Dark Money Archives | American Democracy Minute

Former Congressman and Trump Nominee for IRS Commissioner Under Scrutiny for Campaign Finances and Ties to Alleged Tax Credit Scheme

April 20, 2025April 20, 2025

A former Missouri Congressman and President Trump’s nominee for IRS Commissioner is under scrutiny for a sudden loan repayment for his failed U.S. Senate campaign. He allegedly has ties to a company promoting nonexistent “tribal tax credits.”

$76 Million was Spent in the Wisconsin Supreme Court Race. Will All That Money Translate Into Fairer Congressional Voting Districts?

April 2, 2025April 2, 2025

In the 2025 Wisconsin Supreme Court race, an estimated $76 million dollars was spent - shattering a U.S. record for judicial races. But will it result in fairer Congressional voting districts in Wisconsin?

The Deadline was Feb. 19 and the Trump Transition Team Still Hasn’t Disclosed Its Transition Donors

March 4, 2025March 4, 2025

We reported last year that the Trump transition team had been funding itself through unknown private donations, and refused to sign a General Services Administration transition support memo which limited private donations to $5,000. The memo was never signed, and the transition’s private donors still haven’t been disclosed.

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.

The Presidential Transition Turns Into One Big Dark Money Special Interest Swamp

November 25, 2024November 25, 2024

Federal election law governs campaign contributions directly to Presidential candidates. But when an incoming administration refuses to follow the Presidential transition rules, those contributions become an unregulated spigot of special interest dark money.