisis
Unlike other financial institutions, major insurance companies are regulated at the state level. That means, if we can pass legislation in key states we can 1) stop insurance companies from passing the costs of climate change onto the rest of us; and 2) end the insurance industry’s bankrolling of new fossil fuel projects.
In 2027, we’ll be focused on passing legislation in three states to achieve this:
In Connecticut, we’re supporting the Insuring Connecticut’s Future campaign, campaigning to pass legislation that would force major insurance companies and Big Oil to pay their fair share for the state’s climate resiliency. If you’re in Connecticut, join the campaign welcome call on Thursday, December 3rd.
In Oregon, we’re doing the same thing. If you’re in Oregon, you can plug in by joining the Insuring Oregon’s Future Launch Call on December 3rd.
In New York, we’ll be doing everything we can to pass the Insure Our Communities Act, the strongest anti-oil and gas insurance bill in the country. If you’re in New York, complete our community survey – we’d love to talk.
– Aligning your money with your values #1: Insurance
Our partners at Green America have launched an updated version of their Climate-Smart Insurance Directory
State Farm, Liberty Mutual, Allstate, Travelers, Chubb, and Geico/Berkshire Hathaway: these companies are investing in and insuring new fossil fuel projects even as they pass the costs of the climate crisis onto the rest of us.
Fortunately, there are better options. Find one of 180 climate-friendly insure companies here. If you have questions or have already made the switch, you can contact Cathy Becker at Green America: cbecker@greenamerica.org
– Aligning your money with your values #2: Investments
Our partner Third Act is hosting a training series on how you can align your money with your values. In recent months, they’ve covered banking and insurance. Next up, they are sharing how you can ensure that your investment is supporting, and not undermining, the climate transition. Join the session on December 14th at 1PT/4ET.
And to close out our newsletter this month, here, again, is the new Democratic Oversight Committee’s two-word warning to Trump and his corrupt cronies like Elon Musk:
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