Talk:Bradley Tusk

Sounds like an advertisement
I added the advert template the other day, the first line of which says, "This article contains content that is written like an advertisement." User:Sampol327 removed the template without making any changes to the article, stating in the edit summary, "Removed advert template as this issue appears to be resolved." This edit summary appears despite no changes having been made to the article itself since the time I added the template. Here's the problem with this article: 5-10 sentences in it sound like advertising copy and/or contain Weasel words. One example is the article's third sentence, which says, "His family foundation, Tusk Philanthropies, is leading the effort to bring mobile voting to the United States." The problem with this sentence is the phrase "leading the effort". That phraseology is intended to cast a positive glow. It's not an encyclopedic way of writing. It also is not substantiated by the linked source. And, even if it were substantiated by the linked source, we would normally want multiple reliable sources to establish the notability of a claim like that. Instead of adding the template, I could just whip through the article and remove all the (5-10) sentences that are like that. Novellasyes (talk) 18:43, 8 February 2021 (UTC)

COI tag (November 2021)
Nothing proven, but see Sockpuppet investigations/Mbc16 for some background on this. Whilst there probably won't be any action taken on sockpuppetry since it wasn't always overlapping or currently ongoing, the admin did opine that it was likely that User:Mbc16, User:Sampol327, User:Bb510c1 and User:Pvt928c were the same person. Mako001 (talk) 00:51, 3 November 2021 (UTC)
 * Also note that the editors User:Svoss78, User:Creativekmc10, User:Urbanherb also seem to be potentially linked to these sock/COI issues. Mako001 (talk) 14:58, 15 November 2021 (UTC)
 * Also see Sockpuppet investigations/ManeBit/Archive. BilledMammal (talk) 00:15, 29 November 2021 (UTC)

"Deputy governor" ?
Anybody know what exactly the title "deputy governor" means in Illinois? I searched and couldn't really find anything official or authoritative to even prove that the office exists. Is it merely honorific? While there are plenty of sources backing up Tusk's position as "deputy governor," it certainly is not the same as the Lieutenant Governor of Illinois. Any help here would be appreciated. - Headphase (talk) 03:26, 31 December 2021 (UTC)

COI addition requests
I have a few proposed additions to make in this article. I used the "edit COI" template due to my employment with Bradley Tusk.
 * Add "FanDuel" to a list of companies in this sentence in the Tusk Strategies subsection: The firm develops and runs campaigns for companies, including Comcast, Google, Walmart, AT&T, Pepsi, FanDuel...


 * I don't see Comcast in the article. Also, the URL is giving an application error. Please revise and/or resource. STEM info  (talk) 00:23, 23 September 2023 (UTC)


 * Add to the "Published works" section: Tusk is authoring a novel called "Obvious in Hindsight" that he called "slightly absurdist take" on his career working with Uber. The novel is about a campaign to legalize flying cars.
 * See WP:CRYSTALBALL Is there a source that says the book was published? STEM info  (talk) 00:23, 23 September 2023 (UTC)


 * Add to the "Published works" section: Tusk also opened a bookstore on the Lower East Side called P&T Knitwear. In addition to being a bookstore, P&T Knitwear also has a podcast studio and an 80-seat amphitheater.
 * I suggest adding information on the bookstore to the "Published Works" section since this section deals with literature. However, editors may decide it fits better in the "Private sector" section; that's fine with me, too.
 * ✅ Content matches source. Placed in private sector section.  STEM info  (talk) 00:28, 23 September 2023 (UTC)

If there are any questions, please feel free to message me. BasilAtTusk (talk) 23:31, 22 September 2023 (UTC)


 * Thanks for the review, STEMinfo. I reviewed the rules about "crystal ball" so I will wait to suggest this again for when the book comes out next month.


