cover of episode Pay Pals: How Billionaires Influence Elections

Pay Pals: How Billionaires Influence Elections

2024/10/25
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The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart

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Jon Stewart
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Ken Vogel
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Nancy Pelosi
T
Teddy Schleifer
Topics
Jon Stewart: 本期节目讨论了亿万富翁对选举的影响,以及这种影响对美国民主的潜在威胁。讨论嘉宾包括纽约时报的记者Teddy Schleifer和Ken Vogel,他们分析了亿万富翁如何利用其资源影响政治,以及他们期望获得的回报。节目中还探讨了政治献金的监管问题,以及如何应对亿万富翁对政治的影响。 Ken Vogel: 近年来,政治捐款金额不断增加,且来源越来越集中于少数超级富豪。这种变化使得追踪捐款来源和评估其影响变得更加困难,加剧了人们对金钱影响政治的担忧。 Teddy Schleifer: 证明政治献金的利益交换非常困难,因为我们甚至不知道有多少资金流入,更难弄清捐赠者获得了什么回报。一些捐赠者的利益交换是公开透明的,例如游说团体或利益集团的捐款,其目的通常是为了获得更宽松的监管政策。一些超级富豪的捐款可能出于慈善目的,他们真诚地相信自己的捐款能够改善社会,即使这同时也能使他们自己受益。对捐赠行为的评价取决于个人的政治立场。 Nancy Pelosi: 金钱腐败的是右翼,而左翼能够通过参与这个腐败的体系来赢得胜利,最终改变这个体系。 Teddy Schleifer: 未来政治捐款只会越来越多,因为资本主义的持续发展会使财富更加集中。可能的改革方向包括提高政治捐款的透明度和披露速度。对抗巨额政治捐款的一种力量是小额捐款,但小额捐款也存在问题。富豪们认为选举很重要,因此他们会投入更多资金。大量的研究表明,富人对政治体系的介入越多,他们的意愿就越会在立法机构中得到体现,这表明体系已经被腐蚀。 Ken Vogel: 富豪们从政治捐款中获得回报,有时是直接和明显的,有时则更为隐蔽。即使实施了旨在减少政治捐款金额或方式的改革,也会对政治体系产生影响。对政治捐款的限制正在逐渐放松,这使得政治捐款的影响更加难以控制。保守派正在试图削弱政治捐款的披露规则。 Jon Stewart: 除了政府的三权分立之外,还存在第四种权力——企业权力,而政府对企业权力的制衡机制并不完善。小额捐款可能是对抗巨额政治捐款的一种力量,但在总统竞选中效果有限。选民是制衡政治捐款影响力的最终力量,但政治极化削弱了这种制衡作用。需要关注政治捐款对长期政治和经济的影响。政府在应对新兴科技领域(如人工智能)方面,往往行动迟缓,这使得企业更容易影响该领域的政策。未来政治捐款只会越来越多,而且相关的监管措施可能会进一步放松。

Deep Dive

Key Insights

Why is the 2024 election expected to break spending records?

Billionaire influence is reaching unprecedented levels, reshaping American democracy.

How do billionaires influence elections beyond the presidential race?

They impact down-ballot elections, think tanks, and media empires.

What qualities does Jon Stewart consider indispensable for an ideal presidential candidate?

Humility, tenacity, and courage.

How can listeners submit questions for the podcast?

Via comments on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, or Twitter.

Chapters
The discussion begins with the question of whether the U.S. has become an oligarchy, focusing on the increasing influence of super-rich donors in politics.
  • Increased money in politics from a smaller group of super-rich donors.
  • Difficulty in proving quid pro quo due to opaque donation structures.
  • Expectations from billionaires include influencing policy and elections.

Shownotes Transcript

Money in politics isn't new, but billionaire influence in our elections has reached staggering levels – and 2024 could break all previous election spending records. From the presidential race to down ballot elections and think tanks to media empires, wealthy donors are reshaping American democracy in ways voters rarely see. Joining us to follow the money trail are New York Times reporters Teddy Schleifer and Ken Vogel, who help us explore how the ultra-wealthy leverage their resources across the political landscape and what they expect in return.

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Host/Executive Producer – Jon Stewart

Executive Producer – James Dixon

Executive Producer – Chris McShane

Executive Producer – Caity Gray

Lead Producer – Lauren Walker

Producer – Brittany Mehmedovic

Video Editor & Engineer – Sam Reid

Audio Editor & Engineer – Nicole Boyce

Researcher & Associate Producer – Gillian Spear

Music by Hansdle Hsu

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