Campaign Finance

Democracy Beats Oligarchy

Democracy Beats Oligarchy Democracy Beats Oligarchy

Last week’s local victories send a powerful signal that our democracy is not for sale.

Nov 10, 2015 / Katrina vanden Heuvel

Voters use electronic voting machines on election day, Tuesday, November 3, 2015, in Columbus, Ohio.

Reform Wins: Ohio Bans Gerrymandering While Maine and Seattle Bust Big Money Reform Wins: Ohio Bans Gerrymandering While Maine and Seattle Bust Big Money

Billionaires are buying the old politics—but state and local activists are building a new politics that puts democracy first.

Nov 5, 2015 / John Nichols

GOP Debate

Republican Candidates Beat the Populist Drum Republican Candidates Beat the Populist Drum

Big, powerful, corrupt bureaucracy works only for the big, powerful, wealthy, and well-connected—says big, powerful, wealthy, well-connected former CEO.  

Oct 29, 2015 / D.D. Guttenplan

Bernie Sanders

Bernie Sanders Is Actually Quite Serious About This ‘Political Revolution’ Thing Bernie Sanders Is Actually Quite Serious About This ‘Political Revolution’ Thing

With a rock concert, a rally, and a key speech in Iowa, the insurgent signals that he intends to remain an insurgent.

Oct 26, 2015 / John Nichols

Sanders in Portland

Bernie Sanders Dominates With Small Donors, While the GOP Rakes in the Dark Money Bernie Sanders Dominates With Small Donors, While the GOP Rakes in the Dark Money

After a surprisingly strong third quarter, Sanders has almost as much cash on hand as Hillary Clinton.

Oct 16, 2015 / Joshua Holland

Did Predatory Lenders Pay These 12 Lawmakers to Hobble the CFPB?

Did Predatory Lenders Pay These 12 Lawmakers to Hobble the CFPB? Did Predatory Lenders Pay These 12 Lawmakers to Hobble the CFPB?

An ethics complaint filed this week alleges that industry lobbyists and donors crossed the fuzzy line between routine fundraising and a quid pro quo arrangement.

Oct 8, 2015 / Joshua Holland

Alan Grayson

Alan Grayson Takes on Kevin McCarthyism Alan Grayson Takes on Kevin McCarthyism

Did the speaker-in-waiting reveal “a clear and unequivocal misuse of appropriated funds for political purposes” in the targeting of Hillary Clinton?

Oct 8, 2015 / John Nichols

Bernie supporter

Sanders Is Crowdfunding a Campaign, but That Doesn’t Diminish the Need for Campaign Reform Sanders Is Crowdfunding a Campaign, but That Doesn’t Diminish the Need for Campaign Reform

An insurgent almost matches a front-runner in fundraising, but still calls for an amendment to get big money out of politics.

Oct 1, 2015 / John Nichols

The Many Sins of ‘Citizens United’

The Many Sins of ‘Citizens United’ The Many Sins of ‘Citizens United’

In order to get the ruling they wanted, the conservative justices had to ignore an extensive record on political corruption.

Sep 24, 2015 / Feature / Senator Sheldon Whitehouse

Scott Walker Campaign

Union Busting Was a Bust for Scott Walker’s Presidential Run Union Busting Was a Bust for Scott Walker’s Presidential Run

The failed candidate’s core message did not resonate, and he had nothing else to offer.

Sep 22, 2015 / Editorial / John Nichols

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