 * I would like to make this amended request :
 * Remove "Comcast" and add "FanDuel" to a list of companies in the first half of a sentence in the Tusk Strategies subsection: The firm develops and runs campaigns for companies, including Google, Walmart, AT&T, Pepsi, FanDuel...
 * ✅ Content matches sources. STEM info  (talk) 20:43, 13 October 2023 (UTC)


 * Additionally, thank you for adding information on P&T Knitwear. I noticed in your addition, there seems to be a typo. The bookstore opened in 2022, not 2018. The New York Times source, which was published in 2023, says, "Last year, Tusk opened a bookstore…" Would you mind changing 2018 to 2022?
 * ✅ Content matches sources. STEM info  (talk) 20:43, 13 October 2023 (UTC)
 * If more adjustments are needed, please let me know. Thanks BasilAtTusk (talk) 01:27, 12 October 2023 (UTC)


 * STEMinfo: Thank you for these updates. BasilAtTusk (talk) 20:42, 20 October 2023 (UTC)

Private Sector section proposed updated
Hi, Basil at Tusk here again with a few more proposed additions to make in this article. I used the "edit COI" template due to my employment with Bradley Tusk. The proposed edits I have are in the current "Private sector" section. These changes include things like: Here is the draft:
 * Added "He formed IG Acquisition Corp, a SPAC planning to acquire a business in the leisure, gaming and hospitality industries. "
 * Added the word "Partners" to the first sentence of "Tusk Ventures" subsection for accuracy.
 * Removed some broken wikilinks and inaccuracies in the list of startups in the "Tusk Ventures" subsection.
 * Removing the "Ivory Gaming Group" subsection due to out of date information

Private sector After serving as Deputy Governor of Illinois, Tusk was hired as a senior vice president at Lehman Brothers, where he created the lottery monetization group and headed all of its efforts regarding U.S. based lotteries. Combining his backgrounds in finance and politics, Tusk developed a successful framework to help states monetize their lotteries. In 2015, Tusk ran a public affairs campaign for Uber that included television, radio, and digital ads as well as direct mail and grassroots organizing in opposition to a cap on rideshare vehicles proposed by New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio. The campaign argued that "the company was good for the city, providing jobs and transportation for less affluent residents in the outer boroughs." The bill was dropped before it reached a vote. After the campaign's success in New York City, Tusk moved onto other places like Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago, Miami, Los Angeles, Denver and Washington D.C. For his representation of Uber, Tusk was compensated with equity in the company estimated to be worth $100 million. The experience also provided him with exposure to the world of venture capital, and Tusk Ventures was launched two weeks after the New York City victory. He formed IG Acquisition Corp, a SPAC planning to acquire a business in the leisure, gaming and hospitality industries. Tusk Strategies In 2011 Tusk founded Tusk Strategies, which is the first firm dedicated to helping startups navigate political issues and is based in New York City. The firm develops and runs campaigns for companies, including Google, Walmart, AT&T, Pepsi, FanDuel, and institutions including Stanford University, the Rockefeller Foundation and Texas A&M, and individuals including Michael Bloomberg and George Lucas. Tusk Strategies also conducts issue advocacy campaigns around education reform and government; campaigns to help political candidates, non-profits and trade associations. Tusk Ventures In 2015, Tusk launched Tusk Ventures Partners, a venture capital fund that invests in startups facing political and regulatory challenges or pursuing political and governmental opportunities. His work with startups began in 2011, when he worked with transportation startup Uber, which was contesting with regulation proposed by the Taxi and Limousine Commission (CE) of New York City. Tusk Ventures has worked with over three dozen startups including Bird, FanDuel, Lemonade, Handy, Eaze, Nexar, Ripple, MainStreet, Nurx, Ro, Kodiak Robotics, and Care/Of, solving a variety of political, regulatory and media challenges solely in return for equity in each company and for investment rights in each company's next round of financing. Tusk Venture Partners raised its first fund in 2016 and began deploying capital into startups including Lemonade, Nexar, Care/Of, Circle, Coinbase, Bird, Ro and FanDuel.

