Campaign Finance

Trump’s Ukraine Ask was Criminal; but it Was SCOTUS’ Citizens United that Invited Foreign Interference in US Elections

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – Trump is accused of soliciting the help of a foreign government to dig dirt on, essentially to do opposition research for him, on his Democratic rival, Joe Biden. It should be underlined, though, that the possibilities for foreign interference in US elections is a much bigger phenomenon than simply this […]

Campaign Finance

New Survey Finding: Trump Likely owed his 2016 victory to ‘fake news’

contributors

Democratic defectors to Trump believed Hillary was ill or sold weapons to ISIS

Campaign Finance

Gerrymandering is about Race even when it seems just “Partisan”

Juan Cole

By Olga Pierce and Kate Rabinowitz | ( ProPublica) | – – The Wisconsin case before the Supreme Court claims to be about partisanship. But race is a factor in this case and many others nationwide. The Wisconsin voting rights case before the Supreme Court has been cast as the definitive test of whether partisan […]

Authoritarianism

The White House Wouldn’t Post Trump Staffers’ Financial Disclosures. So We Did

contributors

by Ariana Tobin and Derek Kravitz | (ProPublica) | – – In a remarkable Friday night news dump, the Trump administration made dozens of White House staffers’ financial disclosure forms available. But they did it with an extra dose of opacity. These are important disclosures from the people who have the president’s ear and shape […]

Campaign Finance

Gorsuch Refuses Chance to Condemn ‘Dark Money’ Lobbying on His Behalf

contributors

By Lauren McCauley, staff writer | (Commondreams.org) | – – Judge Neil Gorsuch claims he ‘speaks for’ himself, but secretive sources have spent millions to get him confirmed for a reason During Tuesday’s Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) questioned Judge Neil Gorsuch on the conservative “front groups” supporting his nomination. (Photo: Alex […]

Bill of Rights

Can Americans get back their Democracy from the Oligarchy?

contributors

By John Scales Avery | (Inter Press Service) | – – COPENHAGEN, (IPS) – As many observers around the world have pointed out, the United States is no longer a true democracy. It is an oligarchy. The US government ignores the safety, wishes and needs of the majority of its citizens, and instead makes decisions […]

Campaign Finance

K Street is a 1-Party State: DC Corruption is a Feature, not a Bug

contributors

By Thomas Frank | (Tomdispatch.com) | – – Although it’s difficult to remember those days eight years ago when Democrats seemed to represent something idealistic and hopeful and brave, let’s take a moment and try to recall the stand Barack Obama once took against lobbyists. Those were the days when the nation was learning that […]

Campaign Finance

Kochs’ Victory: House of Reps. Votes to Protect Anonymous ‘Dark Money’ Donors

contributors

TeleSur | – – The House of Representatives approved a bill that campaign finance refomers say will open the door to illegal influence on political campaigns. The Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives voted on Tuesday to protect the identities of wealthy individuals and others who make anonymous, or “dark money,” donations to politically active nonprofit […]

Arms Sales

Big Money in Politics Doesn’t Just Drive Inequality. It Drives War.

contributors

By Rebecca Green | ( Otherwords.org) | – – Military contractors have shelled out over $1 million to the 2016 presidential candidates — including over $200,000 to Hillary Clinton alone. The 2016 presidential elections are proving historic, and not just because of the surprising success of self-proclaimed socialist Bernie Sanders, the lively debate among feminists […]