Hollywood’s political odd couples

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Hollywood celebrities continue to pucker up to Bill Clinton and his party, giving $4.7 million to Democrats during this election cycle (and just $890,000 to the GOP), including gifts from party veterans such as Barbra Streisand ($71,500 to Democrats) and would-be politicos, like Playboy bunny-cum-MTV host Jenny McCarthy ($1,000 to Clinton/Gore).

But a review of this year’s campaign finance records shows some surprising disputes — and agreements — among famous Hollywood pairings.

Glenn Close tormented Michael Douglas and his family in Fatal Attraction — but had they talked politics, that bunny might still be alive. Douglas ($33,500) and Close ($500) both gave to Democrats. Things aren’t as cozy in Douglas’ real family: His father, actor Kirk Douglas, gave $1,000 to Republican Pete Wilson’s presidential bid.

Steamy moments in Bull Durham aside, Susan Sarandon and Kevin Costner have played on different political teams — Sarandon contributed $500 to Democrats, while Costner, a switch-hitter, gave $1,000 to GOP hopeful Phil Gramm’s presidential bid and $5,500 to Democrats.

Sylvester Stallone didn’t pack much political punch, with only $500 to the Republicans. But it must disappoint his old Rocky trainer, Burgess Meredith, who gave $200 to the Democrats.

Famously at odds on “All in the Family,” Archie (Carroll O’Connor) and Meathead (Rob Reiner) are in full political agreement, with O’Connor handing over $5,000 to the Democrats and Reiner a whopping $52,500.

But life can imitate art. “The Odd Couple” really do seem to disagree on everything. Felix Unger and Oscar Madison, or Tony Randall and Jack Klugman, gave $1,500 and $200, respectively, to the Republicans and the Democrats, respectively.

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WHO DOESN’T LOVE A POSITIVE STORY—OR TWO?

“Great journalism really does make a difference in this world: it can even save kids.”

That’s what a civil rights lawyer wrote to Julia Lurie, the day after her major investigation into a psychiatric hospital chain that uses foster children as “cash cows” published, letting her know he was using her findings that same day in a hearing to keep a child out of one of the facilities we investigated.

That’s awesome. As is the fact that Julia, who spent a full year reporting this challenging story, promptly heard from a Senate committee that will use her work in their own investigation of Universal Health Services. There’s no doubt her revelations will continue to have a big impact in the months and years to come.

Like another story about Mother Jones’ real-world impact.

This one, a multiyear investigation, published in 2021, exposed conditions in sugar work camps in the Dominican Republic owned by Central Romana—the conglomerate behind brands like C&H and Domino, whose product ends up in our Hershey bars and other sweets. A year ago, the Biden administration banned sugar imports from Central Romana. And just recently, we learned of a previously undisclosed investigation from the Department of Homeland Security, looking into working conditions at Central Romana. How big of a deal is this?

“This could be the first time a corporation would be held criminally liable for forced labor in their own supply chains,” according to a retired special agent we talked to.

Wow.

And it is only because Mother Jones is funded primarily by donations from readers that we can mount ambitious, yearlong—or more—investigations like these two stories that are making waves.

About that: It’s unfathomably hard in the news business right now, and we came up about $28,000 short during our recent fall fundraising campaign. We simply have to make that up soon to avoid falling further behind than can be made up for, or needing to somehow trim $1 million from our budget, like happened last year.

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