The recent potential sale of Vox Media highlighted the concerning trend of right-wing billionaires acquiring media outlets, raising fears of further consolidation of news into partisan hands. While the specific purchase by James Murdoch averted this immediate threat, it underscored the broader issue: the unchecked influence of wealthy individuals on public discourse. Rather than focusing on the unattainable reversal of Citizens United, a more practical solution lies in bolstering public financing for elections and exploring journalism vouchers to empower diverse news sources and counter the dominance of billionaire-backed media. This approach offers a viable path to preserve democratic access to information and counter the spread of partisan narratives.
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The article discusses a novel legal strategy emerging in Hawaii aimed at curbing corporate influence in elections by redefining corporate powers granted by the state, rather than directly challenging Citizens United on First Amendment grounds. This approach argues that state charters, which create corporations, precede any constitutional rights, allowing states to limit corporate political spending. While met with skepticism from some legal experts who believe it will ultimately be struck down by courts, the legislation has garnered significant bipartisan support in Hawaii and is being explored in other states as a potential avenue to address concerns about the influence of “dark money” in politics. The outcome in Hawaii, should the governor sign the bill, is expected to lead to legal battles that could ultimately reach the Supreme Court, reigniting the debate over corporate speech rights.
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Hawaii’s Democratic governor has signed a bill into law that redefines corporations to limit their election spending, aiming to curb the influence of corporate and “dark money” in politics. This innovative approach, taking effect in July 2027, seeks to counteract the impact of the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision. While some, like the Center for American Progress, hail it as a bold move to reduce outside political spending, the state’s Attorney General’s office has expressed concerns about potential legal challenges and defense costs.
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A new bipartisan bill aims to permanently ban members of Congress from becoming lobbyists after leaving office. This legislation closes a loophole by preventing former senators and House members from being compensated for influencing lawmakers and staff on behalf of external entities. Introduced by Senators Rick Scott and Elizabeth Warren, this effort reflects a broader trend of legislative action to curb potential conflicts of interest, including proposals to ban stock trading and betting on prediction markets by elected officials.
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This article highlights concerns raised by lawmakers regarding President Trump’s pardons, particularly those granted to allies. These pardons are criticized for potentially “depriving victims of compensation and justice,” with an analysis suggesting nearly $2 billion in recovered funds from fraud cases was nullified. The lawmakers are seeking information on payments made by pardon recipients to lobbyists and others who may have influenced the pardon process. Failure to cooperate with these requests could lead to congressional investigations and potential further scrutiny.
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Hawaii is taking a potentially groundbreaking step, aiming to be the first state to leverage dormant legal authority to significantly reduce corporate influence in its elections. This bold move seeks to undo the effects of the *Citizens United* decision, and while it raises legal questions, the underlying legal framework suggests these challenges may have clean answers. The core of Hawaii’s strategy lies in redefining the powers granted to corporations within the state. Unlike the previous understanding that corporations inherently possess certain rights, including the ability to spend money in politics, Hawaii is asserting that corporate existence and powers are granted by the state itself, and therefore, the state can place limitations on those granted powers.… Continue reading
Hawaii is making waves, quite literally, with a groundbreaking bill that challenges the influence of big money in politics. This legislative effort, which has advanced, stands as the first of its kind in the nation, aiming to curb the power of corporate spending in elections. The core of this movement centers on a fundamental belief: that corporations are not individuals and should not be afforded the same rights when it comes to political influence. There’s a palpable sense across many that this is a positive step forward, a necessary recalibration of the system.
The sentiment is that the damage wrought by the *Citizens United* Supreme Court decision has been profound, and its eventual reversal or circumvention is crucial for the health of democracy.… Continue reading
A state Senate bill, SB 2471, proposes to make the controversial Citizens United campaign finance law irrelevant in Hawaiʻi by redefining corporations as “artificial persons” created by state law. This redefinition would clarify that their granted powers do not include spending money to influence elections, thereby challenging super PACs and their opaque funding. While the bill has advanced through the Senate and one House committee, the Attorney General’s office opposes it, citing potential constitutional concerns and litigation risks. Supporters, however, believe the bill aligns with the state’s authority to define corporate powers and could lead to greater transparency in political donations.
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Scoop: Elon Musk diving into 2026 midterms for the GOP? It’s hardly a surprise, is it? We’re talking about the richest person on the planet, a real-life “super villain” in some people’s eyes, and someone who seems to be treating our country like his personal playground, similar to how he treated Twitter. The idea of him pouring resources into the 2026 midterms for the Republican party isn’t shocking; it’s almost expected.
This feels like it’s flirting with the line of what’s acceptable. We already have to deal with his network of satellites, his public persona and now his deep pockets. It’s difficult to avoid the sinking feeling that we’re watching a wealthy individual actively trying to buy influence in our political system.… Continue reading
Rep. Crockett and former Sen. Tester highlighted the detrimental effects of large political donations, citing Elon Musk’s substantial contribution to President Trump’s campaign and subsequent benefits, including government contracts. They decried the resulting cuts to social programs like Medicaid and SNAP, arguing these actions prioritize the wealthy at the expense of everyday Americans. This connection between campaign financing and legislative outcomes, exacerbated by the Citizens United Supreme Court decision, fuels public distrust in politicians. The congresswoman emphasized the need for increased voter engagement and awareness to counteract the influence of wealthy donors and misinformation campaigns.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood