

Follow the Money: The Think Tank Funding Tracker w/ Ben Freeman & Nick Cleveland-Stout
4 snips Apr 25, 2025
Join Ben Freeman, an expert at the Quincy Institute, and researcher Nick Cleveland-Stout as they unravel the hidden web of funding behind influential think tanks. They discuss the Think Tank Funding Tracker, revealing how U.S. and foreign government contributions, plus defense contractor money, shape policy. Learn about conflicts of interest, the troubling lack of transparency, and how some think tanks influence U.S. foreign policy narratives. Their insights expose the implications of 'dark money' and advocate for accountability in policy-making.
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Think Tanks' Funding Influence
- Think tanks function as nonprofits engaged in policy research and advocacy.
- Their significant funding often comes from donors with strong vested interests in policy outcomes.
Think Tanks and Dark Money
- Over a third of top think tanks disclose no funding information, earning them the label "dark money."
- Even transparent think tanks often hide donor details, limiting public understanding of biases.
Encourage Funding Transparency
- Think tanks should compete to increase transparency around their funding.
- The Think Tank Funding Tracker offers a star rating system to encourage openness.