Former president Donald Trump’s selection of Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), as his running mate is expected to turbocharge the cryptocurrency industry’s spending in the 2024 election cycle.
Vance, who owns up to $250,000 in Bitcoin, is a recent champion of the digital asset industry. During his time in the Senate, Vance has drafted legislation that would rework how the Securities and Exchange Commission and Commodity Futures Trading Commission regulate the crypto community — much to the liking of crypto investors.
Crypto-backed super PACs are already pouring tens of millions of dollars into congressional races.
One pro-crypto super PAC launched in December 2023, Fairshake, has already spent $14.4 million to independently bolster the campaigns of crypto-friendly congressional candidates in the 2024 election cycle. The bulk of that spending has gone to attacking Democratic candidates in primaries but Fairshake has also spent to support candidates on both sides of the aisle.
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Fairshake ended June with nearly $120 million cash on hand, an OpenSecrets analysis of new campaign finance reports filed July 20 found.
On its website, Fairshake pledges to “support candidates committed to securing the United States as the home to innovators building the next generation of the internet.”
“Providing blockchain innovators the ability to develop their networks under a clearer regulatory and legal framework is vital if the broader open blockchain economy is to grow to its full potential here in the United States.”
Since corporations themselves cannot donate directly to political candidates or party committees and individual donors are subject to strict contribution limits, cryptocurrency companies and their executives are taking advantage of making unlimited contributions to super PACs — which are allowed to raise unlimited sums of money to support and oppose candidates thanks to the Supreme Court’s 2010 decision in Citizens United v. FEC.
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Fairshake has received over $46.5 million in donations from Coinbase, one of the largest cryptocurrency exchange platforms in the U.S. A blockchain-based digital payment network called Ripple has also deepened Fairshake’s pockets with contributions totalling $45 million.
Executives at a Silicon Valley venture capital firm called Andreessen Horowitz have given over $44 million to Fairshake since its inception. After Trump’s selection of Vance as his running mate, those executives — Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz — told employees that they plan to make large contributions to pro-Trump super PACs in the 2024 election cycle.
Trump — once a staunch critic of cryptocurrency — released his presidential platform saying, “Republicans will end Democrats’ unlawful and un-American crypto crackdown and oppose the creation of a Central Bank Digital Currency.”
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In contrast, President Joe Biden’s administration has taken what some industry players have described as a “hardline” stance on cryptocurrency with the White House pushing for more regulation and appointing Gary Gensler, a former Goldman Sachs investment banker, to chair the SEC.
“We don’t need more digital currency,” Gensler stated in 2023. “We already have digital currency, it’s called the U.S. dollar.”
In the hours following Biden’s announcement ending his campaign, the price of Bitcoin briefly topped
$68,000, the highest increase for the cryptocurrency since June. The crypto community is increasingly curious to see whether Vice President Kamala Harris, who took over Biden’s campaign after his withdrawal from the race, will prolong Biden’s tight clamp on companies like Coinbase and Ripple or forge a new stance altogether.
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Fairshake is affiliated with two super PACs. Defend American Jobs has spent $17.1 million to support pro-crypto Republican candidates in the 2024 elections while Protect Progress has spent $13.5 million supporting Democrats in the 2024 cycle. Together, the three pro-crypto super PACs have over $127.2 million on hand.
Like Fairshake, both of its affiliated super PACs are supported by Andreessen Horowitz, Coinbase, Ripple, and Multicoin Capital.
Since its inception, over $12 million of Fairshake’s spending has gone to oppose two Democratic candidates, Rep. Katie Porter (D-Calif.) and Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) — both of whom lost their primaries. Fairshake launched attack ads on Porter, who has a history of allying with anti-crypto figures, like Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.). Porter’s campaign called the claims in Fairshake’s attack ads “false.”
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“We are making sure the 8 million crypto owners in California – who are disproportionately young voters who support Democrats – know about her hostility toward the technology and how that would hurt American jobs,” said Josh Vlasto, a spokesman for Fairshake, told CoinDesk, a cryptocurrency-focused news site.
Fairshake has supported pro-crypto congressional candidates across the political spectrum and has not yet commented on whether it will be supporting any presidential candidates.
As of July 24, the super PAC has spent over $702,000 to support Democrats including Rep. Steven Horsford (D-Nev.) and Rep. Wiley Nickel (D-N.C.). On the other side of the aisle, Fairshake has spent $551,600 to support Republicans including Rep. Young Kim (R-Calif.) and House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.).
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Emmer and Nickel are cosponsors on multiple pieces of crypto-centered legislation that have circulated in the 117th and 118th Congress, including the Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century Act, and the Digital Commodity Exchange Act — both of which seek to establish a regulatory framework for digital assets.
In a statement about the Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century Act, Gensler wrote, “The crypto industry’s record of failures, frauds, and bankruptcies is not because we don’t have rules or because the rules are unclear. It’s because many players in the crypto industry don’t play by the rules.” He continued, “We should make the policy choice to protect the investing public over facilitating business models of noncompliant firms.”
