The term dark money should give way to anti-humanity money. Think of these millions of dollars and how they could be spent uplifting people, their lives: education, health, care, clean water, clean air, green industries, child care, care for elderly and disabled, just to name a few. It is insane that these oligarchs are willing to spend this kind of money for power.  it is immoral and if this doesn’t convince you to help get Democrats elected nothing well.
We can afford trillions$ for wars but everything is too expensive if it’s to help citizens of this country. The Republicans always scream that out! We can’t afford it! BS!
I couldn’t have said it better myself. We desperately need election reform, but I don’t see it happening anytime soon. As you say, all this money could be used to improve the lives of our citizens. When my neighbor’s life is improved, it also improves my life.
That is what makes me so crazy, Karen, hearing about these millions of dollars - that WOULD have the power to change lives in the most positive ways. It's incredible to think what allthose contributions add up to, and the miracles they could provide, in positive, good ways if spent in another direction.
McConnell doesn't really care about candidate quality as long as he has enough dark money to pull unfit clowns like Walker across the finish line. All he cares about is having control of the Senate so that he can go back to what he does best - obstruct - without having to depend on fools like Manchin and Sinema to help him.
I believe he expressed unhappiness with some of the Trump endorsed candidates who became nominees and wasn't happy how it influenced the expenditure towards super challenging campaigns.
Great reporting, Judd! The "non-profit" One Nation, sounds incredibly shady. Our government is so easily purchased! McConnell has done so much damage over the years, he and tfg together, are wiping out our republic to line their own pockets and their oligarch friends. The GOP will get what they want sooner than later at this rate... oligarchs, religious police, everything they 'say' they are against, they are for... for themselves.
These are sums given on behalf of one candidate in one Senate race. I can't even begin to contemplate how much money is being tossed around on the whole this election cycle.
Judd and your fellow reporters, thanks for the fine information that fuels our activism. Our local group, Citizens for Democracy,has used your statistics in our rallies for reproductive justice. The struggle continues, but we will prevail.
On a recent Brian Lehrer Show, I let other listeners know about your fine online newspaper. I hope you have many more subscribers who use your information to get into good trouble. Take care.
"Secret" money contributions? Life's bread for conservatives and Republicans. Why would so much money be spent on such an inadequate candidate? Aside from the fairly typical list of moral turpitude of Republican candidates, Walker seems ill-equipped to lead or legislate. Then again, it's not about governance with Republicans. It's about capture, exploit, and enrich.
More dirty dealing direct from the GQP. We have to get money out of politics or we will be living in a dystopian future ala Blade Runner or any other depiction of the lives of peasants in a forbidding future, coming true for me and for you, very soon, if nothing is done to prevent it.
The network of political funding is so dark and so deep. Citizens United popped the cork on that bottle and the orgy is underway. Thanks for your hard work.
Judd, terrific reporting, as always, which prompted me to go to the web sites mentioned in the article. The Federal Election Commission (fec.gov) is particularly interesting. Keep up the excellent work.
We know what this is about. It isn't Herschel Walker; it's about control of the Senate. There is a LOT of money riding on GQP control of the Senate where legislation for ordinary folks goes to die when it's in the hands of McConnell's party. The vast majority of those voting for Walker are voting for lower taxes for the rich and/or well-connected conservatives and to heck with the little people.
Voting in more yes men and women is all the republicans care about. Never mind this guy threatened to kill his ex-wife and children. Sure he's an absolute scumbag and the worst person imaginable, but he's a republican so we have to spend ungodly amounts of dark money to elect him. Politics are scummy on both side but the right is doing it out in the open.
Judd, WHAT literally has to be done to get money out of politics, OUT of elections, etc? I know the argument that money is "freedom of speech" but it is SO obviously taking over control of our "Democracy", it is spent on bullshit-spreading and behind-the-scenes control of US, the actual citizens of this "Democrazy" - that, right now, getting rid of money in politics would be my biggest goal. Money buys ads, buys opinions, buys illusions, attacks our brains and our emotions on screen and on air and on the written page. With technology, we are more easily controled than ever before. I guess my second would be to roll back all kinds of "social media" , of the emails that make us all more vulnerable in so many ways, that give hackers something to get rich on. (BUT then - we wouldn't be able to get Popular Information delivered to us so- Never mind that one, for now! Thank you for all you do, Judd!)
The term dark money should give way to anti-humanity money. Think of these millions of dollars and how they could be spent uplifting people, their lives: education, health, care, clean water, clean air, green industries, child care, care for elderly and disabled, just to name a few. It is insane that these oligarchs are willing to spend this kind of money for power.  it is immoral and if this doesn’t convince you to help get Democrats elected nothing well.
And yet we “can’t afford” universal healthcare. It just makes me sick.
