ENCORE: The Inside Story Of Citizens United
Summary
This episode of *Master Plan* details how conservative attorney James Bopp strategically engineered the *Citizens United* case to dismantle campaign finance laws. The narrative traces Bopp’s inspiration from Thurgood Marshall’s legal tactics and his collaboration with David Bossie to use an anti-Hillary Clinton documentary as a vehicle for a constitutional challenge. It further explores how Justice Anthony Kennedy, a former lobbyist, became the pivotal swing vote that allowed the Supreme Court to overturn decades of regulations, ultimately enabling unlimited corporate spending in elections.
Topics discussed
Sponsorship and subscription promotions
Introduction to the Citizens United re-release
Profile of James Bopp and his conservative roots
Bopp's strategy to link abortion and campaign finance
The rise of Justice Anthony Kennedy and his confirmation
Kennedy's role as the swing vote on the Supreme Court
The Wisconsin Right to Life case and its impact
The origin of the Citizens United case via Hillary the Movie
Oral arguments and Justice Souter's secret dissent
Re-argument and the shift to a broader constitutional ruling
The 2010 Citizens United decision and its reasoning
Immediate aftermath and the creation of dark money groups
Bopp's reaction and the fight over disclosure laws
Future plans to dismantle campaign finance regulations
Outro and final sponsorships
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