At first glance, today’s conversation might seem as surprising as dog bites man: Money has taken over our political process. I know – not a shocker. But what if I told you that, quite possibly, our next President will be chosen by 5 or 6 of the richest people in America? Or a dozen? Certainly no more than 100?It’s hardly an exaggeration. From the historic growth of PACs to the Supreme Court’s 2010 Citizens United decision through now the increasing mega-wealth of the top .01 percent, the role of the super rich in politics has grown exponentially. Control of America’s future has shifted from political parties to power players – individuals who bankroll campaigns and collect politicians like sports franchise. And this is no fantasy league.What does this shift in money and influence mean for our political future? Who are these individuals and what are they doing to our democracy?While you may know some of the names – Koch or Adelson or Soros or Katzenberg – you likely don’t know them all.Kenneth Vogel, however, does. Ken covers the confluence of money, politics and influence for Politico. He’s also author of the new must-read book “Big Money: 2.5 Billion Dollars, One Suspicious Vehicle, and a Pimp—on the Trail of the Ultra-Rich Hijacking American Politics.”
Dan Drezner: Foreign Policy for Campaigns is Like an Unexploded Landmine
Jim Messina: "It Was Always Going to be Close"
Maureen Dowd: "This is Pure Madness"
Robert Costa: Reporting on a 'Wild and Weird' Election
Stuart Stevens: A Neutron Bomb Has Gone Off in the Republican Party
Jim Lehrer: There's Never Been One Like This
Taegan Goddard: Is This Clinton's Election to Lose?
John Dickerson: Have We Really Never Seen a Presidential Election Like This One?
Van Jones: When the Temperature Gets Too Hot
Josh King: An Advance Man’s Look at the 2016 Campaign
Charlie Cook: This Has Been the Wildest Year
Taegan Goddard: The Outcomes Look Bleak for Republicans
Rick Shenkman: What Your Brain Really Thinks About Donald Trump
Mark Blumenthal: What Do Americans Really Think About Politics?
Taegan Goddard: The Party No Longer Decides
Former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore
David King, Harvard Kennedy School
Larry Sabato, Center for Politics at the University of Virginia
Charlie Cook, The Cook Political Report
Stan Greenberg, Democratic pollster
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