The Whole Hogg: Casting A Skinny Shadow

 David Hogg, a high-profile gun control activist, has been the subject of speculation regarding his potential ties to the U.S. intelligence community and organizations such as USAID. His whole storyline reads like a clandestine operation, several degrees of separation raise questions about indirect influence and access to policy networks. It is important to examine key connections, financial pathways, and the broader ecosystem of actors involved in his activism.

Background and Key Individuals

David Hogg

1. March for Our Lives (MFOL)

Role: Co-founder and board member.

Mission: A youth-led movement advocating for gun control legislation and violence prevention.

Activities: Organizes marches, lobbies for policy changes, and engages in voter registration drives.

Notable Events:

March for Our Lives rally in Washington, D.C. (March 2018).

Ongoing campaigns to pass universal background checks and ban assault weapons.

2. Leaders We Deserve (LWD)

Role: Founder and strategic advisor.

Mission: A political action committee (PAC) focused on electing young progressive candidates.

Activities: Fundraises for candidates, supports grassroots organizing, and advocates for issues like gun reform, climate action, and social justice.

Controversies: Allegations of high executive pay and potential misuse of funds.

3. Good Pillow

Role: Co-founder (with William LeGate).

Mission: A progressive alternative to MyPillow, aimed at promoting ethical consumerism.

Status: The company was announced in 2021 but appears to be inactive as of 2023.

4. Team Enough

Role: Supporter and collaborator.

Mission: A youth-led initiative under the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.

Activities: Educates young people on gun violence prevention and empowers them to take action.

5. Change the Ref

Role: Collaborator and advocate.

Mission: A nonprofit founded by the parents of Parkland victim Joaquin Oliver, using art and activism to promote gun reform.

Activities: Hogg has participated in events and campaigns organized by the group.

6. The Peace Plan

Role: Contributor and advocate.

Mission: A comprehensive policy proposal by March for Our Lives to reduce gun violence.

Activities: Hogg has promoted the plan through media appearances and public events.

7. Road to Change Tour

Role: Organizer and participant.

Mission: A nationwide bus tour organized by March for Our Lives to register young voters and advocate for gun reform.

Activities: Hogg traveled across the U.S. in 2018 to engage with communities and promote voter turnout.

8. Student Action Network

Role: Supporter and collaborator.

Mission: A coalition of student-led organizations advocating for progressive causes.

Activities: Hogg has worked with the network on issues like gun control and climate change.

9. Gun Safety Alliance

Role: Advocate and spokesperson.

Mission: A coalition of organizations working to promote gun safety legislation.

Activities: Hogg has participated in events and campaigns organized by the alliance.

10. Survivors Network

Role: Member and advocate.

Mission: A network of gun violence survivors advocating for policy changes.

Activities: Hogg has collaborated with other survivors to share their stories and push for reform.

11. Harvard Institute of Politics (IOP)

Role: Former fellow (2021).

Mission: A Harvard University program that brings young leaders to campus to engage with students and faculty.

Activities: Hogg participated in discussions on gun control and activism during his fellowship.

12. Sunrise Movement

Role: Supporter and collaborator.

Mission: A youth-led organization focused on climate justice.

Activities: Hogg has expressed solidarity with the movement and participated in joint events with MFOL.

13. American Federation of Teachers (AFT)

Role: Collaborator and advocate.

Mission: A teachers' union that supports gun reform and school safety.

Activities: Hogg has worked with AFT on campaigns to address gun violence in schools.

14. Everytown for Gun Safety

Role: Supporter and collaborator.

Mission: A leading gun control advocacy group.

Activities: Hogg has participated in events and campaigns organized by Everytown.

15. Global Survivors Network

Role: Collaborator and advocate.

Mission: An international network of gun violence survivors.

Activities: Hogg has worked with the network to share his story and advocate for global gun reform.

16. National School Walkout

Role: Organizer and participant.

Mission: A student-led movement protesting gun violence in schools.

Activities: Hogg helped organize the nationwide walkout in March 2018.

17. Vote.org

Role: Supporter and collaborator.

Mission: A nonprofit focused on increasing voter registration and turnout.

Activities: Hogg has worked with Vote.org to register young voters.

18. Rock the Vote

Role: Supporter and collaborator.

Mission: A nonprofit encouraging young people to vote.

Activities: Hogg has participated in campaigns to engage youth in the electoral process.

19. Youth Over Guns

Role: Collaborator and advocate.

Mission: A New York-based organization fighting gun violence.

Activities: Hogg has worked with the group on campaigns and events.

20. National Die-In

Role: Organizer and participant.

Mission: A protest tactic used by gun control advocates to simulate the impact of gun violence.

