The Al Franken Podcast BEST OF: Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse on How Dark Money Captured SCOTUS
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Jan 4, 2026 Senator Sheldon Whitehouse from Rhode Island, author of 'The Scheme', dives deep into the troubling influence of dark money on the Supreme Court. He reveals the extensive tactics of the Federalist Society and Leonard Leo in judicial appointments and discusses the implications of Mitch McConnell's blockade on Merrick Garland. Whitehouse analyzes the lasting harm of Citizens United and outlines patterns of pro-corporate rulings. He also highlights ethical failures surrounding Justice Thomas, emphasizing the urgent need for judicial reform.
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Dark Money Captured The Court
- Dark money has systematically captured the Supreme Court by placing sympathetic justices and funding the infrastructure to install them.
- Sheldon Whitehouse argues this capture produces rulings favoring corporations, fossil fuels, and voter suppression.
Leonard Leo's Orchestrated Network
- Leonard Leo orchestrated donor networks and front groups to install preferred judges on the bench over decades.
- Whitehouse recounts Leo's role in organizing ad campaigns and filtering big anonymous contributions for nominees.
A Billion-Dollar Slush Fund
- Vast anonymous funds were consolidated into a 501(c)(4) that became a billion-dollar slush fund for judicial influence.
- Whitehouse traces a $1.6 billion transfer that gave Leo and allies massive undisclosed resources.
