OpenSecrets recently released a report that estimates that the midterm elections will cost more than $9.3 billion – and they admit that’s a conservative estimate. Just let that sink in. $9.3 billion, and it’s not even a presidential election year. Even adjusted for inflation, that figure will blow away the previous record. If you’re thinking… Read more
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Walking to Fix Our Democracy UPDATE! Rick Hubbard is Going West in September
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Last month, we told you about Rick Hubbard, who is walking across America to help inspire us to fix our broken democracy. Rick’s official walk begins on October 1, but in September he is driving from Vermont to Los Angeles to meet up with activists along the way. Rick has been good enough to share… Read more
Citizen Spotlight: Rick Hubbard is Walking across America to Fix Our Democracy
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This month, we’re spotlighting Rick Hubbard, who is walking across America to help inspire us to fix our broken democracy. Rick is a Vermont native and former national board member of Common Cause who previously walked with Granny D and has long advocated for ending the corrupting influence of big money in politics. Rick’s walk… Read more
Big Money, January 6, and the Future of Democracy
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If you’ve been following the coverage of the January 6 hearings, you might have noticed a troubling connection: big money and brazen efforts to undermine our democratic elections. The Supreme Court’s misguided 1976 ruling in Buckley v. Valeo established that the federal government could not restrict independent political expenditures. By essentially decreeing that “money =… Read more
Democracy, Can You Spare 44 Billion Dimes?
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Since the Supreme Court’s notorious Citizens United ruling, outside groups have spent more than $4.4 billion – including more than $1 billion in untraceable “dark money” – influencing federal elections. That’s 44 billion dimes. Those figures, compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics and outlined in a recent Guardian article, demonstrate the disproportionate and corrupting… Read more
The Ban Corporate PACs Act, Explained
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It’s been over twelve years since the Supreme Court ruled in Citizens United that corporations are considered people under federal election and campaign finance laws. Hundreds of millions of dollars from corporations and big money interests have since flooded our elections and lined the pockets of politicians, drowning out the voices of American voters en… Read more
Foul Play: Money in Politics and the NFL
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There’s something unique about the culture of sports in America. No matter your politics or your background, you can find a sense of pride and community in supporting your team. This sense of camaraderie is on full display at the Super Bowl. Every February, tens of millions of Americans tune into the most-watched television event… Read more
Closing a Major Citizens United Loophole
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We’ve established that Citizens United was a disastrous decision for American democracy. But did you know that it also allowed foreign interests to dodge federal laws to influence our elections? According to federal election law, foreign governments and individuals are not allowed to participate in U.S. elections. But after the Supreme Court’s decision in Citizens… Read more
January 6th and the Future of Voting Rights
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This Thursday marks the one-year anniversary of the violent January 6th insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. The attack resulted in the deaths of 5 people, 140 injured Capitol police officers, and severe psychological trauma for many of the law enforcement officials who sought to protect our leaders in Congress. Those who stormed the Capitol put… Read more
Daring Gyrocopter Pilot Doug Hughes Tells All
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Doug Hughes isn’t a name familiar to most. A mild-mannered postal worker from Florida, Hughes delivered mail for 13 years without drawing much attention. That changed on April 15, 2015, when Doug Hughes flew a gyrocopter 70 miles and landed on the U.S. Capitol’s West Lawn, whereafter Capitol Police shortly arrested him. But he live-streamed… Read more