Podcast Ep. 1: How Dark Money Threatens Democracy
Listen to Professor Ciara Torres-Spelliscy discuss how dark money threatens democracy on Ep. 1 of Reading with Rachelle.
Corporatocracy: How to Protect Democracy from Dark Money and Corrupt Politicians by Ciara Torres-Spelliscy was released yesterday. Its release feels prophetic and/or timely because we need it today.
Literally.
This excerpt from the back cover resonated with me:
Unseen political actors and untraceable dark money influence our elections, while anti-democratic rhetoric threatens a tilt towards authoritarianism.
So did this:
From bankrolling regressive politicians to funding ghost candidates with dark money, she shows us how corporations subvert the will of the American people, and how courts struggle to hold them and corrupt politicians accountable.
So did the opening of the book, a preface titled, "The Pathetic State of American Democracy," which seems like the perfect title to summarize the belief of many today.
I was going to write a long introduction to this book and the podcast episode, but my mind is a mess of thoughts and feelings today. Let me just say, that Professor Torres-Spelliscy’s book is filled with information we need to hear and solutions we need to implement.
Here's an overview of what we discussed:
In the inaugural episode of the podcast, I am joined by Ciara Torres-Spelliscy, author of the newly released book, Corporatocracy: How to Protect Democracy from Dark Money and Corrupt Politicians. As a professor of law and a Brennan Center fellow, Ciara brings a wealth of expertise to the table as we explore the alarming role corporations play in undermining our democratic process.
From the Nazi party's dark money ties to the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol to Donald Trump to modern-day "ghost candidates" siphoning votes and more, Ciara pulls back the curtain on the insidious ways corporations and wealthy individuals are able to wield influence in our elections. We also discuss the campaign finance laws in place to help curb dark money and other abuses, additional reforms needed, and the importance of individual activism.
Please click the link at the top of this post to listen or find it wherever you regularly listen to podcasts. I hope you will listen and find our discussion and the book as informative as I did!
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