On July 27, Trump made an appearance at a Bitcoin conference in Nashville, Tenn., where digital asset leaders gathered to discuss the future of cryptocurrency. Attendees had the option of paying $844,600 for an exclusive event after Trump’s keynote — the ticket price being the maximum amount an individual can legally contribute to Trump’s campaign in 2024.
At the event, Trumplaid out his “plan to ensure that the United States will be the crypto capital of the planet and the Bitcoin superpower of the world.”
The Week 7 college basketball AP Top 25 came out on Monday morning. Like it did much of last season, the SEC again paces the nation in ranked teams (7). The order and composition of those respective schools, though, is a bit non-traditional.
Vanderbilt (No. 13) is the conference’s highest-ranked team. The Commodores, under head coach Mark Byington, are 10-0 following a victory over Central Arkansas on Saturday. They won the Battle 4 Atlantic during Feast Week and are the SEC’s last unbeaten squad. Arkansas (No. 14) slots right behind Vandy following an impressive 93-85 triumph over then-No. 16 Texas Tech. The Razorbacks had the second-biggest jump (+3) of any team in the AP poll, worse than only Nebraska (+8).
Alabama, Tennessee, Auburn and Florida all remain in the top 25. They were joined by Georgia, who snared the No. 25 spot. The Bulldogs (9-1) are ranked in back-to-back seasons for the second time this century (2001-02 & 2002-03) after an 84-65 drubbing of Cincinnati. You can see the full AP poll below:
The Arkansas Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025 results for each game:
Winning Cash 3 numbers from Dec. 14 drawing
Evening: 0-8-3
Check Cash 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash 4 numbers from Dec. 14 drawing
Evening: 7-8-7-9
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Check Cash 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Dec. 14 drawing
08-23-32-33-34, Lucky Ball: 15
Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Natural State Jackpot numbers from Dec. 14 drawing
06-11-17-18-37
Check Natural State Jackpot payouts and previous drawings here.
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Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
When are the Arkansas Lottery drawings held?
Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday.
Cash 3 Midday: 12:59 p.m. CT daily except Sunday.
Cash 3 Evening: 6:59 p.m. CT daily.
Cash 4 Midday: 12:59 p.m. CT daily except Sunday.
Cash 4 Evening: 6:59 p.m. CT daily.
Lucky For Life: 9:30 p.m. CT daily.
Natural State Jackpot: 8 p.m. CT daily except Sunday.
LOTTO: 9 p.m. CT on Wednesday and Saturday.
Winning lottery numbers are sponsored by Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network.
Where can you buy lottery tickets?
Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.
You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Washington D.C., and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.
Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 18+ (19+ in NE, 21+ in AZ). Physically present where Jackpocket operates. Jackpocket is not affiliated with any State Lottery. Eligibility Restrictions apply. Void where prohibited. Terms: jackpocket.com/tos.
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This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by an Arkansas editor. You can send feedback using this form.
This is “Arkies in the Beltway” for the week of Dec. 14, 2025! I’m Alex Thomas, Washington Correspondent for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, with your look at national politics and the Arkansans influencing the discussions.
[Click here to listen to the podcast.]
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Arkansas farm leaders are thankful for the White House’s plan to help agriculture, but they remain uneasy about farming’s immediate future.
The Trump administration plans to provide farmers across the country with one-time relief payments in the coming months. The package totals $12 billion, with row crop farmers set to receive most of the funds.
The Trump administration announced the relief package during a roundtable last Monday at the White House.
Two Arkansans — U.S. Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., and Crittenden County farmer Charles Williams — joined other lawmakers and farmers for the event.
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Read the full story in Monday’s edition of the Democrat-Gazette.
The Arkansas Army National Guard continues its mission in the nation’s capital. Roughly 100 National Guard members arrived in Washington, D.C., earlier this month to assist local law enforcement.
The topic of deploying National Guard units to cities across the country was the subject of a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing last Thursday.
Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., serves on the committee. The Little Rock senator defended the president’s ability to use the National Guard and military units in American cities, citing President Dwight Eisenhower’s 1957 decision to send federal troops to Little Rock to desegregate Little Rock Central High School.
STORY: Cotton defends Trump’s National Guard deployments to U.S. cities, compares them to Central High crisis
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The Senate Judiciary Committee advanced David Clay Fowlkes’ nomination to the full chamber for its consideration.
President Donald Trump nominated Fowlkes to serve on the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas. The Arkansan currently serves as the district’s U.S. attorney.
STORY: U.S. Senate committee advances Fowlkes judicial nomination
Thank you for supporting “Arkies in the Beltway!” You can stay up to date with all Arkansas news at ArkansasOnline.com, or follow me on Bluesky for more developments from the nation’s capital!
