money in politics

March 13, 2014 - Every once in a while, a little light makes its way into the secret world of dark money politics, offering an illuminating glimpse into the way companies and big donors attempt to gain -- and conceal -- their influence.

February 20, 2014 - Duke Energy has long fought strict federal regulations on coal ash, which is in the spotlight again following a spill from one of the company's North Carolina plants. Duke got help from the American Legislative Exchange Council, the controversial corporate-interest advocacy group that has counted the utility among its members.

February 18, 2014 - Following Duke Energy's massive coal ash spill into the Dan River, Gov. Pat McCrory (R) has come under scrutiny for his close ties to the Charlotte, N.C.-based utility giant. Other key members of his administration have connections to the company, too.

February 14, 2014 - Art Pope helped rewrite the rules about Big Money's influence in North Carolina's court elections. Now he's taking advantage of the money-drenched system he helped create.

January 15, 2014 - Nearly half of the TV ads in a national $20 million ad blitz launched by Americans for Prosperity have been directed at Sen. Kay Hagan, solidifying North Carolina's status as a key battleground.

January 10, 2014 - Art Pope and his well-funded political machine take credit for pushing North Carolina to the right when it serves their purposes -- and deny responsibility when thrust into the media spotlight.

December 17, 2013 - The private prison industry is fueling high incarceration rates in Mississippi and elsewhere in the United States. It's a way to keep an indentured class in a state and nation built on slavery.