It will only stop if/when a critical mass American t decide that representation, transparency, and corruption mitigation are more salient and important than the culture war. It to difficult. This is hard to imagine happening within the two party state. For both parties, legitimacy has been linked to these culture war issues and thus untethered from good governance.
This sort of pattern pops up in history all over the place. Power begets more power so it accumulates. Rules set out begin to favor a small minority of people, (monarchy, dictatorship, monopolized industry, whatever). This tends towards inequality, people begin to feel unrepresented in decisions that govern them, coercion needs to be use to force peoples compliance with laws they start to see as oppressive. It's a kind of social rot that needs to be treated now and again so things don't get bad. Otherwise things start to fall apart. Probably going to need "New Deal" sized big waves to wash away all the changes to laws big money has introduced since then.
*LET'S NOT FORGET THIS WAS FIRST AIRED IN OCTOBER 2012.* That's 10 years ago and look at what has happened in American politics in that time. Thom Hartman was recently pointed out that America's 465 Billionaires spent over $900 million on the 2022 midterm election campaigns that over $800 million of that came from about 25 of them. Notable among big money doners Barre Seid the Chicago billionaire donated a company to the Federalist Society who then sold that company for $1.6 Billion. If Barre Seid had sold the company first he would have had to pay something of the order of $400 million in state taxes. Instead the Federalist Society got all of it.
Zuckerberg spent $400 million to get Biden elected. Slanted reporting by CBS, NBC, ABC, CNN, MSNBC, NY Times, LA Times, Washington Post and others is worth more than all of that. Then there is their non-reporting which is the only reason Biden won. Probably worth a trillion dollars. It won't be long before his whole operation comes to light.
@@Boomslang55 I have absolutely no disagreement on Suckerbergs money in Democrat politics or the disgusting bias of the pro-Democrat media. *THEY ARE JUST AS BAD* as the oligarchs supporting radical GOP maniacs. I have very much upset a lot of lefties when I tell them they are just as partisan and just as biased as the right wing maniacs they are screaming about. If there is a difference its the amount of money being pumped into the radical far right of American politics. If you actually watch this documentary they weren't attacking Democrats they were attacking Republicans. Starting at 25:45 the guy they are speaking to John Ward is a *REPUBLICAN* and look at how they attacked him. Your are absolutely right Suckerberg's $400 million is a disgusting amount of influence peddling and CBS, NBC, ABC, CNN, MSNBC, NY Times, LA Times, Washington Post,... can all be *AT TIMES* as garbage as Fox, OAN and Newsmax. *If there is a difference* its the shear amount of money being pumped by some very nasty people like Charles Koch, Robert Mercer and Barre Seid and how utterly ruthless they are. What the average American conservative in the street needs to realise these people care even less about you than the Left does. To them you are just a lump of talking meat to be pumped. The corporate backers in the Dems aren't much better *but the lesser people on the Left want you to have health care and your kids to get a good enough education to get a job.*
There should be no anonymity for anyone except at the ballot box. All money in politics even if it comes from private citizens should be tracked because as FTX has proven people play both sides if they feel there is an advantage to be gained.
Exactly but those who give money have no clue about this simple logic. They don’t even know what they are lied about. They just worship wrong information
@@gracemir2 There's a huge difference between an individual's donations and a corporation's donations -- even worse is an individual who fronts as a corporation.
@@ChuckGuoEsq This this and more this. Russia and China have had more influence on what laws get passed and who gets elected in America more than the American people for the last 10 years easy.
*We knew the Biden family was up to their eyeballs in corruption. At least those of us who watched Fox News. They never mentioned it on CNN, CNBC, ABC, etc.*
It’s kind of wild that we are able to see through this documentary in hindsight just how awful this judicial decision has been for America. We have nearly completely lost our representation, which was already severely limited. Corporate corruption rules America today, with absolute authority.
We need to get ALL corporate hands out of our government- it's a conflict of interest. Then, choosing a different way- a hidden money trail shows their intent for dishonesty.
YEAH EVERYONES MOM KNOWS CORPORATIONS ARE NOT PEOPLE. THEY SHOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO THAT! YOUR GETTING SCREWED IF YOUR NOT A POLITICIAN OR MULTI MILLIONAIRE.
If corporations get the right of "free speech" then their corporate boards and executives should also personally be responsible for liability for the corporation's behaviors. Including the death penalty for intentional homicides..
Lettuce salad I have to say I personally agree with you just like the Mob top guy John Gotti could face prison time for life for anything their soldiers did ain't this called the RICO Act?
Absolutely agree, citizens united is disgusting! All that money could be used for universal Healthcare so we dont need to buy EXPENSIVE health insurance and they don't even cover all costs we still have to pay some. Europe, Canada actually take care of their citizens. Their Healthcare ia 100% free. Being an American that's hard to comprehend. It is the biggest SCAM AND ITS DISGUSTING!
@@christinemckinney4093 Not the same at all? What other countries wer giving them money? There was no corrupt multi billion dollar corporations back then who pay 0 in federal taxes each year.
@@frankg5259 Because the Bill of Rights references individuals not corporations when providing free speech. When you reference the NYT, that is a different right. It's Freedom of the Press. Editorials in the NYT is free speech. We also know who is behind what is published in newsprint. With dark money, we do not. I think that is an enormous difference.
@@frankg5259 Because Corporations are NOT people. And except for the 1%, most people do not have the resources Corporations do. Resources being money. Money to buy politicians then pay to have them elected. And don't think for a moment that the Corporation that puts up all this money does not want a return on their investment. So you end up with Corporations putting their well being over the people of this country. Without the consumer, economies do not work. There is no need for Corporations. They are shooting themselves in the foot. But the short term gains are too inviting for them to see it. Citizens United has allowed things that are bad to just get worse.
AND the right to free exercise of religion, as if corporations can sing hymns, genuflect, pray, and opt to convert to a different religion. I'm dying for Hobby Lobby to convert to Islam.
Why not? If corporations don't have "personhood" then they legally don't exist, and you could not sue them for damages, you would have to sue each individual stockholder. You can sue a city when its officials do wrong. How do you do that if you don't have a corporate entity to sue?
Money has always found a way from corporations to politicians. Eisenhower warned us. It's now more open. But it still can be hidden. Free advertising by News channels with hit pieces/slanted reporting against your opponent. Not reporting on your side. Then there's donating money to non-politicians. Zuckerberg spent $400 million to get Biden elected.
I love how the Citizens United lawyer accused Kai of being patronizing, when he himself was being the one who was patronizing, saying, "You don't need to know where the money comes from, because they don't care." The option? "No." Because then I can get more money from secret sources. And since money is the only thing that matters in this country... (22:09)
@@oldmandoinghighkicksonlyin1368 It's the "corporations" that you've never heard of that are doing the damage. The ones who have PO Boxes and are 501(c)-4s.
Do you mean money from other countries, or just money from foreign banks, that originates in the US? Because there’s a whole other world of malfeasance in that alone.
Corruption - is like a castle with three layers of walls. First outer wall prevents the crime from being discovered (the wall of opacity if you will). When justice breaches the opacity wall, it hits the second one that is the wall of denying of a crime - saying what has been done is not illegal. When this wall is also breached somehow - justice hits the third wall, the thickest one: avoiding prosecution. Sometimes it's better to burn the entire structure down.
