Podcast Summary: Tangle Episode – "PREVIEW: The Friday Edition: Talking Money in Politics with Dave O'Brien"

Introduction

In this episode of Tangle, host Will Kabak steps in for Isaac Saul to engage in a compelling conversation with Dave O'Brien, the Policy Director at Represent Us. Represent Us is a nonpartisan organization dedicated to combating corruption in government by advocating for political reforms. The discussion centers on the pervasive influence of money in American politics, exploring how financial dynamics shape elections and governance.

The Role of Money in Modern Politics

Dave O'Brien opens the conversation by addressing the transformative impact of the Citizens United Supreme Court decision. He explains how the ruling dismantled previous regulatory frameworks, leading to an unprecedented influx of money into election campaigns.

“After Citizens United, the floodgates opened, basically. We started seeing just, almost just eye watering amounts of money pouring into our election campaigns.”
— Dave O'Brien [03:53]

O'Brien highlights the resultant disenchantment among voters who feel their individual votes are overshadowed by massive financial contributions. This sentiment fosters a belief that political outcomes are predetermined by wealthy donors rather than the electorate's collective will.

“People often feel like their vote doesn't matter and it's really hard to get them to feel like that one vote they're casting an ocean of millions of votes makes a difference, but it does.”
— Dave O'Brien [04:30]

Allocating Political Funds: Campaigns vs. Super PACs

The discussion delves into the various channels through which money is deployed in political campaigns. O'Brien categorizes political spending into traditional campaign expenses—such as staffing, advertising, and event organization—and outside spending conducted by Super PACs and dark money groups.

“Representatives and campaigns use funds to hire staff, take out ads, rent places for rallies, and other traditional campaign activities. But then there are Super PACs that can accept unlimited donations and spend independently on things like political ads and direct messaging.”
— Dave O'Brien [09:47]

He emphasizes that while traditional campaign funds are subject to donation limits, Super PACs operate with minimal restrictions, allowing for extensive financial influence without direct coordination with the candidates.

The Rise and Dominance of Super PACs

O'Brien sheds light on the evolution and growing dominance of Super PACs in the political landscape. Originating from the SpeechNow.org decision following Citizens United, Super PACs have become integral to modern campaigning, often handling critical functions that were previously managed by the campaigns themselves.

“Super PACs are now so effective and influential that everyone has to utilize them to stay competitive.”
— Dave O'Brien [17:47]

He provides examples of prominent political figures, like Ron DeSantis and Donald Trump, whose campaigns have increasingly relied on Super PACs for activities such as travel arrangements and get-out-the-vote efforts.

“Much of DeSantis's presidential campaign travel was actually funded by Super PACs supporting his campaign rather than his campaign itself.”
— Dave O'Brien [14:45]

Dependency and Potential Reforms

The conversation turns to the dependency of modern campaigns on Super PACs and the challenges this presents. O'Brien acknowledges that while Super PACs are relatively new—emerging just over a decade ago—they've rapidly become essential to sustaining competitive campaigns due to their financial leverage.

“Super PACs are about a decade old, and in that short time, they've almost completely dominated political spending.”
— Dave O'Brien [18:35]

Despite their entrenched position, O'Brien remains optimistic about the potential for reform. Drawing comparisons to other democracies with stricter campaign finance laws, he suggests that systemic changes can be implemented to reduce the undue influence of money in politics.

“This idea that lots of money is the only way we can function has to be that way just isn't true.”
— Dave O'Brien [19:00]

Distinguishing PACs and Super PACs

To clarify the differences for listeners unfamiliar with political finance terminology, O'Brien delineates between Political Action Committees (PACs) and Super PACs. While both entities are designed to influence elections, PACs are more closely aligned with individual candidates and are subject to donation limits. In contrast, Super PACs operate independently of campaigns and can raise and spend unlimited funds.

“PACs can be much more tightly aligned with the candidates themselves, accepting donations with certain restrictions. Super PACs, however, cannot officially coordinate with campaigns and can accept unlimited contributions.”
— Dave O'Brien [20:27]

Conclusion

The episode concludes with a reflection on the intricate relationship between money and political power in the United States. Dave O'Brien underscores the importance of addressing financial disparities to restore voter confidence and ensure that political representation truly reflects the will of the people.

“We can return to a system where voter influence is paramount, and financial backers do not overshadow the democratic process.”
— Dave O'Brien [22:00]

Final Thoughts

This insightful discussion on Tangle offers listeners a comprehensive understanding of the complexities surrounding money in politics. By examining the origins and operations of Super PACs, the conversation underscores the pressing need for reforms to safeguard the integrity of democratic elections.

Notable Quotes:

• “After Citizens United, the floodgates opened, basically. We started seeing just, almost just eye watering amounts of money pouring into our election campaigns.”
  — Dave O'Brien [03:53]

• “People often feel like their vote doesn't matter and it's really hard to get them to feel like that one vote they're casting an ocean of millions of votes makes a difference, but it does.”
  — Dave O'Brien [04:30]

• “Super PACs are now so effective and influential that everyone has to utilize them to stay competitive.”
  — Dave O'Brien [17:47]

• “This idea that lots of money is the only way we can function has to be that way just isn't true.”
  — Dave O'Brien [19:00]

• “PACs can be much more tightly aligned with the candidates themselves, accepting donations with certain restrictions. Super PACs, however, cannot officially coordinate with campaigns and can accept unlimited contributions.”
  — Dave O'Brien [20:27]

About Tangle

Tangle, hosted by Isaac Saul and edited by Will Kabak, offers independent, non-partisan political news. The podcast features diverse viewpoints from across the political spectrum, alongside in-depth interviews with key figures in the political arena. For more insights and the full transcript of this episode, visit readtangle.com.