💸 Trump or Biden? Silicon Valley’s Money Picks Sides

Today’s newsletter is 472 words - a 2-minute read (4-minute if you take your time…🐌)

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💸 Today’s Top Story: Trump or Biden? Silicon Valley’s Money Picks Sides

🟦 On the left: Biden’s West Coast fundraising frenzy

Let’s take a look at the Democrats first: Last week, President Biden kicked off a high-dollar fundraising tour in California, starting with a swanky reception at the Portola Valley mansion of billionaire Vinod Khosla. Then the evening continued with another gathering at the Palo Alto residence of former Yahoo CEO, Marissa Mayer. With ticket prices ranging from $6,600 to a cool $100,000, it’s clear this campaign trail has its sights set on Silicon Valley’s deep pockets.

Seattle Sequel: The fundraising saga didn't end in California. Biden jetted off to Seattle for more private gatherings, including one featuring senior Microsoft and Amazon staff. These events are part of a strategic push to bolster the campaign coffers as Biden aims to outpace former President Trump’s fundraising efforts, which have seen aggressive plays for cash from oil tycoons and Wall Street billionaires alike.

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🟥 On the Right: Trump Fundraiser shakes things up

Now on the Republican’s side: Silicon Valley's own David Sacks is rolling out the red carpet for GOP frontrunner Donald Trump at his Pacific Heights pad, Broadcliff. Chamath Palihapitiya, Sack’s All-in podcast co-host, will join the fundraiser hosting committee. Scheduled for June 6, this fundraiser, once an unthinkable scenario, is now a reality, attracting other high-profile tech moguls. Part of the legendary "PayPal mafia," Sacks is signaling a bold political stance as he steps up to support Trump, along with other industry leaders.

Billionaire Banquet: It was only a month ago, Elon Musk and David Sacks hosted an opulent dinner at Sacks' $23 million Hollywood Hills estate. The guest list read like a who’s who of business and politics, including Republican stalwart Peter Thiel, former Uber CEO Travis Kalanick, and ex-Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. The evening, reported by Puck, centered on shared grievances against Democratic policies and discussions on curbing their political sway.

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Catch up on the latest:

• Battle over Vinod Khosla’s private beach access goes to trial again (Link)

• Long-waited AI legislation comes to light (Link and the Bill)

• All cash home buying on the rise in SF (Link)

Today’s whisper:

Last chance to visit the Temple Nightclub - which will shut down for good on May 25th, 10 more days. (learn more)