A) that removes corporations (they can't vote), B) only citizens for whom the candidates are thier direct representative for said political office can donate (no spending on campaigns outside of your district/state), and C) individuals have spending limits for said campaigns. Not a bad basis, and definitely better than post citizens united has been... Although the Supreme Court will probably just find a contrived reason to give corporations the right to vote if this were the case.
Money has always found a way from corporations to politicians. Eisenhower warned us. It's now more open. But it still can be hidden. Free advertising by News channels with hit pieces/slanted reporting against your opponent. Not reporting on your side. Then there's donating money to non-politicians. Zuckerberg spent $400 million to get Biden elected.
@@Boomslang55 when it comes to news reporting, I trust PBS among other credible Left Wing news like Wapo and NYT etc. I can't afford to stay in the Right Wing News Channel like Fox News..a lot of damage has or is being wrecked by RWs.
Kai is the narrator. He does have a great voice Kai hosts Marketplace, which I like even though I don't pay much attention to the stock market, bonds, etc. Marketplace is available as a podcast too.
Anyone who listens to NPR while driving should immediately recognize the voice of the journalist/narrator of this documentary! He is also the anchor of NPR marketplace!
I certainly do appreciate the freedom of speech so that we can have outstanding investigative reporting like Frontline !!! We seriously need to take our country back and I'm not referring to ANY political parties either !! Thank You Frontline.
They should do a show on the effects of this on the 2020 election. Zuckerberg spent $400 million to get Biden elected. How much is the slanted press that refused to report and the social media backing them up worth? Trillions!
Freedom of the Press is critically important. We need anti-trust enforcement to stop the consolidation of media companies. I just found out, way late-2 years ago, that Fix/Rupert Murdoch acquired Disney! I knew about the Wall Street Journal buy, how did I miss the Disney one?! Mergers/conglomerates that huge shouldn't be allowed. FYI for US audience, Murdoch owns all the channels in Australia. How do you have free press in an environment like that? It's difficult. For example check out Friendly Jordies channel, his experiences being an investigative journalist there. (He's a comedian, as well. But honestly, his journalist work hits harder 😎).
@@erinmac4750 Your DAMN RIGHT that shouldn't be allowed !! Especially when it comes to media organizations we MUST have VERY strict monopoly laws for sure !! Its a " no brainer " if u ask me.
Crazy Nazi guy said we need more information so more money is needed to spread that information but doesn’t want us to have information on where that money is coming from😂😂
Jim Bopp, an Indiana campaign election attorney, and founding member of corrupting our election system. Special note: Did you catch his dig on the opposition party? "...Left-wing nut jobs"... Jim Bopp, YOU ARE WRONG to think Americans don't care where money comes from and who is influencing our representatives. Americans care. I CARE! I CARE GREATLY! I respect your right to > Your myopic and uninformed view has done a tremendous disservice to our Nation. It has corrupted our election process and currently threatens the future of our democracy! You, of all people, should be leading the charge to overturn Citizens United. Anything less tells us you are an enemy.
Thank you, PBS, for airing this important piece again. Money in politics is a HUGE concern of mine, and I am vehemently against Citizen's United, which was the obvious beginning of a corrupted Supreme Court.
Bopp was absolutely right that most people do not know who their representatives are. He is wrong that they don't care that they are being exploited by negative ads paid for by outside moneyed interests.
Money has always found a way from corporations to politicians. Eisenhower warned us. It's now more open. But it still can be hidden. Free advertising by News channels with hit pieces/slanted reporting against your opponent. Not reporting on your side. Then there's donating money to non-politicians. Zuckerberg spent $400 million to get Biden elected.
How can anyone say the argument “the people don’t care about the source of money” but also “you’re patronizing the voter? You ignorant voter you SHOULD know this” is this guy psychotic???
So let's get upset at the real problem, people with too much money (all billionaires, some millionaires) and stop letting Tucker distract us with "radical leftists" culture war crap. The solution to this problem is to implement some actual leftist policies like we did 100 years ago.
That last last bit reiterating the influence Citizens United has on local elections is chilling. The fact that one man, Jim Bopp from Indiana, can affect elections and election law in Montana and other states is wrong. Having money=free speech essentially disenfranchises those without bunches of it. And, talk about patronizing, "they [the people] don't need to know" who's supporting a candidate or an issue. We're supposed to be an informed electorate, and he says with a straight face that we should just take what the ads tell us at face value. We need people like this man out of "we the people's" processes. Please keep airing this, and maybe make a sequel showing where we're at as far as transparency and campaign spending. I know it's much, much worse, but the country needs to know, to understand the scope and seriousness of this issue. 💜
With the Citizens United SCOTUS decision, the obscenely rich 1% and corporations have finally found a way to buy and pay for our political system and politicians. It is now up to us to tune out all the media blitz that this flood of money produces during the campaign season and make our own decisions from our own factual research about who we vote for during elections. We need to make this flood of money irrelevant to making our political choices.
Thom Hartman recently reported that America's 460+ billionaires spent over $900 million on the recent mid-terms. Of that money around 25 of those billionaires spent over $800 million. So its not really a matter of 1% its actually less than 0.000008% are the real power brokers.
Not just during the campaign season, but until we get rid of the cabal of anti democracy global gangsters we are vulunerable to propaganda 24/7 being funneled through shameless amoral corporations like our corporate media all of them. They pretend to be pro America when in reality they are as anti democracy America as Putin, the Federalist Society and all the bastards of greed and power.
@@Boomslang55 As I said to your other reply in the other thread I agree Suckerbergs money in Democrat politics and the some of the pro-Democrat media are disgusting. If there is a difference its the amount of money being pumped into the radical far right of American politics and how vicious they are even to other Republicans. Starting at 25:45 the guy they are speaking to John Ward is a *REPUBLICAN* and look at how they attacked him. What the average American conservative in the street needs to realise these people care even less about you than the Left does. To them you are just a lump of talking meat to be pumped. The corporate backers in the Dems aren't much better *but the lesser people on the Left want you to have health care and your kids to get a good enough education to get a job.*
Excellent demonstration of how "hidden money" changes the potential of state voter initiatives and representation in the political process. This is how democracy is subverted to the will of hidden agenda initiatives and how they change state voter's representatives.
@@frankg5259 You obviously don't understand how dark money influences US politics. Do you think Congress should be making decisions based upon the needs of corporations or upon the needs of the citizens? Should our tax code be based upon the needs of citizens or upon the needs of corporations? It's really as simple as that.
@@B_Bodziak Money has always found a way from corporations to politicians. Eisenhower warned us. It's now more open. But it still can be hidden. Free advertising by News channels with hit pieces/slanted reporting against your opponent. Not reporting on your side. Then there's donating money to non-politicians. Zuckerberg spent $400 million to get Biden elected.
Campaign contributions needs to be transparent and cap needs to be in place. Citizens United vs FEC changed it to where campaign contributions have no limits and dark money can creep in and this is where our government dipped into abyss faster than you can say Cap and a half. Corporations, or a single billionaire individual can literally buy politicians now. I say 99% of all Republicans and Democrats are in the pocket of these wealthy individuals and corporations… 🤦🏻♂️
What about corporations that may have substantial holdings in China? Like, say, the NBA or Disney. Couldn't those corporations give money that were substantially influenced by a foreign power? I don't understand why these lawyers or judges could not see this inevitability.
