Money In Politics

April 24, 2025 - A by-the-numbers look at the role of Southern for-profit prison companies in the Trump administration's deportation crusade.

March 11, 2016 - Independent political groups representing business interests are spending big to influence this year's primary races for North Carolina state House and Senate. The outside groups have poured more than $1 million into races, mostly supporting Republicans and conservative Democrats.

March 4, 2016 - Republican-led legislatures in several Southern states are trying to increase conservative control of their high courts in hopes the justices will uphold their legislation while outside political groups are spending millions to help conservatives reach the bench.

February 4, 2016 - The only super PAC in the billionaire Koch brothers' conservative political network, which is set to spend almost $1 billion on this year's election, Freedom Partners Action Fund just submitted its year-end report to the Federal Elections Commission. It shows a small number of conservative mega-donors are bankrolling the group's efforts, including seven Southern businessmen.

January 22, 2016 - Six years since the U.S. Supreme Court struck down restrictions on political spending, overwhelming numbers of Americans across the partisan spectrum says it's time for far-reaching reforms — and the message is getting through to elected officials.

January 14, 2016 - Right-wing industrialist Charles Koch's efforts to reshape higher education in the South were the topic of a Georgia Public Broadcasting talk show this week. Guests included Institute for Southern Studies money in politics researcher Alex Kotch and Inside Higher Ed editor Scott Jaschik.

January 13, 2016 - With oil prices at their lowest point in over a decade, House and Senate leaders will meet next week to discuss ways to shore up the industry, which has invested heavily in Congress.