If there are any questions, please feel free to message me. BasilAtTusk (talk) 18:29, 3 November 2023 (UTC)

Reply 3-NOV-2023

 * It's not clear what changes are requested to be made. You've placed a "draft" here on the talk page, but there are neither directions for any specific text's emplacement nor are any reasons provided for these changes. * To expedite your request, it would help if you could provide the following information:


 * 1) Please state each specific desired change and accompanying reference in the form of verbatim statements which can then be added to the article (if approved) by the reviewer.
 * 2) The exact location where the desired claims are to be placed should be given.
 * 3) Exact, verbatim descriptions of any text and/or references to be removed should also be given.
 * 4) Reasons should be provided for each change.
 * In the section of text below titled Sample edit request, the four required items are shown as an example:

 1. Please remove the third sentence from the second paragraph of the Sun section:
 * "The Sun's diameter is estimated to be approximately 25 miles in length."

2. Please add the following claim as the third sentence of the second paragraph of the Sun section:
 * "The Sun's diameter is estimated to be approximately 864,337 miles in length."

3. Using as the reference:

4. Reason for change being made:
 * "The previously given diameter was incorrect."

Regards, Spintendo  23:52, 3 November 2023 (UTC)
 * Kindly open a new edit request at your earliest convenience when ready to proceed with all four items from your request. Thank you!

Updated request
Thanks Spintendo for the suggestions. Here is my modified request:


 * Add as the last sentence to the "Private sector" subsection the following sentence: "He formed IG Acquisition Corp, a SPAC planning to acquire a business in the leisure, gaming and hospitality industries. "
 * Information on this is not in the article and it is a part of Bradley Tusk's involvement in the private sector.


 * Add the word "Partners" to the first sentence of "Tusk Ventures" subsection. Example: "In 2015, Tusk launched Tusk Ventures Partners, a venture capital fund that invests in startups facing political and regulatory challenges or pursuing political and governmental opportunities."
 * This is being requested for accuracy. FYI: Here is another article that verifies the proper name. I don't think it needs to be cited in the live article, but I wanted to share it here so reviewing editors can verify the name.


 * Remove the following sentence: "Ivory Gaming Group was co-founded by Bradley Tusk and Christian Goode in 2015 to develop and manage casinos, including their day-to-day operations which include food and beverage services, marketing and media."
 * This is sourced to a press release


 * Remove the subheading "Ivory Gaming Group"
 * With the removal of the above sentence due to being sourced to a press release, this subsection would have nothing in it and thus should be removed.

I am happy to answer any questions. Thanks BasilAtTusk (talk) 16:50, 10 November 2023 (UTC)


 * I'm suspicious about the desire to get rid of Ivory. There are other sources- techcrunch: "Somewhat astoundingly, Tusk oversees three other outfits, too: a casino management company called Ivory Gaming Group (it owns one casino in Fresno)", observer.com (2): Tusk bio from an op-ed written by him, "the founder and CEO of ... the Ivory Gaming Group", nytimes "In 2018, his casino management company, then called Ivory Gaming, mounted a bid for a casino site in Las Vegas... Ivory Gaming ultimately spawned IG Acquisition Corp., a gambling concern that reportedly raised $300 million in the public markets to invest in the industry." tedder (talk) 20:40, 10 November 2023 (UTC)

Reply 11-NOV-2023
Regards, Spintendo  00:16, 12 November 2023 (UTC)
 * 1) ❌ The information concerning the IG Acquisition Corp. was not added, because it was not clear what is meant by the phrase "a SPAC planning to acquire a business in the leisure, gaming and hospitality industries". Wikipedia does not usually speak about the future plans of subjects in their articles.
 * 2) ✅ The word "Partners" was added.
 * 3) ❌ The claims concerning Ivory were not removed, per the additional sources provided by tedder above. The claim is well referenced.

