Jeff Clements,CEO of American Promise joins Chuck Todd for a deep dive into one of the most consequential—and misunderstood—threats to American democracy: money in politics. Clements argues that today’s campaign finance dysfunction isn’t a failure of legislation but a court-created crisis, tracing how Supreme Court rulings turned money into speech, opened massive loopholes, and shifted lawmaking power from Congress to the judiciary. From McCain-Feingold to super PACs, the conversation unpacks why courts have repeatedly blocked reform efforts and why the problem isn’t free speech itself, but the unchecked amplification that allows wealth to drown out everyone else.
The discussion turns to whether a constitutional amendment is the only viable path forward, how such an amendment could reclaim authority from the courts, and what it would take to build support across 38 states. Drawing parallels to the Gilded Age and the founders’ obsession with corruption, Clements explains why Americans broadly understand the system is broken—even if it’s hard to make campaign finance a voting issue. In a moment of democratic crisis, he makes the case that meaningful reform is still possible, and that restoring political equality could become a rare point of unity in a deeply polarized era.
Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too!
Go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order.
Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win!
Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary.
Timeline:
(Timestamps may vary based on advertisements)
00:00 Jeff Clements joins the Chuck ToddCast
01:15 Constitutional amendment the only way to get money out of politics?
02:30 Campaign finance problems are a “court created crisis”
04:00 The Supreme Court created all the campaign finance loopholes
04:45 If money wasn’t speech, is McCain-Feingold good legislation?
05:30 Money will always “find a way” in politics
08:45 Courts have stood in the way of campaign finance reform
09:15 How to word an amendment to take this power away from judiciary
13:00 Is there a first amendment argument against amplification?
14:00 Money in politics isn’t a free speech issue, it’s an amplification issue
18:30 Maine had a $5000 limit on PACs, was knocked down by courts
19:15 Courts ruled that money can’t corrupt when it’s clear they can
20:45 Court could rule that limits apply to PACs & campaigns, or rule no limits
21:45 The court has created many contradictions in campaign finance
22:45 A court ruling won’t fix the problem, an amendment would
23:15 Most campaign finance law has been written by judiciary
25:00 It’s difficult to make campaign finance a voting issue
27:15 The American people understand that the system is corrupted
31:15 There are many similarities between the Gilded Age & now
32:45 We’ll should see see several amendments in the next decade
34:15 Need 38 states for amendment, what’s the biggest hurdle?
35:30 A states rights argument would be very persuasive to legislatures
37:00 Free speech doesn’t mean you get to drown out everyone else
40:00 Money equaling speech has made money equal power
43:00 The founders were obsessed with corruption, led to the revolution
44:00 Limiting campaign finance is perceived to help the left over the right
47:15 Could a presidential candidate galvanize the debate?
47:45 The president & governors have no constitutional role in the process
50:00 The goal is to leave a well-informed electorate & building support
51:15 Are there any super wealthy donors who support these reforms?
53:15 This is a crisis for our democracy but could create an opportunity
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Chuck ToddCast 
