The man at the helm of the Democratic Party’s main organizing apparatus is beginning to crack under pressure, according to insiders.

Nestled in a New York Times story about the Democratic National Committee’s dire financials was the mention of an incident between chair Ken Martin, a junior aide and a cell phone. Martin, who is contending with $2 million of DNC debt and a shrinking list of allies, reportedly threw his phone “in a pique of frustration” earlier this month.

Although the Times spoke with half a dozen people familiar with the incident, none witnessed it firsthand. There was also some contention over “how aggressively the phone was tossed,” and whether it was aimed at the desk or the aide. However, the incident sparked a formal complaint to the DNC’s human resources department.

During another heated moment at a May staff meeting just days after the DNC released its long-anticipated 2024 “election autopsy,” Martin reportedly berated attendees about leaks.

“It pisses me off when I see leaks out of this building,” he said, per four people who reportedly heard the remarks. “No more of that shit. No more.”

Martin has not held a staff-wide meeting since.

Along with political pressure to right the ship, Martin’s mood appears to be aggravated by serious cash flow issues at the organization. Reportedly angling for creative ways to balance their books, three sources told the Times the committee has asked vendors not to bill them until after November’s midterm elections.

Party officials have also allegedly informed congressional leaders that the DNC will not be able to transfer funds to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee or Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee to support any down-ballot races, as it has in past years.

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