Sanders Campaign Paid for Netflix Subscription Using Donor Funds Amid Prior Criticisms

Federal Election Commission records indicate that Sen. Bernie Sanders' campaign used donor funds to pay for a Netflix subscription from January to March. 79 per month and were listed as covering a subscription. Sanders, an independent senator from Vermont, did not respond to requests for comment on the matter.

Over the years, Sanders has publicly criticized Netflix on multiple occasions. 35 billion from its 75 million subscribers. He also noted that the CEO's wealth increased by $200 million during the pandemic.

99 for subscriptions. He called for large corporations to pay their fair share. Netflix has reduced its federal tax liability in some years through corporate tax credits. Campaign finance records show that only five political committees, including Sanders', have made payments to Netflix for subscriptions over the past ten years.

Senate campaigns have released financial information up to March, so it is unclear if the subscription continued beyond that period.

Sanders has faced questions about other uses of campaign funds in the past. In 2023, his campaign transferred $200,000 to the Sanders Institute, a nonprofit run by his wife and stepson. The campaign has continued to provide funds to the organization periodically since then.

Kendra Arnold, executive director of the Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust, stated at the time that while such transfers are not illegal if work is performed, they raise concerns due to family ties. She added that if little or no work is done, it could constitute a campaign finance violation.

During his 2025 'Fighting Oligarchy' tour, Sanders' campaign spent over $550,000 on private jets. Matt Gorman, a conservative political communications consultant, commented that this contrasted with socialist principles, noting liberals who criticize others' environmental choices while using private jets.

In 2024, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates interviewed Sanders for a Netflix series titled 'What's Next? The Future with Bill Gates.