Kamala Harris and Donald Trump “have together spent $3.5 billion in their race for the White House, making the 2024 presidential campaign the most expensive U.S. general election in history,” the Financial Times reports.

“A Philadelphia judge is allowing Elon Musk’s America PAC to continue its million-dollar giveaway to registered swing state voters,” ABC News reports.

“The Justice Department’s head of election crimes sent a warning letter to Elon Musk’s America PAC Monday, alerting it that it was a crime to knowingly offer anything of value to register to vote or vote,” 24sight News reports.

“The warning letter did not specify any immediate legal action, but it did spell out the penalties for breaking U.S. voting laws, including possible imprisonment of up to five years.”

CNN: Justice Department warns Elon Musk that his $1 million giveaway to registered voters may be illegal.

“Democrats are starting to use a campaign finance loophole to save big bucks on TV advertising — after failing to stop Republicans from doing the same,” Politico reports.

“Earlier this month, the Federal Election Commission deadlocked on a case brought forth by Democrats asking whether joint fundraising committees can run ads for candidates, as some Senate Republicans have been doing for months.”

“Senate Democrats are accusing Senate Republicans of illegally financing their campaign ads,” Axios reports.

“Democrats have been crushing the GOP in fundraising, forcing Republicans to get creative with campaign finance laws.”

“The FEC will decide this week if one GOP strategy can keep going, with a vote expected Thursday.”

“People who closely follow the commission tell Axios the expectation is for the vote to split along party lines — a 3-3 decision, clearing the way for the GOP to continue.”

“This year’s spending to elect a president and members of Congress will hit at least $15.9 billion – putting 2024 on track to become the nation’s most expensive federal election,” CNN reports.

“Helping to drive up the price tag: blistering spending by outside groups, including deep-pocketed super PACs aiding Republicans. Outside spending – largely through independent expenditures such as advertising, mailings, canvassing and other activities to boost specific candidates – has reached roughly $2.6 billion. That’s nearly $1 billion more than groups like these spent at this point in the 2020 election.”

“Donald Trump’s campaign spent more than it raised for the second month in a row as the Republican nominee struggles to keep pace with Democrat Kamala Harris’ robust fundraising operation,” Bloomberg reports.

“Elon Musk’s financial support for Republican causes has been much more extensive and started earlier than previously known,” the Wall Street Journal reports.

“The Tesla CEO quietly gave tens of millions of dollars to groups with ties to Trump aide Stephen Miller and supporters of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’s presidential bid.”

“The financial contributions, which haven’t previously been reported, show how Musk, who seemed to undergo a rapid political transformation this year, was a major force in funding Republican initiatives and candidates well before starting a super political-action committee in support of former President Donald Trump.”

“They also make him one of the biggest donors to conservative causes, which in combination with his large social-media following makes him one of the most influential figures in U.S. politics.”

“The Kamala Harris campaign sent a signal to deep-pocketed donors Monday by blessing the work of 13 independent groups that could help elect the vice president over the final 50 days through advertising, registration or other voter mobilization efforts,” the Washington Post reports.

“The announcement comes as the Harris campaign remains flush with late-summer cash after raising $615 million in the first six weeks after taking over President Joe Biden’s campaign.”