We can afford trillions$ for wars but everything is too expensive if it’s to help citizens of this country. The Republicans always scream that out! We can’t afford it! BS!
Very true Karen. No conscience. No sense of shame. Such an insane waste of money...
I couldn’t have said it better myself. We desperately need election reform, but I don’t see it happening anytime soon. As you say, all this money could be used to improve the lives of our citizens. When my neighbor’s life is improved, it also improves my life.
That is what makes me so crazy, Karen, hearing about these millions of dollars - that WOULD have the power to change lives in the most positive ways. It's incredible to think what allthose contributions add up to, and the miracles they could provide, in positive, good ways if spent in another direction.
Yes yes yes. This. Such incredible waste.
will-not well... Siri!
McConnell doesn't really care about candidate quality as long as he has enough dark money to pull unfit clowns like Walker across the finish line. All he cares about is having control of the Senate so that he can go back to what he does best - obstruct - without having to depend on fools like Manchin and Sinema to help him.
I believe he expressed unhappiness with some of the Trump endorsed candidates who became nominees and wasn't happy how it influenced the expenditure towards super challenging campaigns.
Great reporting, Judd! The "non-profit" One Nation, sounds incredibly shady. Our government is so easily purchased! McConnell has done so much damage over the years, he and tfg together, are wiping out our republic to line their own pockets and their oligarch friends. The GOP will get what they want sooner than later at this rate... oligarchs, religious police, everything they 'say' they are against, they are for... for themselves.
These are sums given on behalf of one candidate in one Senate race. I can't even begin to contemplate how much money is being tossed around on the whole this election cycle.
Judd and your fellow reporters, thanks for the fine information that fuels our activism. Our local group, Citizens for Democracy,has used your statistics in our rallies for reproductive justice. The struggle continues, but we will prevail.
On a recent Brian Lehrer Show, I let other listeners know about your fine online newspaper. I hope you have many more subscribers who use your information to get into good trouble. Take care.
"Secret" money contributions? Life's bread for conservatives and Republicans. Why would so much money be spent on such an inadequate candidate? Aside from the fairly typical list of moral turpitude of Republican candidates, Walker seems ill-equipped to lead or legislate. Then again, it's not about governance with Republicans. It's about capture, exploit, and enrich.
More dirty dealing direct from the GQP. We have to get money out of politics or we will be living in a dystopian future ala Blade Runner or any other depiction of the lives of peasants in a forbidding future, coming true for me and for you, very soon, if nothing is done to prevent it.
Great reporting!
The network of political funding is so dark and so deep. Citizens United popped the cork on that bottle and the orgy is underway. Thanks for your hard work.
That's exactly what it is. An orgy of evil. Some dark and twisted Bacchanal.
Thank you for the information. I personally believe that we need to get rid of these super pacs. I also agree with Karen.
I was unaware of existence of SLF, so I thank you for educating me. As usual, a totally amazing report.
Judd, terrific reporting, as always, which prompted me to go to the web sites mentioned in the article. The Federal Election Commission (fec.gov) is particularly interesting. Keep up the excellent work.
We know what this is about. It isn't Herschel Walker; it's about control of the Senate. There is a LOT of money riding on GQP control of the Senate where legislation for ordinary folks goes to die when it's in the hands of McConnell's party. The vast majority of those voting for Walker are voting for lower taxes for the rich and/or well-connected conservatives and to heck with the little people.
Voting in more yes men and women is all the republicans care about. Never mind this guy threatened to kill his ex-wife and children. Sure he's an absolute scumbag and the worst person imaginable, but he's a republican so we have to spend ungodly amounts of dark money to elect him. Politics are scummy on both side but the right is doing it out in the open.
Could republicans go any lower with their candidates? Are there no upstanding republicans that they can run? Or is that an oxymoron these days?
Yes, upstanding republican is oxymoronic. Is quixotic. Upstanding R is unicorn.
Thanks, Judd. Accurate information is hard to get these days.
Judd, WHAT literally has to be done to get money out of politics, OUT of elections, etc? I know the argument that money is "freedom of speech" but it is SO obviously taking over control of our "Democracy", it is spent on bullshit-spreading and behind-the-scenes control of US, the actual citizens of this "Democrazy" - that, right now, getting rid of money in politics would be my biggest goal. Money buys ads, buys opinions, buys illusions, attacks our brains and our emotions on screen and on air and on the written page. With technology, we are more easily controled than ever before. I guess my second would be to roll back all kinds of "social media" , of the emails that make us all more vulnerable in so many ways, that give hackers something to get rich on. (BUT then - we wouldn't be able to get Popular Information delivered to us so- Never mind that one, for now! Thank you for all you do, Judd!)