Couldn’t agree more. Anonymity is exactly what builds vulnerabilities into the election process. The people who have more money can influence elections with no repercussions. So ultimately foreign rich companies and the country’s billionaires can sway elections based on ad airing hours. If you don’t have money, you can’t hope to win any election.
If you're suggesting the "Whataboutism" (Restatement - who are we kidding...OF COURSE YOU ARE)...the only occasions where campaign finance reform has been taken up as a political initiative, it was done by Democrats. On those occasions where campaign finance reform has been derailed as a political initiative...it was done by Republicans. You wanna maybe rethink the "bluff" of insinuating that Republicans are invested in campaign finance reform as a party platform?...because I've every reason to believe Democrats...even those being backed by "substantial holdings in China"... would LEAP to back that initiative.
Well kinda but it surly will help the rich who vote then vote with their money that's why we the people can't get better wages and alot that helps the ordinary people because the big money mouth of corporations which is the rich voting more than once will make sure you are out spent. And their ads will be twusted
I am floored that they have no way to even trace if they are doing anything illegal. influence from extemist views is a real problem now and regular communities are not voting in a way that helps them have power over legislation.
Yes, campaign finance laws should not allow outside groups to donate to nonprofits that aren’t required to disclose donors. That green lights large corporations with nearly unlimited funding to basically “buy” their chosen candidate. Usually that choice is made by the benefits that candidate will commit to producing 😊
As long as you include union money, NGO money, and charitable trust money (FordFdntn) union, ngo and government employees working on their "job clock" on behalf of campaigns, then I'm with you. Actually no, I'm not with you. It would be selectively enforced. While we're at it, the SVB debacle where now they are openly looking at KNOWN campaign contributions there - are they examining the giant deposits and whether the reason these were protected is because some large amounts (billions) were stuffed there for campaign? Again, with selective enforcement we will never know.
@@neelmatches512 Speaking of selective enforcement. Remember when the IRS tried to investigate Non Profits for abusing the 501.3.(c) ? Remember how the GOP politicized and forced the IRS to stop the investigation? You are correct selective enforcement is 100% real and destructive.
Where’s the accountability from the citizens? Simply because someone funds a politician doesn’t force you to vote for him/her in the ballot. Choose on policies & not by who’s on your tv & radio the most.
@@KKOPPONG You are correct. However voters need accurate data to make an accurate decision. While we can say these things, the reality remains that when outside groups present policies on behalf of politicians, it skews the data. Which is their intention.
Mr. Bopp - once he encountered pushback against his narrative that ignorance of funding for campaign ads was not a preoccupation of average citizens (false)...went from 0 to 60 in about 3 seconds where becoming aggressively combative (to the tune of insinuating a strong whiff of capacity to expression of grievance via physical means)...also (and I'm still attempting to untangle how Mr. Bopp so adeptly employed equivocation in his comeback), where the implication of "ignorance" (lack of awareness), as pertains to its literal definition, as was credibly discernible from the interviewer's premise...was transformed by Bopp in his overt utility of the term, but as a colloquialism, and with a completely different semantic sense implied ("ignorant" - as in incompetent...perhaps even unintelligent.) Mr. Bopp - went from 0 to 60 in about 3 seconds where initially, pretty eloquently, certainly calmly, confidently, relaxed, making his case for the efficacy of undisclosed campaign contributions...at to top speed, bristling with barely contained energetic pose, was declaring that any dissent from subscribing to his point of view simply must mark such holder of the counter-proposition as "some Left Wing nutjob."
Overturning Citizens United, campaign finance reform, fixing the bought out Supreme Court all things that have to happen, but first, we takedown Fox “News” and these other right-wing outlets stoking the hatred and division by brainwashing American citizens. The billionaire elites greatest tool against us is divide and conquer utilizing the likes of Fox/Murdoch.
Beautiful state. I’m from 🇨🇦and met really kind folks in Gardiner. Mechanic at the garage there fixed a broken muffler strap in minutes and asked us what we thought it costs to fix it. We said we didn’t know, he said “how’s ten bucks sound ?”. Can’t blame the people in Montana wanting to protect what they have.
Well if those political causes are too controversial to be in support of them publicly, then those donating in secret don't feel strongly enough about them.
Who told Jim Bopp that citizens don't care who's funding the campaign ads? That couldn't be further from the truth! I care and you should too! It's a means for the wealthy to help their cause by putting candidates they like in office via targeted ads that shape the opinions of the public. I'd argue the way they shape the message is not necessarily truly how the opposed candidate even feels.
@@JusticeAlways DID YO MAMA ASK YA TO MAKE NEW ID JUST TO REPORT ME CAN YA ANSWER THAT OR YO MAMA TOLD YA NOT TO TALK CAUSE YO MAMA IS NOT ABUSE IN ANYWAY ITS FREEDOM OF SPEECH FOOL
It started in 1976 with Buckley v. Valeo. Then another in 1978. Whatever else I missed to Citizens United. Campaign Finance reform anyone? Yes, we had an act in 1907 called the Tillman Act. Time to put an amendment in there on that issue. But, we have to finish the ERA first.
They're afraid of the pitchforks and prison cells. Look at all the dirt that's coming out through tfg's narcissism and sloppiness.....just think what the quiet ones behind his election have to hide.....
I am all in for the First Amendment, but in a court of law you have to have “standing” to be involved. No one can file suit on behalf of another. So in this case do these anonymous donors have standing to be involved? Why should people from one state have any say in the conversation or the election going on in another? I don’t think they should.
so crazy. im delivering mail and put this video to listen to. ive herd this dudes voice on npr for over 10 years and never knew what he looked like. had old grey hair guy in my head. my mind is blown. other than that. great video!!!
Only voters can donate: A) that removes corporations (they can't vote), B) only citizens for whom the candidates are thier direct representative for said political office can donate (no spending on campaigns outside of your district/state), and C) individuals have spending limits for said campaigns which are tracked. Not a bad basis, and definitely better than post citizens united has been... Although the Supreme Court will probably just find a contrived reason to give corporations the right to vote if this were the case.
@@yaad2226 He is going DOWN! LOL MONEY Laundering, tax evasion, human trafficking. Tate is the biggest SELF SNITCHER OUT THERE! 😆😅😂🤣 All the prosecutor needs is to watch Andrew Tate videos. Tate makes it easy he confesses all his crimes for the prosecutor.
@@ZMAN_420 is it proven in court yet or yo mama just belive what yo mama hear on media convicted before trail well i dont know much about this guy but seems like yo mama love to know lot about him why is yo mama so intrested in him dont yo mama like yo daddy or yo daddy did same to yo mama what andrew did?
