This article in the Progressive magazine is a rather long article detailing, once again, the influence of “dark money” on politics as a result of the Citizens United decision of the Supreme Court in 2010. In particular the author Steve Macek focuses on how the lack of transparency is “drowning our democracy.”

Here is a key takeaway:

In 2010, the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (FEC) held that legal restrictions on independent political expenditures by corporations, unions, and nonprofits violate the First Amendment. A 2010 lower court decision, SpeechNow.org v. FEC, ruled that organizations may raise and spend unlimited amounts on electioneering messages as long as they do not coordinate with candidates and campaigns. Together, Massoglia says, these rulings “ushered in a proliferation of dark money that is largely unchecked.”