Airbnb is proving itself to the quite the political operator. In an ethics complaint filed today in San Francisco, Airbnb has been accused using off-the-books lobbyists to help push legislation that legalized the startup.

Apple may have only unveiled their long-awaited Watch a few weeks ago, but they're already pushing the government to make sure it isn't subjected to health privacy regulations. According to Politico, companies including Intel, Apple, and Fitbit are pouring millions into lobbying campaigns against regulating wearables like medical devices.

Google just tied its all-time lobbying record, spending "$5.03 million on lobbying from April through June." Reportedly, Google lobbied Washington on issues ranging from "cybersecurity, patent reform, tax reform and immigration" to "autonomous vehicle technology."

Ten tech firms including Google and Facebook "pumped a combined $61.15 million into efforts to influence federal regulators and lawmakers in 2013," up almost 16 percent. The only way to wield more influence would be if they become the politicians themselves.

An app that lets you send disappearing pictures and videos now has an at least very slight influence in our American democratic process, The Hill reports.

While Airbnb funneled some of its $326 million in venture capital toward movie replica conference rooms, a skee ball machine, and corporate myth-making at its shmancy new Soma headquarters, the company's non-profit partner is soliciting non-tax deductible donations from regular shmoes to keep the sharing economy in the margins to which it has become accustomed.

Bill Allison, the editorial director of the Sunlight Foundation, looks at the lobbying and campaign finance records relating to Apple as its CEO, Tim Cook, appears before a Senate Committee.

John Doerr is a White House advisor, prominent billionaire, and Silicon Valley household name—at least among yuppie Valley households who care. Six years ago, he famously stepped back and forth across a TED Talk stage cheerleading "green tech," warning of global environmental disaster, and breaking into tears at the prospect. Today, he's bankrolling Mark Zuckerberg's dirty fuel campaign. What the hell happened?

The backlash against Silicon Valley's covert right wing boosterism just picked up a little more speed: Josh Miller, the young chief of Twitter chat system Branch, is calling Zuck out.