0:22: 📰 Frontline investigates the influence of big money on American politics, focusing on the state of Montana. 5:59: 💰 The Supreme Court's Citizens United decision has led to an influx of big money in campaign finance, with outside groups playing a major role in shaping the narrative of the Montana Senate race. 11:11: 📺 The growth of secretive outside groups using issue ads and 501c4s to influence elections has been a consequence of the Citizens United case and recent decisions, allowing them to avoid disclosing their donors. 16:21: 📰 This passage explores the issue of undisclosed donors in political advertising and the debate surrounding campaign finance laws. 21:13: 📜 The Montana state has a long history of opposition to outside money and influence in politics, dating back to the late 1800s. 26:59: ⚖ The Western Tradition Partnership (WTP), a 501c4 issue group, was suspected of violating Montana's campaign finance laws by engaging in clear-cut campaign activities and targeting specific legislators. 32:38: 📜 The Montana Supreme Court challenges the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in Citizens United by upholding a 1912 law that prevents corporations from spending money to influence elections. 40:21: 📜 The boxes from Colorado containing suspicious files shed light on potential coordination between Western Tradition Partnership (WTP) and candidates in Montana elections. 43:11: 🔍 Documents suggest that the Western Tradition Partnership (WTP) had a direct role in candidate communications and campaigns, potentially violating campaign finance laws. 49:02: 💰 The Supreme Court's decision in the Citizens United case has led to an increase in independent spending in elections, with groups like American Tradition Partnership (ATP) playing a significant role. Recap by Tammy AI
American politics would be much better off if all money were taken out of play. Candidates should engage in 2, 3, 6, etc., televised debates on issues. Why is there a need for anything more than that?
Political parties are NGOs. The political party system officially began in 1829. Both political parties have worn out their uninvited role in US politics. Please read George Washington's Farewell Address, specifically paragraphs 19 to 25. Look for the word "baneful." Also, read Hamilton No. 09, Madison No. 10.
@@timgimmy609 I was thinking that it was kind of weird that they were referring to 2012.. figured they were focusing around when the law was changed or made or whatever. Makes sense the “seemingly” unbiased episode. And brotha, i haven’t seen a recent episode that wasn’t INCREDIBLY biased in the last 2 years. And it’s been blatantly obvious as well. I used to LOVE frontline! Then watched that Jan 6th episode, and was freaking shocked how skewed it was. Some of what they were saying was verifiably true, others was incredibly opinionated and blatantly lacking a wider, objective view of the event. You ever been hustled or hustled anybody Grim Tim?
Fist of proves the point that government is corrupt and it doesn't matter what side you're on both sides are corrupt both sides of the same bird.. the sad thing about this most Americans are stupid that picking each other against each other picking sides not to be realized that your role being played by the system..
The sad part is, this aired 9 years ago and it's only gotten worse, no one can stop it.
Because of the shit people put on the courts- this was the real assault the scotus who was then poised to approval all of this bs.
Nobody wants to stop it, because everybody likes it when it benefits their team.
It will only stop if/when a critical mass American t decide that representation, transparency, and corruption mitigation are more salient and important than the culture war. It to difficult.
This is hard to imagine happening within the two party state. For both parties, legitimacy has been linked to these culture war issues and thus untethered from good governance.
Not 9 years, but 11 years. 2023 minus 2012 = 11
This sort of pattern pops up in history all over the place. Power begets more power so it accumulates. Rules set out begin to favor a small minority of people, (monarchy, dictatorship, monopolized industry, whatever). This tends towards inequality, people begin to feel unrepresented in decisions that govern them, coercion needs to be use to force peoples compliance with laws they start to see as oppressive. It's a kind of social rot that needs to be treated now and again so things don't get bad. Otherwise things start to fall apart. Probably going to need "New Deal" sized big waves to wash away all the changes to laws big money has introduced since then.
*LET'S NOT FORGET THIS WAS FIRST AIRED IN OCTOBER 2012.*
That's 10 years ago and look at what has happened in American politics in that time.
Thom Hartman was recently pointed out that America's 465 Billionaires spent over $900 million on the 2022 midterm election campaigns that over $800 million of that came from about 25 of them.
Notable among big money doners Barre Seid the Chicago billionaire donated a company to the Federalist Society who then sold that company for $1.6 Billion. If Barre Seid had sold the company first he would have had to pay something of the order of $400 million in state taxes. Instead the Federalist Society got all of it.
Zuckerberg spent $400 million to get Biden elected. Slanted reporting by CBS, NBC, ABC, CNN, MSNBC, NY Times, LA Times, Washington Post and others is worth more than all of that. Then there is their non-reporting which is the only reason Biden won. Probably worth a trillion dollars. It won't be long before his whole operation comes to light.
@@Boomslang55 I have absolutely no disagreement on Suckerbergs money in Democrat politics or the disgusting bias of the pro-Democrat media.
*THEY ARE JUST AS BAD* as the oligarchs supporting radical GOP maniacs.
I have very much upset a lot of lefties when I tell them they are just as partisan and just as biased as the right wing maniacs they are screaming about.
If there is a difference its the amount of money being pumped into the radical far right of American politics. If you actually watch this documentary they weren't attacking Democrats they were attacking Republicans. Starting at 25:45 the guy they are speaking to John Ward is a *REPUBLICAN* and look at how they attacked him.
Your are absolutely right Suckerberg's $400 million is a disgusting amount of influence peddling and CBS, NBC, ABC, CNN, MSNBC, NY Times, LA Times, Washington Post,... can all be *AT TIMES* as garbage as Fox, OAN and Newsmax. *If there is a difference* its the shear amount of money being pumped by some very nasty people like Charles Koch, Robert Mercer and Barre Seid and how utterly ruthless they are.
What the average American conservative in the street needs to realise these people care even less about you than the Left does. To them you are just a lump of talking meat to be pumped. The corporate backers in the Dems aren't much better *but the lesser people on the Left want you to have health care and your kids to get a good enough education to get a job.*
Wow! What else can I say, just disgusting.
Filthy.
Wow what are we being fed…. So wrong!
But this isn’t anonymity for citizens, it’s anonymity for corporations!
There should be no anonymity for anyone except at the ballot box. All money in politics even if it comes from private citizens should be tracked because as FTX has proven people play both sides if they feel there is an advantage to be gained.
It’s an anonymity for a citizen too. Difference is, he/she makes more money than hundreds, if not thousands of us combined.
Yet I have to state my name, employer, and occupation to donate twenty bucks to a candidate
Not knowing who funds a campaign means not knowing where corruption is happening.
Exactly but those who give money have no clue about this simple logic. They don’t even know what they are lied about. They just worship wrong information
@@gracemir2 There's a huge difference between an individual's donations and a corporation's donations -- even worse is an individual who fronts as a corporation.
Also not knowing when foreign interference in elections
@@ChuckGuoEsq This this and more this. Russia and China have had more influence on what laws get passed and who gets elected in America more than the American people for the last 10 years easy.
*We knew the Biden family was up to their eyeballs in corruption. At least those of us who watched Fox News. They never mentioned it on CNN, CNBC, ABC, etc.*
It’s kind of wild that we are able to see through this documentary in hindsight just how awful this judicial decision has been for America. We have nearly completely lost our representation, which was already severely limited. Corporate corruption rules America today, with absolute authority.
yo mama saw this??
@@Sagethis does yo mama know that???
We need to get ALL corporate hands out of our government- it's a conflict of interest. Then, choosing a different way- a hidden money trail shows their intent for dishonesty.
YEAH EVERYONES MOM KNOWS CORPORATIONS ARE NOT PEOPLE. THEY SHOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO THAT! YOUR GETTING SCREWED IF YOUR NOT A POLITICIAN OR MULTI MILLIONAIRE.
@@ZMAN_420 yo mama said that??
If corporations get the right of "free speech" then their corporate boards and executives should also personally be responsible for liability for the corporation's behaviors. Including the death penalty for intentional homicides..
It doesn’t have to be like this.