Activities: Hogg participated in die-ins to draw attention to the issue.

Kevin Hogg (Father)

Retired FBI agent with over two decades of experience in counterterrorism and intelligence operations.

Kevin Hogg has supported his son David’s activism, particularly through March for Our Lives (MFOL). While not an official member or leader of MFOL, he has been present at events and has publicly endorsed his son’s activism. His career has fueled speculation about influence through intelligence networks.

Rebecca Boldrick Hogg (Mother)

Former teacher at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, where the 2018 Parkland shooting occurred.

Rebecca has supported her son David’s activism, particularly through March for Our Lives (MFOL). While not an official member or leader of MFOL, she has been present at events and has publicly endorsed her son’s work.

Samantha Power (Administrator, USAID)

Former U.S. Ambassador to the U.N., key advocate for youth engagement initiatives funded by USAID. Oversees USAID-funded programs that align with MFOL’s global advocacy efforts.

Kevin Hogg’s Career and Influence

His career in the FBI specialized in counterterrorism and intelligence, which suggests potential access to networks that could aid in activism strategies. Indirect pathways through intelligence-adjacent organizations should be examined.

Claims from fringe sources suggest Hogg is a "crisis actor" or intelligence asset due to the strong coincidences, inexplicable massive political support from the left and continued astroturfing and virality surrounding Hogg.

Serious concerns revolve around policy influence and coordinated messaging between intelligence-linked organizations and MFOL, especially considering USAID, FCDO and other similar entities have been funding many political groups to ensure a coordinated narrative between all of them.

USAID and NGO Partnerships

USAID’s Involvement in Youth Activism

USAID engages in global youth leadership and civic engagement programs through initiatives like YouthPower.

MFOL has participated in international forums alongside USAID-funded NGOs such as Amnesty International and the Global Survivors Network.

Financial and Organizational Overlaps

MFOL’s indirect relationships with USAID-funded organizations suggest a degree of influence, even if not direct sponsorship.

Public records indicate MFOL has collaborated with NGOs that have received USAID grants.

Analysis of Leaders We Deserve (LWD) PAC

Key Individuals and Organizations

Kevin Lata (Campaign manager for Rep. Cori Bush, consultant for LWD)

Democratic National Committee (DNC) (Shared donor bases and potential financial coordination with LWD)

Federal Election Commission (FEC) (Monitoring allegations of improper financial activities)

Financial Scrutiny

LWD raised approximately $1.2 million in 2023, primarily from small-dollar donors.

Payments of $127,000 to Hogg as a “strategic advisor” raise questions about personal enrichment.

LWD paid $220,000 to consulting firms linked to Democratic operatives.

Use of DNC Resources

Allegations suggest Hogg leveraged DNC donor lists and campaign infrastructure for LWD fundraising.

Potential FEC violations under 52 U.S.C. § 30125 regarding party coordination.

Conflict of Interest

MFOL’s nonprofit status and LWD’s PAC activities may have blurred legal and ethical lines.

Examination of MFOL’s tax filings could reveal potential resource misallocation.

Precedents and Enforcement Challenges

The FEC’s history of maintaining a convenient partisan deadlock makes enforcement of coordination rules uncertain.

Legal action could take years unless watchdog groups successfully escalate the issue.

Recommendations for Further Investigation

Intelligence Community and USAID Ties

FOIA Requests

Submit FOIA requests for Kevin Hogg’s FBI career records, particularly regarding intelligence work relevant to youth movements.

Request USAID documents detailing NGO partnerships related to MFOL.

Interviews

Conduct off-the-record discussions with former FBI colleagues of Kevin Hogg.

Engage with USAID officials on their engagement with MFOL and similar advocacy groups.

Financial and Political Oversight

Examine LWD’s Expenditures

Scrutinize LWD’s Schedule B FEC filings for payments to Democratic vendors.

Cross-reference LWD donors with DNC records to identify overlaps.

Monitor FEC Complaints and Legal Actions

Track developments in watchdog complaints filed against LWD.

Consult campaign finance attorneys on potential violations.

Is Anyone Asking the Hard Questions?

Is David Hogg tied to intelligence operations? Via degrees of separation through his father’s FBI background and MFOL’s collaboration with USAID-linked NGOs? It merits further examination, if nothing else. Is there an answer that isn't a knee jerk reaction with no research behind it?

Financial and organizational ties between LWD and the DNC raise questions about compliance with campaign finance regulations. Continued scrutiny through legal channels and investigative research will be critical in uncovering potential coordination and influence mechanisms. Does the political will exist? And would the intelligence community even allow the political will to exist?