POV Season 31 Episode 16 Dark Money

Dark Money is the 16th episode of the 31st season of POV. This documentary explores the impact of secretive, untraceable corporate spending on American elections and the dangers this poses for democracy. Directed by Kimberly Reed, it highlights the story of one Montana journalist who is fighting back against the forces of dark money in his state.

The film begins with the 2010 Supreme Court case Citizens United v. FEC, which lifted restrictions on corporations and unions spending money in political campaigns. This decision allowed for the creation of "dark money" groups - organizations that can spend unlimited amounts of money on political campaigns without disclosing the source of their funding.

The documentary takes us to Montana, a state that has long been the battleground for a fight against dark money. In 2012, the state's Attorney General sought to enforce laws that required the disclosure of donors behind political ads, only to be challenged by a conservative group called American Tradition Partnership (ATP). ATP sued the state, leading to a legal battle that would have far-reaching consequences.

The film centers around John Adams, a Montana journalist who first began reporting on dark money in the state in 2008. Adams' reporting on the rise of outside spending in Montana political campaigns eventually led him to uncover the ATP lawsuit. He becomes a key figure in the legal battle, one of the few independent journalists to cover the issue in-depth.

Through interviews with Adams, as well as local politicians and activists, Dark Money shows the increasing influence of untraceable money on Montana's elections. It also explores the impact that this type of spending can have on the democratic process, pointing out that it allows for powerful corporate interests to effectively buy elections and manipulate the political process.

As the film progresses, we see the increasing stakes of the legal battle over dark money in Montana. ATP's lawsuit eventually goes to the Supreme Court, where the conservative-leaning justices seem poised to strike down Montana's disclosure laws. But in a surprising twist, the court upholds the state's laws, a major victory in the fight against dark money.

The film ends by highlighting the importance of continued vigilance against the forces of secretive, untraceable money in American politics. It notes that while Montana may have won a major victory, the fight against dark money is far from over and still poses a major threat to democracy across the country.

Dark Money is a powerful and deeply relevant film, offering a compelling look at the corrosive effects of corporate spending on American democracy. Through the story of John Adams and the legal battle in Montana, it shows the importance of transparency and accountability in political campaigns and highlights the need for continued vigilance in the fight for a more equitable and democratic system.