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
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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
Corporate Actions Speak Louder Than Words
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Some of America’s largest corporations have spent the past few years cultivating public images as climate-forward companies. Apple has promised to be 100 percent carbon neutral by 2030 and vastly expanded the amount of recycled materials in its products. Microsoft goes one step further, saying they’ll be carbon-negative in less than ten years and pledging… Read more
The Pentagon’s Money Tree
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Congress is turning its attention to the National Defense Authorization Act this week, the massive budget legislation that funds the Department of Defense. Despite the end of the 20-year war in Afghanistan, Congress is angling to boost the Pentagon budget by over $20 billion dollars. Big Spenders Unlike every other industrialized country, the United States… Read more
The Corporate Corruption of Kyrsten Sinema
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The Senate is in the midst of a contentious battle to pass a $3.5 billion social and climate spending package. As negotiations continue, Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema, one of the two centrist Democrats holding up the process and staunchly defending the filibuster, is making headlines for some controversial campaign fundraising. In September, Sinema held a… Read more
Pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act
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On March 7, 1965, Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) Chairman John Lewis led hundreds of activists across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in a march for voting rights for people of color. They were met at the end of the bridge by a wall of state troopers, who proceeded to attack the marchers with nightsticks, tear… Read more