The Chris Hedges Report

The Dark Money Game (w/ Alex Gibney) | The Chris Hedges Report

May 8, 2025
Filmmaker Alex Gibney, known for his investigations into corruption, dives deep into the sinister world of dark money in politics. He discusses the aftermath of the Citizens United ruling, which has allowed anonymous donations to run rampant, diluting democratic integrity. Gibney reveals shocking case studies like the FirstEnergy scandal in Ohio, illustrating how corporations manipulate laws for personal gain. The conversation also examines the tangled relationship between wealth, political influence, and morality, showcasing the profound implications for democracy.
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INSIGHT

Impact of Citizens United Ruling

  • Citizens United opened floodgates for unlimited corporate political spending under free speech guise.
  • Dark money hides true donors through complex layers of nonprofit groups, making corruption opaque.
ANECDOTE

FirstEnergy Ohio Bribery Scandal

  • FirstEnergy secretly funneled $60 million to Ohio politician Larry Householder to pass a $1.3 billion bailout bill.
  • The FBI uncovered this via wiretaps during an unrelated investigation, exposing a vast corruption network.
INSIGHT

Ruthlessness Enabled by Dark Money

  • Dark money enables ruthless pay-to-play politics, including bribery, intimidation, and buying off opponents.
  • These hidden funds saturate political campaigns through negative ads and support allies for favors.
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