Reply to Spintendo
let me clarify as I may have misspoken previously. The info about IG Acquisition Corp is included in the introduction, but is not in the body of the article. The current sentence in the intro is exactly as I had proposed, "He is also the chairman of IG Acquisition Corp, a SPAC planning to acquire a business in the leisure, gaming and hospitality industries. "

I originally proposed adding the sentence to Private sector because I thought the intro was supposed to be a summary of content found in the article. With that said, I think you're right. IG Acquisition Corp has ended and the sentence does include "future plans", so I'm now wondering if it's best to simply remove that sentence from the article's introduction. If you and others decide IG Acquisition Corp does belong in the article, it would be best to move it from the intro to the Private sector section. BasilAtTusk (talk) 22:04, 16 November 2023 (UTC)


 * Thank you for the clarification. I omitted the claims about "planning" and thought perhaps moving it to the Private sector section, but as its mostly a description of a job title, it can stay in the lead. Regards, Spintendo  00:58, 17 November 2023 (UTC)

Formatting fixes
Hello, in my continuing effort to make this page better for all, I wanted to ask if editors would consider removing the red links to "Nexar", "GlamSquad", and "MainStreet" under the "Tusk Ventures" subsection. Since articles for Nexar and MainStreet have been deleted, and it's not clear if GlamSquad is yet notable for a Wikipedia article, those red links can be removed per Red link. Please let me know if there are any questions, BasilAtTusk (talk) 20:36, 30 November 2023 (UTC)
 * ✅ Spintendo  03:52, 1 December 2023 (UTC)

Infobox updates
Hi all, it's Basil for Bradley Tusk here again. I noticed the article has some information that should be included in the Infobox too, specifically Tusk's alma mater. Would edits be willing to add in this information per the Infobox person template? My specific request is that editors add to the infobox his alma maters University of Pennsylvania and University of Chicago Law School. Two of the sources I included here are already cited in the body of the article to verify this information and I have additionally added the WSJ source, which also verifies it. Let me know if there are any questions.

Thanks BasilAtTusk (talk) 20:23, 13 December 2023 (UTC)


 * Lewcm Talk to me! 23:16, 13 December 2023 (UTC)

Illinois subsection
Thanks very much Lewcm for making those Infobox updates! I have another suggestion, this time to the Illinois subsection: This adds needed context to the situation that is covered in the reference cited in the article. Happy to review any questions you have! BasilAtTusk (talk) 15:55, 19 December 2023 (UTC)
 * Change "In the position, Tusk failed to file required financial disclosure reports on at least three occasions" to "Tusk had not filed financial disclosure reports after the Secretary of State’s office failed to certify and inform him of the requirement to file."

Reply 16-JAN-2024
This change of phrasing (which has not been given a reason) obviously benefits the subject while not substantively changing the meaning. Without a bonafide reason why for the change, it cannot be made.

Regards, Spintendo  16:40, 16 January 2024 (UTC)


 * Thanks for the reply, Spintendo. I appreciate your insight here. The reasoning behind this proposed edit is that the suggested update more fully represents the cited source material. The reason for the proposed change is that the Secretary of State's involvement is important context in this instance.

Thanks for the consideration BasilAtTusk (talk) 18:28, 19 January 2024 (UTC)
 * The source does not quite say what you read it to say. It expressly says later in the article that as an attorney and employee, he should have known about the disclosure requirements even without notification. voorts (talk/contributions) 21:05, 20 January 2024 (UTC)


 * Understood, thank you both for the insight, I will stop seeking this change now that I understand. BasilAtTusk (talk) 15:21, 25 January 2024 (UTC)

Tusk Philanthropies section
Hello editors, I wanted to propose some updates to the current Tusk Philanthropies section. This includes:
 * Remove "The services Tusk has backed so far are based on blockchain technology, but he has stated that he is open to other technologies"
 * The editor who added this seems to be conflating different claims in this article and so this summation is incorrect. The article states that, Voatz is the platform to use blockchain but that Bradley Tusk is not an investor of that platform.
 * Add: Tusk Philanthropies announced a $10 million grant in 2021 for the development of internet-based voting.
 * This would add an update to this topic that has not yet been added
 * Add as the last paragraph: Tusk founded Tusk Philanthropies' Solving Hunger, which supports school meal efforts.
 * This would add more information on a topic that has not yet been added

Please let me know if there are any questions. Thanks BasilAtTusk (talk) 15:22, 25 January 2024 (UTC)
 * I've added both sections you requested, removing that first sentence would make further sentences not make sense, so I've instead reworded it - removing the blockchain bit as requested - to instead reference internet voting.