Lettuce salad I have to say I personally agree with you just like the Mob top guy John Gotti could face prison time for life for anything their soldiers did ain't this called the RICO Act?
Agree 100%!
Absolutely agree, citizens united is disgusting! All that money could be used for universal Healthcare so we dont need to buy EXPENSIVE health insurance and they don't even cover all costs we still have to pay some. Europe, Canada actually take care of their citizens. Their Healthcare ia 100% free. Being an American that's hard to comprehend. It is the biggest SCAM AND ITS DISGUSTING!
@@christinemckinney4093 Not the same at all? What other countries wer giving them money? There was no corrupt multi billion dollar corporations back then who pay 0 in federal taxes each year.
Citizens United™ is the politically correct way to say "Know your place, peasants."
True enough
@@frankg5259 Because the Bill of Rights references individuals not corporations when providing free speech. When you reference the NYT, that is a different right. It's Freedom of the Press. Editorials in the NYT is free speech. We also know who is behind what is published in newsprint. With dark money, we do not. I think that is an enormous difference.
@@B_Bodziak 🙌 exactly!
@@frankg5259 because its dark money, we don't know where the money IS coming from. That matters a lot!
@@frankg5259 Because Corporations are NOT people. And except for the 1%, most people do not have the resources Corporations do. Resources being money. Money to buy politicians then pay to have them elected. And don't think for a moment that the Corporation that puts up all this money does not want a return on their investment. So you end up with Corporations putting their well being over the people of this country. Without the consumer, economies do not work. There is no need for Corporations. They are shooting themselves in the foot. But the short term gains are too inviting for them to see it. Citizens United has allowed things that are bad to just get worse.
Who is he to say that we don't care?
They think the public is crazy!
TOTAL AND COMPLETE DISRESPECT
I think it's more like he thinks the public is stupid, or too lazy to care.
He was infuriating.
@@cindypomerleau950 synonyms for the same thing
I was the heck!!, We do care where the money come from candidates from any political spectrum.
@cindypomerleau950 well if you look at the masses you'll see a bunch morons
He totally tried to turn the conversation in a ridiculous direction.
The Supreme Court is also responsible for giving corporations "personhood," in its interpretation of the 14th Amendment.
AND the right to free exercise of religion, as if corporations can sing hymns, genuflect, pray, and opt to convert to a different religion.
I'm dying for Hobby Lobby to convert to Islam.
The supreme court is failing the American people over and over again.
Why not? If corporations don't have "personhood" then they legally don't exist, and you could not sue them for damages, you would have to sue each individual stockholder. You can sue a city when its officials do wrong. How do you do that if you don't have a corporate entity to sue?
That Popper guy is a true villain of US history
Thank God for Public Broadcasting that stands up for truth.
Money has always found a way from corporations to politicians. Eisenhower warned us. It's now more open. But it still can be hidden. Free advertising by News channels with hit pieces/slanted reporting against your opponent. Not reporting on your side. Then there's donating money to non-politicians. Zuckerberg spent $400 million to get Biden elected.
Is it any wonder why the Supreme Court's approval rating is so low ten years on? It's heartbreaking.
Billionaires/Corporations United, Citizens Divided
Exactly! Well put.
I love how the Citizens United lawyer accused Kai of being patronizing, when he himself was being the one who was patronizing, saying, "You don't need to know where the money comes from, because they don't care." The option? "No." Because then I can get more money from secret sources. And since money is the only thing that matters in this country... (22:09)
You didn’t even touch on undisclosed foreign money…
I'm sure that Disney, NBA, Tesla are all donating heavy with Chicom dollars.
@@oldmandoinghighkicksonlyin1368 It's the "corporations" that you've never heard of that are doing the damage. The ones who have PO Boxes and are 501(c)-4s.
Do you mean money from other countries, or just money from foreign banks, that originates in the US? Because there’s a whole other world of malfeasance in that alone.
Corruption - is like a castle with three layers of walls. First outer wall prevents the crime from being discovered (the wall of opacity if you will). When justice breaches the opacity wall, it hits the second one that is the wall of denying of a crime - saying what has been done is not illegal. When this wall is also breached somehow - justice hits the third wall, the thickest one: avoiding prosecution. Sometimes it's better to burn the entire structure down.
Burn it down
@Javion Juraev: The Courts are the ultimate Traitors. They ensure corruption to flourish. Burn it down.
Absolutely brilliant sir!
& if all else fails, the(OILYgarchy)-Mob, sends in, the(Trojan-horse)-Lobbyists. 🤮
When the lawmakers make the laws.....
My thoughts on Campaign Finance is this ….. if you cannot vote for a candidate, you cannot send them money.
What? You can give money to anyone 😏!
A) that removes corporations (they can't vote), B) only citizens for whom the candidates are thier direct representative for said political office can donate (no spending on campaigns outside of your district/state), and C) individuals have spending limits for said campaigns. Not a bad basis, and definitely better than post citizens united has been...
Although the Supreme Court will probably just find a contrived reason to give corporations the right to vote if this were the case.
Ahh-umm, Charles Koch will be having none of that.
@@adjustedfate, nor can I imagine George Soros liking it either.
This from 10 years , seems so long ago ... Senator Jon Tester is still the most humble hero that ever drove a tractor in Butte's St. Patricks parade
Thanks for stating when this video was originally aired. It greatly helps to put things in perspective.
Kai's show is amazing on NPR.
The Narrator or Voice of Frontline gives you the audacity and mood to like and love PBS Frontline. Great Work
Money has always found a way from corporations to politicians. Eisenhower warned us. It's now more open. But it still can be hidden. Free advertising by News channels with hit pieces/slanted reporting against your opponent. Not reporting on your side. Then there's donating money to non-politicians. Zuckerberg spent $400 million to get Biden elected.
@@Boomslang55 when it comes to news reporting, I trust PBS among other credible Left Wing news like Wapo and NYT etc. I can't afford to stay in the Right Wing News Channel like Fox News..a lot of damage has or is being wrecked by RWs.
Kai is the narrator. He does have a great voice
Kai hosts Marketplace, which I like even though I don't pay much attention to the stock market, bonds, etc.
Marketplace is available as a podcast too.
Anyone who listens to NPR while driving should immediately recognize the voice of the journalist/narrator of this documentary! He is also the anchor of NPR marketplace!
He whitesplain's well! :)
I certainly do appreciate the freedom of speech so that we can have outstanding investigative reporting like Frontline !!! We seriously need to take our country back and I'm not referring to ANY political parties either !! Thank You Frontline.
Freedom of the Press is one of the most important foundations of US-styled democracy
They should do a show on the effects of this on the 2020 election. Zuckerberg spent $400 million to get Biden elected. How much is the slanted press that refused to report and the social media backing them up worth? Trillions!
Freedom of the Press is critically important. We need anti-trust enforcement to stop the consolidation of media companies. I just found out, way late-2 years ago, that Fix/Rupert Murdoch acquired Disney! I knew about the Wall Street Journal buy, how did I miss the Disney one?! Mergers/conglomerates that huge shouldn't be allowed. FYI for US audience, Murdoch owns all the channels in Australia. How do you have free press in an environment like that? It's difficult. For example check out Friendly Jordies channel, his experiences being an investigative journalist there. (He's a comedian, as well. But honestly, his journalist work hits harder 😎).
