“Who’s donating all this money?” (updated)

I analyzed reported campaign donations in the South Carolina Superintendent of Education race. There's a pattern.

Originally posted: July 2022. Updated: December 20, 2023. Additions in bold. This work is possible because of subscribers and donors. If you’re able to support it please consider subscribing or making a donation:

There’s a pattern

-Fugazi, “Five Corporations”

It may be the Devil, or it may be the Lord

But you’re gonna have to serve somebody

-Bob Dylan, “Serve Somebody”

Detail of the disclaimer at the end of one of the ads Pennsylvania billionaire Jeff Yass’ “School Freedom Fund” Super PAC funded to support SC Superintendent of Education candidate Ellen Weaver. The ad follows a very simple template the group has used in multiple states, calling disfavored candidates “liberal” without any substantive evidence or policy argument.

Corporations are just people without limits

In the majority opinion of CITIZENS UNITED v. FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION, Justice Anthony Kennedy explained that Citizens United, a company which had created a 90-minute 2010 anti-Hillary Clinton “documentary” (Hillary: Th…