How did political campaigns get so expensive?
Summary
Host Waylon Wong and guest Maria Aspin explore how money shapes the upcoming midterm elections, noting that despite record spending by billionaires and corporations, polls favor Democrats. The episode traces the history of campaign finance, from the 1970s Buckley decision to Citizens United, explaining how these rulings enabled the current "wild west" of political spending. Experts discuss how money influences candidate selection and voter outreach, while also examining the rise of dark money and its potential to weaken democracy.
Topics discussed
Midterm spending records and the limits of money
Introduction to the series on money in politics
Sponsor announcements
Adam Bonica on the pervasiveness of money in politics
Legal history: Buckley v. Vallejo and Citizens United
Trevor Potter on the failure of current oversight
The end of public funding and the 2016 election
How money shapes candidate pools and primaries
The necessity of spending for voter communication
Dark money and corporate influence in elections
The campaign finance arms race and potential reforms
Closing sponsor announcements
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