@@erinmac4750 Your DAMN RIGHT that shouldn't be allowed !! Especially when it comes to media organizations we MUST have VERY strict monopoly laws for sure !! Its a " no brainer " if u ask me.
@@erinmac4750 Funny, I watch Australian news a bit and I find it refreshing. They don't hold back on anyone. I wish our press was that way.
Crazy Nazi guy said we need more information so more money is needed to spread that information but doesn’t want us to have information on where that money is coming from😂😂
Jim Bopp, an Indiana campaign election attorney, and founding member of corrupting our election system.
Special note: Did you catch his dig on the opposition party? "...Left-wing nut jobs"...
Jim Bopp, YOU ARE WRONG to think Americans don't care where money comes from and who is influencing our representatives.
Americans care. I CARE! I CARE GREATLY! I respect your right to >
Your myopic and uninformed view has done a tremendous disservice to our Nation. It has corrupted our election process and currently threatens the future of our democracy!
You, of all people, should be leading the charge to overturn Citizens United.
Anything less tells us you are an enemy.
Perfectly stated
Excellent discussion. More like this please.
Cant believe this came out in 2012. Explains a lot about today’s society
Thank you, PBS, for airing this important piece again. Money in politics is a HUGE concern of mine, and I am vehemently against Citizen's United, which was the obvious beginning of a corrupted Supreme Court.
Excellent program! Thank you Mr. Rysdall.
Bopp was absolutely right that most people do not know who their representatives are. He is wrong that they don't care that they are being exploited by negative ads paid for by outside moneyed interests.
Truth! 💙✊
That Bott guy needs a good punch in the face
Thank you Frontline for amazing information and always getting the truth out there
Money has always found a way from corporations to politicians. Eisenhower warned us. It's now more open. But it still can be hidden. Free advertising by News channels with hit pieces/slanted reporting against your opponent. Not reporting on your side. Then there's donating money to non-politicians. Zuckerberg spent $400 million to get Biden elected.
How can anyone say the argument “the people don’t care about the source of money” but also “you’re patronizing the voter? You ignorant voter you SHOULD know this” is this guy psychotic???
Yes. A psychotic Hoosier.
Us out here in Montana are getting fed up with this shit right here
So let's get upset at the real problem, people with too much money (all billionaires, some millionaires) and stop letting Tucker distract us with "radical leftists" culture war crap. The solution to this problem is to implement some actual leftist policies like we did 100 years ago.
"Citizens United" is unsavory. Hiding money sources is not good.
That last last bit reiterating the influence Citizens United has on local elections is chilling. The fact that one man, Jim Bopp from Indiana, can affect elections and election law in Montana and other states is wrong. Having money=free speech essentially disenfranchises those without bunches of it. And, talk about patronizing, "they [the people] don't need to know" who's supporting a candidate or an issue. We're supposed to be an informed electorate, and he says with a straight face that we should just take what the ads tell us at face value. We need people like this man out of "we the people's" processes.
Please keep airing this, and maybe make a sequel showing where we're at as far as transparency and campaign spending. I know it's much, much worse, but the country needs to know, to understand the scope and seriousness of this issue. 💜
100% correct! Fasten your seatbelt before you get current on where we stand today. It's a lethal car crash where that ends up. :(
With the Citizens United SCOTUS decision, the obscenely rich 1% and corporations have finally found a way to buy and pay for our political system and politicians. It is now up to us to tune out all the media blitz that this flood of money produces during the campaign season and make our own decisions from our own factual research about who we vote for during elections. We need to make this flood of money irrelevant to making our political choices.
Thom Hartman recently reported that America's 460+ billionaires spent over $900 million on the recent mid-terms. Of that money around 25 of those billionaires spent over $800 million.
So its not really a matter of 1% its actually less than 0.000008% are the real power brokers.
Not just during the campaign season, but until we get rid of the cabal of anti democracy global gangsters we are vulunerable to propaganda 24/7 being funneled through shameless amoral corporations like our corporate media all of them. They pretend to be pro America when in reality they are as anti democracy America as Putin, the Federalist Society and all the bastards of greed and power.
@@tonywilson4713 Zuckerberg spent $400 million to get Biden elected. Biased reporting or non-reporting is worth even more.
@@Boomslang55 As I said to your other reply in the other thread I agree Suckerbergs money in Democrat politics and the some of the pro-Democrat media are disgusting.
If there is a difference its the amount of money being pumped into the radical far right of American politics and how vicious they are even to other Republicans. Starting at 25:45 the guy they are speaking to John Ward is a *REPUBLICAN* and look at how they attacked him.
What the average American conservative in the street needs to realise these people care even less about you than the Left does. To them you are just a lump of talking meat to be pumped. The corporate backers in the Dems aren't much better *but the lesser people on the Left want you to have health care and your kids to get a good enough education to get a job.*
We need Citizens United resended. Gone..
“We already know enough.
It’s not knowledge that we lack
It’s the courage to understand what we know.”
- Sven Lindqvist
Excellent reporting. You have done your job well and the horses have been led to the water.
Excellent demonstration of how "hidden money" changes the potential of state voter initiatives and representation in the political process. This is how democracy is subverted to the will of hidden agenda initiatives and how they change state voter's representatives.
@@frankg5259 You obviously don't understand how dark money influences US politics. Do you think Congress should be making decisions based upon the needs of corporations or upon the needs of the citizens? Should our tax code be based upon the needs of citizens or upon the needs of corporations? It's really as simple as that.
@@frankg5259 that's not politics whi are making laws
@@B_Bodziak like George Soros right?
@@B_Bodziak Money has always found a way from corporations to politicians. Eisenhower warned us. It's now more open. But it still can be hidden. Free advertising by News channels with hit pieces/slanted reporting against your opponent. Not reporting on your side. Then there's donating money to non-politicians. Zuckerberg spent $400 million to get Biden elected.
Campaign contributions needs to be transparent and cap needs to be in place. Citizens United vs FEC changed it to where campaign contributions have no limits and dark money can creep in and this is where our government dipped into abyss faster than you can say Cap and a half. Corporations, or a single billionaire individual can literally buy politicians now. I say 99% of all Republicans and Democrats are in the pocket of these wealthy individuals and corporations… 🤦🏻♂️
Why are we surprised that the Supreme Court shows it’s true colors when it comes down to Rich versus poor
It should be simple to know speech and money are not the same thing. Those with more money, then have more speech.
Look 2012 and it’s only gotten worse
BEING FULLY INFORMED IS ALWAYS BETTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Knowing who and where the money is coming from. Why hide it?
Unfortunately, citizens united decided it wasn't..the SCOTUS agreed with them. Crazy.
Spotted on a bumper sticker in Durango, Colorado:'I'll believe that corporations are people when Texas executes one'. Corporations united
NICE! I've said for past decade if corps are people show me their SS card and birth certificate. Hello?
Thank you Frontline.
What about corporations that may have substantial holdings in China? Like, say, the NBA or Disney.
Couldn't those corporations give money that were substantially influenced by a foreign power?
I don't understand why these lawyers or judges could not see this inevitability.
Couldn’t agree more. Anonymity is exactly what builds vulnerabilities into the election process. The people who have more money can influence elections with no repercussions. So ultimately foreign rich companies and the country’s billionaires can sway elections based on ad airing hours. If you don’t have money, you can’t hope to win any election.
