Money in Politics

Political Ad Data Comes Online—But It’s Not Searchable

A new government website shows who is buying political ads, how much they are paying, and when the ads are running.

—By Justin Elliott, ProPublica

| Thu Aug. 2, 2012 3:49 PM PDT
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Obama Super-PAC Plans $30 Million Battleground Ad Blitz

The biggest Democratic super-PAC goes to bat for the president in six key states.

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| Thu Aug. 2, 2012 8:39 AM PDT
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IRS: Toothless. FEC: "Thoroughly Broken."

Government failures mean it's open season for renegade political groups in the 2012 elections.

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| Thu Aug. 2, 2012 3:00 AM PDT

Why Hasn't Romney Moved More to the Center?

Money creates obligation.

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| Mon Jul. 30, 2012 8:16 AM PDT

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Karl Rove's Catch-22

Starting Saturday, Crossroads GPS and other politically active nonprofits face new pressure to reveal who bankrolls their ads. What's a dark-money group to do?

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| Fri Jul. 27, 2012 3:00 AM PDT

This Week in Dark Money

The IRS considers cracking down on dark-money groups, the International Olympic Committee derails a super-PAC ad, and more news from the murky world of campaign finance.

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| Fri Jul. 27, 2012 3:00 AM PDT

Super-PACs Can't Give $1 Million to a Congressman. But This One Did.

The Republican Governors Association exploits a loophole to drop a giant campaign gift on Indiana Rep. Mike Pence.

—By Paul Abowd, Center for Public Integrity

 | Thu Jul. 26, 2012 3:00 AM PDT

CHART: One GOP Super-PAC Has Raised More Money Than Every Democratic Super-PAC Combined

The pro-Romney Restore our Future super-PAC has raised $82 million. All Democratic-aligned super-PACs combined haven't raised that much.

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| Wed Jul. 25, 2012 1:34 PM PDT

Boats, Bottles, and Billy the Kid: The Other Koch Brother

Mitt Romney is one of the less expensive hobbies of wine-collecting, art-schlepping, ghost-town buying billionaire Bill Koch.

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| Mon Jul. 23, 2012 1:13 PM PDT
Mitt Romney

Romney's Rainmakers Dump Millions Into His Super-PAC

All super-PACs raised $55 million in June, a record month.

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| Mon Jul. 23, 2012 10:26 AM PDT

Meet the Front Group Leading the Fight Against Taxing the Rich

Does the National Federation of Independent Businesses really represent small business owners—or billionaires?

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| Mon Jul. 23, 2012 3:00 AM PDT

Corn on MSNBC: Mitt's Still-Hidden Tax Returns

How Mitt Romney is still refusing to budge on his tax returns.

Fri Jul. 20, 2012 9:40 AM PDT

This Week in Dark Money

Super-PAC megadonor Sheldon Adelson faces a federal investigation, a dark-money group evades a court ruling, and more news from the murky world of campaign finance.

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| Fri Jul. 20, 2012 3:00 AM PDT

Anti-Obama Group Caught Using US Military Logos Without Authorization

"Special Operations for America" must stop politicizing military insignia, US officials tell MoJo, or face possible legal action.

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| Thu Jul. 19, 2012 12:53 PM PDT

Republicans to Secret Donors: We've Got Your Back (Yet Again)

GOP senators who once talked up dark-money disclosure kill off the DISCLOSE Act.

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| Tue Jul. 17, 2012 4:00 PM PDT

4 Biggest Government Spending Myths Debunked

Getting the facts straight on the four biggest government spending myths that have taken hold.

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| Tue Jul. 17, 2012 11:18 AM PDT

Did GOP Money Man Sheldon Adelson Violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act?

Adelson built a gambling empire in Macau that made him one of the world's richest men. Now, his business methods are under investigation.

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| Tue Jul. 17, 2012 3:00 AM PDT
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Senate Republicans Stand Up for the Rights of Secret Donors

GOPers vote to keep dark money in the shadows by blocking the DISCLOSE Act.

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| Mon Jul. 16, 2012 4:29 PM PDT
Mitt Romney

The Mystery of Mitt's Bain Meltdown

And a theory on what he's really hiding in all those unreleased tax returns.

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| Mon Jul. 16, 2012 11:09 AM PDT
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Democratic Super-PACs Bank $25 Million—But Lag Karl Rove and Co.

A quartet of Democratic super-PACs hauled in more than $25 million in April, May, and June of 2012.

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| Mon Jul. 16, 2012 9:11 AM PDT