Hope this is alright, if you have any other suggestions for this bit please let me know :) Thanks, Encoded Talk to me! 15:44, 7 February 2024 (UTC)


 * Encoded, these changes are great. Thanks for being so thorough and improving my suggestion! BasilAtTusk (talk) 15:40, 13 February 2024 (UTC)

New book by Tusk
Hello editors. I previously made a suggestion for this page which was denied by STEMinfo due to it being too "crystal ball"-y since the book I was suggesting be added was not yet published. Good news, the book has now been published! Since this no longer is a crystal ball scenario, I would like to re-request this addition:
 * Add to the "Published works" section: Tusk authored a novel called "Obvious in Hindsight" that he called a "slightly absurdist take" on his career working with Uber. The novel was published in 2023 and is about a campaign to legalize flying cars.

I'm happy to answer any questions. Thanks BasilAtTusk (talk) 15:42, 13 February 2024 (UTC)
 * ARandomName123 (talk)Ping me! 16:38, 13 February 2024 (UTC)


 * Thank you! BasilAtTusk (talk) 22:01, 14 February 2024 (UTC)

New York subsection
Hello editors, I have some proposed updates to the New York Subsection:
 * Change "After referring to Yang as an 'empty vessel' in a March interview, critics warned that 'Tusk could essentially be the shadow mayor for New York, while he is representing the interests of big corporate clients.' Tusk responded to the allegations, declaring 'if we win, I will not lobby or talk with the new mayor — nor anyone in a Yang administration — on any matter that intersects with our work' in a statement. After Yang lost by an unexpectedly wide margin, Yang's former advisers criticized Tusk Strategies for avoiding freewheeling press conferences that were a feature of his Presidential campaign." to "One critic said that Tusk could be a shadow mayor for New York. Tusk responded to the allegations, and said he would not lobby a Yang administration. "
 * This language change will help make the article more neutral and relies less on direct quotations

Thanks for the review BasilAtTusk (talk) 15:40, 20 February 2024 (UTC)
 * I implemented part of what you asked. I removed the "empty vessel" quote, but kept the The Uprising info about the staffers blaming Tusk for the loss. I also copied the The Uprising source to the end of the first sentence, since the Times source doesn't say anything about the co-campaign managers being from Tusk's firm.  STEM info  (talk) 00:57, 27 June 2024 (UTC)

Undisclosed payments tag
Hello editors, Back in November 2022, a tag was added to this article saying "This article may have been created or edited in return for undisclosed payments." In recent months, I have been working with volunteer editors in cleaning up this article in a neutral way. If editors agree, I think it is time to reconsider whether this tag is needed anymore. After some research, I found this tag was added due to a sockpuppet investigation of other editors that has since been closed. Since that time, this article has been updated significantly to be brought in line with Wikipedia's content rules. Because of this, I do not think this tag is necessary any longer and am suggesting that it be removed. Thanks for the review. BasilAtTusk (talk) 21:25, 20 March 2024 (UTC)


 * Done ABG (Talk/Report any mistakes here) 04:05, 29 May 2024 (UTC)

Introduction
Hello, I have a suggestion for the Introduction to have it better reflect recent changes made to this article: Thanks for your review BasilAtTusk (talk) 21:25, 20 March 2024 (UTC)
 * Remove, "He is also the chairman of IG Acquisition Corp."
 * This is outdated and no longer accurate. ✅
 * Remove, "is the host of the podcast Firewall,"
 * This is not notable enough for the introduction. The podcast is not even mentioned in the body of the article ✅
 * Add, "Tusk owns P&T Knitwear, a bookstore with a podcast studio and an 80-seat amphitheater." ❌ - P&T doesn't seem to be what he's known for, and it doesn't seem that notable to include in the lead. STEM info  (talk) 01:05, 27 June 2024 (UTC)
 * This information was recently added to the body of this article but not the introduction and it seems important enough to add to the introduction as it is one of the things he is notable for.