If you're suggesting the "Whataboutism" (Restatement - who are we kidding...OF COURSE YOU ARE)...the only occasions where campaign finance reform has been taken up as a political initiative, it was done by Democrats. On those occasions where campaign finance reform has been derailed as a political initiative...it was done by Republicans.
You wanna maybe rethink the "bluff" of insinuating that Republicans are invested in campaign finance reform as a party platform?...because I've every reason to believe Democrats...even those being backed by "substantial holdings in China"... would LEAP to back that initiative.
@@ThomasFromTN I wasn't insinuating that one party does this. Both do it. Democrats use Chinese money. Republicans use Russian.
Republicans take Saudi and Russian money.
Mitch McConnell is who "helped the SCOTUS see from where the money was coming.". The word "Citizens" is deceiving.
So very, very thankfull. Love you guys.
oh thank you for your amazing reporting Leigh Martin
As long as corporations are considered people and money is considered speech, we'll live under the best government other people's money can buy.
yo mama saw this??
Well kinda but it surly will help the rich who vote then vote with their money that's why we the people can't get better wages and alot that helps the ordinary people because the big money mouth of corporations which is the rich voting more than once will make sure you are out spent. And their ads will be twusted
The ads will be twisted with lies whatever fact they want put out there true or false
Loopholes are everywhere and some artists are good using them in any chosen fields.
What about foreign money flowing into PACS?
Citizens United needs to be repealed.
Good reporting Novak 👍👍👍
On a national level, they took away one of the ways voters could determine how a Congressional candidate would legislate.
This might be among the most important problems preventing democracy in the US.
I am floored that they have no way to even trace if they are doing anything illegal. influence from extemist views is a real problem now and regular communities are not voting in a way that helps them have power over legislation.
oregon voted in a law which negates CU
They do, as they demonstrated in the video. It takes a lot of work, though. Then, you have to have better lawyers than the crooks.
Yes, campaign finance laws should not allow outside groups to donate to nonprofits that aren’t required to disclose donors. That green lights large corporations with nearly unlimited funding to basically “buy” their chosen candidate. Usually that choice is made by the benefits that candidate will commit to producing 😊
As long as you include union money, NGO money, and charitable trust money (FordFdntn) union, ngo and government employees working on their "job clock" on behalf of campaigns, then I'm with you. Actually no, I'm not with you. It would be selectively enforced. While we're at it, the SVB debacle where now they are openly looking at KNOWN campaign contributions there - are they examining the giant deposits and whether the reason these were protected is because some large amounts (billions) were stuffed there for campaign? Again, with selective enforcement we will never know.
@@neelmatches512 Speaking of selective enforcement. Remember when the IRS tried to investigate Non Profits for abusing the 501.3.(c) ? Remember how the GOP politicized and forced the IRS to stop the investigation? You are correct selective enforcement is 100% real and destructive.
Where’s the accountability from the citizens? Simply because someone funds a politician doesn’t force you to vote for him/her in the ballot. Choose on policies & not by who’s on your tv & radio the most.
@@KKOPPONG You are correct. However voters need accurate data to make an accurate decision. While we can say these things, the reality remains that when outside groups present policies on behalf of politicians, it skews the data. Which is their intention.
Mr. Bopp - once he encountered pushback against his narrative that ignorance of funding for campaign ads was not a preoccupation of average citizens (false)...went from 0 to 60 in about 3 seconds where becoming aggressively combative (to the tune of insinuating a strong whiff of capacity to expression of grievance via physical means)...also (and I'm still attempting to untangle how Mr. Bopp so adeptly employed equivocation in his comeback), where the implication of "ignorance" (lack of awareness), as pertains to its literal definition, as was credibly discernible from the interviewer's premise...was transformed by Bopp in his overt utility of the term, but as a colloquialism, and with a completely different semantic sense implied ("ignorant" - as in incompetent...perhaps even unintelligent.)
Mr. Bopp - went from 0 to 60 in about 3 seconds where initially, pretty eloquently, certainly calmly, confidently, relaxed, making his case for the efficacy of undisclosed campaign contributions...at to top speed, bristling with barely contained energetic pose, was declaring that any dissent from subscribing to his point of view simply must mark such holder of the counter-proposition as "some Left Wing nutjob."
Caught in the act...it was truly fascinating, watching his expression and hearing his tone turn aggressive
WELL SAID! Glad you caught that dig on his opposition, too!
Fantastic reporting!! I love PBS !!!
Wow!!!! Thanks Frontline🤔😃🙏
Amazon has a great documentary on its channel called "Dark Money".
Nine years ago. NINE. Unbelievable the court did this.
How can a democracy let this happen? I'm baffled by the fact that Citizens United still stands.
Overturning Citizens United, campaign finance reform, fixing the bought out Supreme Court all things that have to happen, but first, we takedown Fox “News” and these other right-wing outlets stoking the hatred and division by brainwashing American citizens. The billionaire elites greatest tool against us is divide and conquer utilizing the likes of Fox/Murdoch.
I live in Montana. Thanks for covering politics in our state even though we're "small". But we do now have 2 U.S Congressional seats haha!
Beautiful state. I’m from 🇨🇦and met really kind folks in Gardiner. Mechanic at the garage there fixed a broken muffler strap in minutes and asked us what we thought it costs to fix it. We said we didn’t know, he said “how’s ten bucks sound ?”. Can’t blame the people in Montana wanting to protect what they have.
Thank you.
Well if those political causes are too controversial to be in support of them publicly, then those donating in secret don't feel strongly enough about them.
Thank u
yo mama saw this??
Good job sir. Great reporting.
It’s time for Citizens United to be overturned.
Who told Jim Bopp that citizens don't care who's funding the campaign ads? That couldn't be further from the truth! I care and you should too! It's a means for the wealthy to help their cause by putting candidates they like in office via targeted ads that shape the opinions of the public. I'd argue the way they shape the message is not necessarily truly how the opposed candidate even feels.
Feels like nothings changed in 10 years
yo mama saw this??
@@yaad2226
I have reported your harassment comments to YT. Best thing to do is knock it off.
@@JusticeAlways DID YO MAMA TELL YA THAT I HAVE OVER 100 ID LOL CAN YA ASK YO MAMA TO REPORT ME AS WELL MORE THAN ONE IS BETTER
@@JusticeAlways YO MAMA REALLY MAD ABOUT MY COMMENT??
@@JusticeAlways DID YO MAMA ASK YA TO MAKE NEW ID JUST TO REPORT ME CAN YA ANSWER THAT OR YO MAMA TOLD YA NOT TO TALK CAUSE YO MAMA IS NOT ABUSE IN ANYWAY ITS FREEDOM OF SPEECH FOOL
ALWAYS ASK WHAT WOULD GOD DO or SAY!!!!!!! [ TRUTH MATTERS MOST]!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Democracy in fact does die in darkness..
It started in 1976 with Buckley v. Valeo. Then another in 1978. Whatever else I missed to Citizens United.
Campaign Finance reform anyone? Yes, we had an act in 1907 called the Tillman Act. Time to put an amendment in there on that issue. But, we have to finish the ERA first.
I believe we should have access on info as where the secret money is coming from. Why hide it?
They're afraid of the pitchforks and prison cells. Look at all the dirt that's coming out through tfg's narcissism and sloppiness.....just think what the quiet ones behind his election have to hide.....
Excellent!
