The Best Investigations of Money in Politics Since the Last Elections

Staff / Truthdig Oct 22, 2014 With this year's elections just two weeks away, ProPublica has rounded up some of the best investigative reporting on campaign finance. Dig deeper ( 5 Min. Read )

Public Opinion Shifts on Pot, Colbert Declares War on Scarborough, and More

Tracy Bloom / Truthdig Apr 5, 2013 A look at the day's political happenings, including Connecticut's tough new gun laws and a recently created PAC looks to support candidates based on one nonpolitical trait. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Creating PACs and Then Spending Their Money

By Kim Barker, Pro Publica Mar 17, 2013 Although many watchdog organizations track how political committees raise money, few look at how the money is ultimately disbursed. PACs can spend their money as they want and often devote some of it to fundraising, but most spend the bulk of contributions on efforts clearly aimed at electing specific candidates. Dig deeper ( 8 Min. Read )

OWS Might Get a Super PAC

Staff / Truthdig Feb 17, 2012 How’s this for diversity of tactics? To the dismay of many of his cohorts, Occupier John Paul Thornton in Alabama is attempting to fight fire with fire by petitioning the Federal Election Commission for approval to form an Occupy Wall Street political action committee. If he succeeds, he’ll be eligible to raise as much dirty money as his corporate-backed opponents. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

The Right’s Boon in Knox v. SEIU

Bill Blum / Truthdig Feb 11, 2012 On the surface, the case of Knox v. Service Employees International Union (SEIU) lacks blockbuster appeal. But in the wake of the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision, it has the potential to further rig the playing field in favor of big business and the right wing.In the wake of the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision, this case has the potential to further rig the playing field in favor of big business and the right wing. Dig deeper ( 5 Min. Read )

With Spotlight on Super PACs, Nonprofits Escape Scrutiny

By Kim Barker, Al Shaw and Ariel Wittenberg, ProPublica Feb 4, 2012 Recent nonprofit fundraising announcements hint at how secret money could factor into the upcoming election more directly than initially forecast after the U.S. Supreme Court opened the door to super PACs two years ago.Recent nonprofit fundraising announcements hint at how secret money could factor into the upcoming election more directly than initially forecast two years ago. Dig deeper ( 6 Min. Read )

Stealth PAC Serves Romney in Iowa

Staff / Truthdig Jan 2, 2012 Observers credit a spate of attack ads for Newt Gingrich’s recent tumble -- and Mitt Romney’s rise -- in Iowa polls ahead of the state’s Republican caucus. But where did they come from? Not Romney’s campaign, but rather a PAC staffed by former Romney insiders and empowered by the Supreme Court’s Citizens United ruling to spend as much as it likes to destroy his opponents. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

‘Colbert Report’: Stephen Gets His Super PAC

Staff / Truthdig Jul 2, 2011 If Sarah Palin can have her own PAC, so can Stephen Colbert After all, they're both fake news generators, right? On Thursday, Colbert celebrated the official launch of his Super PAC -- which, TPM Muckraker points out, goes by another funny name (more). Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

BP and Other Polluters Pay for Senate Campaigns

Staff / Truthdig Oct 27, 2010 The Guardian is reporting that some of Europe's biggest polluters, including everyone's favorite oil company, have given $240,200 in campaign donations to U.S. senators who, coincidentally, helped defeat climate change legislation. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Run, Cheney, Run!

Staff / Truthdig Feb 19, 2010 With cheers urging Dick Cheney to run for president, the Republican spokesman talked at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference, pontificating about the party's chances in 2010 and even 2012, claiming that "President Obama is going to be a one-term president." Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

CNN’s Brown Blasts Dole’s ‘Godless’ Attack Ad

Staff / Truthdig Oct 30, 2008 It's hard to pick just one nutty attack ad from this election season's overflowing cornucopia o' nonsense, but CNN's Campbell Brown thinks she's found the worst in Sen. Elizabeth Dole's truth-challenged spot insinuating that her Democratic rival, Kay Hagan, is a secret atheist. Updated Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Citizens Against Government Waste, and for McCain

By Will Evans, Center for Investigative Reporting Oct 10, 2008 During the first presidential debate, John McCain gave a high-profile shout-out: "I suggest that people go up on the Web site of Citizens Against Government Waste, and they'll look at those projects." The group quickly returned the favor -- its political action committee is calling McCain a "taxpayer hero" in TV ads airing over the next two weeks in Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Florida. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )