Citizens United Archives | American Democracy Minute

Meme Coins & 747s: Campaign Finance Reformer Doris “Granny D” Haddock’s Immortal Words on Memorial Day

May 25, 2025May 25, 2025

As the egregious violations of the emoluments clause add up, with unknown millions in dark money contributed during the transition, another $240 million in inaugural donations, and now peddling meme coins and receiving a Boeing 747, I wonder what Granny D would have said. My guess? She'd be circling the U.S. Capitol again.

61 Individual and Corporate Donors Gave $1M or More to Trump’s Inaugural. Where did the $239M Go? We’ll Likely Never Know.

April 22, 2025April 22, 2025

A parade of well-known brands and CEOs lavished a post-election tribute of $239 million dollars to the Trump-Vance Inaugural Committee, according to a new filing with the Federal Election Commission. What was it used for? Voters will likely never know.

Elon Musk Spent Over a Quarter Billion Dollars in the 2024 Election – More Than Expected. Millions More Came After the Election

February 3, 2025February 5, 2025

New Federal Election Commission filings by multi-billionaire and quasi Trump cabinet member Elon Musk show he and his companies spent at least $288 million dollars in the 2024 election cycle, even more than expected.

An Estimated $15.9 Billion was Spent in the 2024 Election Cycle, and 50% of It Came from the Top 1% of Special Interest Donors

January 13, 2025January 13, 2025

As we approach the 15th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s fateful Citizens United decision, we consider the estimated $15.9 billion dollars spent in the 2024 campaign. That’s a lot of special interest influence.

Reporting Shows Pro-Trump Dark Money Group Funding Misleading Fake ‘Pro-Harris’ Website & Ads

October 21, 2024October 21, 2024

Money-in-Politics watchdog Open Secrets reports that online advertising and a website popped up in early October, pretending to be pro-Harris political action committee. It’s actually backed by a pro-Trump dark money group, which has raised and spent over $100 Million dollars in the last four years, funded in part by Elon Musk.