I’m not responding on behalf of GAP, but since I’ve been working a bit with them, I’ll try to answer.
The efforts to find and work with Republican champions are ongoing, and there are at least some (non-public, in the works) efforts which are definitely on the Republican side. I don’t know all the details, but I’m assuming the issue for now is that 1) they haven’t set up infrastructure for donations independent of ActBlue, and 2) the democrats are in power, and lost of things are happening immediately, so they are the primary target for much current lobbying.
This is a definite topic of discussion, and I’m not sure there’s a way to answer briefly, but I think that a well-run and careful lobbying done by a group which aligns itself with the EA movement, but in no way claims to reflect the movement, has limited risks. That said, of course it’s very difficult to predict how political lobbying plays out, but companies and other movements certainly negotiate this with a decent ability to avoid trouble. More than that, the alternative which has been embraced so far is to not have any outlet to engage in lobbying directly, and it seems like an important tool, so continuing not to use it seems ill-advised—but I’d be happy to have a more in-depth discussion of this with you.
I can’t name who has been involved in discussions, but I’ll vouch for the fact that several of the people I would want in the loop on this are, in fact, in the loop. I can’t promise that they will have sufficient veto-power, but I think Gabe is sufficiently aware of the issues and the risks of unilateralism that it’s fine.
If anyone has a contrary impression on any of these points, feel free to say so, and/or reach out to me privately.
Important topic. Though I find it hard to gauge the project without certain basic info:
In what ways is this actually a non-partisan effort (when the funding is going through ActBlue)?
How are you managing any risks, not limited to polarising EA politics, poisoning political relationships?
To what extent has the project been vetted by funders and experts working in adjacent areas?
I’m not responding on behalf of GAP, but since I’ve been working a bit with them, I’ll try to answer.
The efforts to find and work with Republican champions are ongoing, and there are at least some (non-public, in the works) efforts which are definitely on the Republican side. I don’t know all the details, but I’m assuming the issue for now is that 1) they haven’t set up infrastructure for donations independent of ActBlue, and 2) the democrats are in power, and lost of things are happening immediately, so they are the primary target for much current lobbying.
This is a definite topic of discussion, and I’m not sure there’s a way to answer briefly, but I think that a well-run and careful lobbying done by a group which aligns itself with the EA movement, but in no way claims to reflect the movement, has limited risks. That said, of course it’s very difficult to predict how political lobbying plays out, but companies and other movements certainly negotiate this with a decent ability to avoid trouble. More than that, the alternative which has been embraced so far is to not have any outlet to engage in lobbying directly, and it seems like an important tool, so continuing not to use it seems ill-advised—but I’d be happy to have a more in-depth discussion of this with you.
I can’t name who has been involved in discussions, but I’ll vouch for the fact that several of the people I would want in the loop on this are, in fact, in the loop. I can’t promise that they will have sufficient veto-power, but I think Gabe is sufficiently aware of the issues and the risks of unilateralism that it’s fine.
If anyone has a contrary impression on any of these points, feel free to say so, and/or reach out to me privately.