They Don't need to know where the money's coming from??? OF COURSE THEY NEED TO KNOW to prevent corruption!!!!
I am all in for the First Amendment, but in a court of law you have to have “standing” to be involved. No one can file suit on behalf of another. So in this case do these anonymous donors have standing to be involved? Why should people from one state have any say in the conversation or the election going on in another? I don’t think they should.
so crazy. im delivering mail and put this video to listen to. ive herd this dudes voice on npr for over 10 years and never knew what he looked like. had old grey hair guy in my head. my mind is blown.
other than that. great video!!!
You poped it?
Only voters can donate: A) that removes corporations (they can't vote), B) only citizens for whom the candidates are thier direct representative for said political office can donate (no spending on campaigns outside of your district/state), and C) individuals have spending limits for said campaigns which are tracked. Not a bad basis, and definitely better than post citizens united has been...
Although the Supreme Court will probably just find a contrived reason to give corporations the right to vote if this were the case.
I live in Georgia. Same story down here.
I was just looking for something to watch
yo mama saw this??
@@yaad2226 Ask your boyfriend, Andrew Tate?
@@ZMAN_420 andrew tate yo mama boyfriend?? one who is falsely charged ??
@@yaad2226 He is going DOWN! LOL MONEY Laundering, tax evasion, human trafficking. Tate is the biggest SELF SNITCHER OUT THERE! 😆😅😂🤣 All the prosecutor needs is to watch Andrew Tate videos. Tate makes it easy he confesses all his crimes for the prosecutor.
@@ZMAN_420 is it proven in court yet or yo mama just belive what yo mama hear on media convicted before trail well i dont know much about this guy but seems like yo mama love to know lot about him why is yo mama so intrested in him dont yo mama like yo daddy or yo daddy did same to yo mama what andrew did?
0:22: 📰 Frontline investigates the influence of big money on American politics, focusing on the state of Montana.
5:59: 💰 The Supreme Court's Citizens United decision has led to an influx of big money in campaign finance, with outside groups playing a major role in shaping the narrative of the Montana Senate race.
11:11: 📺 The growth of secretive outside groups using issue ads and 501c4s to influence elections has been a consequence of the Citizens United case and recent decisions, allowing them to avoid disclosing their donors.
16:21: 📰 This passage explores the issue of undisclosed donors in political advertising and the debate surrounding campaign finance laws.
21:13: 📜 The Montana state has a long history of opposition to outside money and influence in politics, dating back to the late 1800s.
26:59: ⚖ The Western Tradition Partnership (WTP), a 501c4 issue group, was suspected of violating Montana's campaign finance laws by engaging in clear-cut campaign activities and targeting specific legislators.
32:38: 📜 The Montana Supreme Court challenges the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in Citizens United by upholding a 1912 law that prevents corporations from spending money to influence elections.
40:21: 📜 The boxes from Colorado containing suspicious files shed light on potential coordination between Western Tradition Partnership (WTP) and candidates in Montana elections.
43:11: 🔍 Documents suggest that the Western Tradition Partnership (WTP) had a direct role in candidate communications and campaigns, potentially violating campaign finance laws.
49:02: 💰 The Supreme Court's decision in the Citizens United case has led to an increase in independent spending in elections, with groups like American Tradition Partnership (ATP) playing a significant role.
Recap by Tammy AI
Holy hell, I can't imagine what it took to get a balanced piece of journalism like this the "OK to air."
American politics would be much better off if all money were taken out of play. Candidates should engage in 2, 3, 6, etc., televised debates on issues. Why is there a need for anything more than that?
Citizens United will be remember as the death of America. Bopp of souless
If you save up, YOU TOO can own a politician!! Yay
yo mama saw this??
@@yaad2226 …and clutched pearls too.
@@billytheweasel what did yo mama say about it?? just tell me about yo mama opanion not urs
@@yaad2226 She said that transmembrane protease surface serin 2 should be inhibited. No sh!t!
@@billytheweasel yo mama dont speak englsih???
Excellent.
THE FIRST RULE OF REPAIR IS IF IT,s NOT BROKE DON,T FIX IT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Political parties are NGOs. The political party system officially began in 1829. Both political parties have worn out their uninvited role in US politics. Please read George Washington's Farewell Address, specifically paragraphs 19 to 25. Look for the word "baneful." Also, read Hamilton No. 09, Madison No. 10.
I'm an average voter, and I care very much where the money is coming from! But I think we all know where the money is really coming from!
It's only gotten worse.
Until Citizens United is Dismantled, 'We the People, For the People, By the People', is Meaningless.
I'm watching this for a poli sci class, and this was absolutely fascinating.
1st seemingly unbiased frontline report in a looooooong while. Keep it up y’all, may even work your way back to legitimate journalism.
Wow I can’t believe this comment is 10 years old.
This is a re run.
You realize most of these documentaries are 10-20 years old right? Frontline have been doing good journalism for decades
@@timgimmy609 I was thinking that it was kind of weird that they were referring to 2012.. figured they were focusing around when the law was changed or made or whatever. Makes sense the “seemingly” unbiased episode. And brotha, i haven’t seen a recent episode that wasn’t INCREDIBLY biased in the last 2 years. And it’s been blatantly obvious as well. I used to LOVE frontline! Then watched that Jan 6th episode, and was freaking shocked how skewed it was. Some of what they were saying was verifiably true, others was incredibly opinionated and blatantly lacking a wider, objective view of the event. You ever been hustled or hustled anybody Grim Tim?
Frontline has always been straightforward.
So Russia can now pick our president and there's not a damn thing we the people can do about it. Got it.
You are correct, as could China, large corporations, billionaires foreign or domestic. It sickens me.
@@davidl.7317 The pacifists should be happy. WW3 is over. Unfortunately we lost and it's only a matter of time before we realize it.
Yep it's such a bad ruling I don't understand why people don't understand the Republicans are the reason the Supreme Court passed this GARABAGE!
@@ZMAN_420 True. But also ruining the DNC as well. That's why there's no chance of it being overturned.
@@futuregenerationz yeah our country is the best. NOT
A SMART PERSON KNOWS WHO and WHEN to ASK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Pardon me....ask what?
LIVE and SAY the TRUTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A documentary from 2010 is very relevant.
yo mama saw this??
It’s 2012 🤖
@@NipponStiqqyPaint yo mama paint??
Passed through Montana yesterday. Saw a political add against statehood for Washington D.C. They claimed that it would hurt Montana voters.
You think it wouldn't?
@@Boomslang55 How would it?
I would love to know how that was framed as even a possibility?
@@randibgood It was framed as black people in D.C. will harm white people in Montana.
@@randibgoodts a high possibility. The Democrats have wanted it and Puerto Rico for years. Its not new or secret.
When Kavanaugh and Thomas are booted off the court things are going to change
Have Marianne Williamson on about this subject. She is for ending citizens united. She is a good endorser of getting rid of it.
And she is hardly ever being profiled in the news.. it’s so messed up.
Fist of proves the point that government is corrupt and it doesn't matter what side you're on both sides are corrupt both sides of the same bird.. the sad thing about this most Americans are stupid that picking each other against each other picking sides not to be realized that your role being played by the system..
The monied system.
COMPLETE THE BORDER WALLS NOW ASAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
True journalism
News for you Mr. Bopp .... I as a voter absolutely care where the funding comes from!