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D.C. PAC Shutters, Highlighting Fine Ethical Line For Groups Across The Country

Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser last month. Larry French/Getty Images hide caption

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Larry French/Getty Images

Politics

D.C. PAC Shutters, Highlighting Fine Ethical Line For Groups Across The Country

WAMU 88.5

A group in Washington, D.C., collected money from government contractors to elect allies of the city's mayor, fueling fears of a pay-to-play culture.

D.C. PAC Shutters, Highlighting Fine Ethical Line For Groups Across The Country

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Coming To A Mayor's Race Near You: SuperPACs Moving Into Cities

Democratic mayoral candidate Jim Kenney benefited from a super PAC that helped him win in the city's Democratic primary election. Matt Slocum/AP hide caption

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Matt Slocum/AP

It's All Politics

Coming To A Mayor's Race Near You: SuperPACs Moving Into Cities

WHYY

Once the domain of presidential and congressional candidates, the big-spending political committees are now a feature of city politics, too.

Coming To A Mayor's Race Near You: SuperPACs Moving Into Cities

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Koch Political Network Expanding 'Grass-Roots' Organizing

A volunteer with the Koch-funded Libre Initiative directs people in 2014 as groceries are distributed at a food bank it partially sponsors in San Antonio. Eric Gay/AP hide caption

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Eric Gay/AP

It's All Politics

Koch Political Network Expanding 'Grass-Roots' Organizing

The groups funded by the Koch brothers have run lots of TV ads, but now they're making a big community-organizing push. They have the money to do it, too, vowing to spend almost $1 billion for 2016.

What Happens To All That SuperPAC Money When A Candidate Drops Out

Rick Perry ended his presidential campaign Sept. 11, but there was $13 million left in the bank of a superPAC supporting him. The superPAC says it's given donors their money back. Scott Olson/Getty Images hide caption

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Scott Olson/Getty Images

It's All Politics

What Happens To All That SuperPAC Money When A Candidate Drops Out

When former Texas Gov. Rick Perry dropped out of the presidential race, a superPAC supporting him was left with millions of dollars in the bank. So where did it go? And what are the rules?

It's All Politics

'Social Welfare' Organizations Play Big Role In Presidential Politics

Some of the heaviest advertisers are groups financed by anonymous donors. They're not organized as political committees, but as "social welfare" organizations. One of those groups, led by GOP strategist Karl Rove, is rivaling the campaigns themselves for ad money spent so far in the election.

'Social Welfare' Organizations Play Big Role In Presidential Politics

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Why Does The Mortgage-Interest Tax Deduction Still Exist?
Alex Brandon/AP

Planet Money

Why Does The Mortgage-Interest Tax Deduction Still Exist?

If you own a home in the U.S., if you have a mortgage, you can deduct the interest you pay on that mortgage from your taxes. It's a popular, well-entrenched policy. But according to one policy adviser in Washington, "the mortgage-interest deduction ... makes no sense."

Why Does The Mortgage-Interest Tax Deduction Still Exist?

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On The Million-Dollar Trail Of A Mystery SuperPAC Donor

Some superPAC donors are hiding from public scrutiny. iStockphoto.com hide caption

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iStockphoto.com

Planet Money

On The Million-Dollar Trail Of A Mystery SuperPAC Donor

The superPACs raising money to support the presidential candidates have few restrictions. But they do have to reveal who donated money. So what happens when a donation comes from someone trying to avoid public scrutiny?

On The Million-Dollar Trail Of A Mystery SuperPAC Donor

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When Lobbyists Pay To Meet With Congressmen
Charles Dharapak/AP

Planet Money

When Lobbyists Pay To Meet With Congressmen

"...the fundraiser has 35,000 bucks in checks sitting in her pocket right now. And we're going to talk about public policy while we take the checks."

When Lobbyists Pay To Meet With Congressmen

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Planet Money

Why Lobbyists Dodge Calls From Congressmen

We imagine the lobbyist stalking the halls of Congress trying to use cash to influence important people. But often, the Congressman is stalking the lobbyist, asking for money.

Why Lobbyists Dodge Calls From Congressmen

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