I think funders are generally fair game to consider when looking at someone expressing an opinion that directly impacts the funders. There are good reasons that conflict-of-interest rules exist for folks like judges and even schoolteachers. We don't have legislatively-mandated conflict-of-interest rules for pundits and think-tanks, but imo it's still fair for individuals to consider whether conflicts of interest might exist.

> I think funders are generally fair game to consider when looking at someone expressing an opinion that directly impacts the funders.

You mean like folks pushing the net neutrality proposal?

You're kidding, right?