Money in Politics

The 2020 election cycle has been a roller coaster for professional fundraisers as they have adapted to a global pandemic, an unprecedented presidential election, and new waves of racial justice activism throughout the country. Mather Martin is an experienced political and non-profit fundraiser who currently works with Senator Cory Booker but has also worked with Senator and Vice Presidential nominee Kamala Harris, as well as philanthropist and mega-donor Sean Parker. Mather joins the Money in Politics podcast to discuss new trends in the fundraising sector.

The Department of Justice recently opened investigations into lawmakers who sold millions of dollars in stocks after attending closed-door congressional briefings about the COVID-19 pandemic, soon before the market experienced a sharp downturn. Prior to the 2012 passage of the STOCK Act, however, it was completely legal for members of congress to use private information they received as part of their congressional duties to make trading decisions for their own financial benefit. Unsurprisngly, they frequently did. Craig Holman helped draft and pass the STOCK Act, along with some of the most influential ethical and financial regulations concerning public officials. He's done so as the Capitol Hill lobbyist for Public Citizen, a nonprofit consumer advocacy organization. Craig joins the Money in Politics podcast to discuss these most recent allegations of insider trading, as well as his other work to fight back against the negative impact of money in politics.

The end of a quarter (EOQ) is a critical time for fundraising. For many, a quarterly financial reporting deadline can mean an opportunity to demonstrate viability and momentum that could be crucial to the campaign. On today's "How To" episode of the Money in Politics podcast, Andrew shares some best practices for end-of-quarter fundraising so that your campaign can make the most of this opportunity.

The health of our democracy has increasingly come into question in recent years and decades, and the role money plays in our politics is a big part of that discussion. David Hawkings is the Editor in Chief of The Fulcrum, a nonprofit and nonpartisan newsite that is dedicated to covering the problems that threaten our democratic system, and the work being done to help address those problems. David joins the Money in Politics podcast to talk about this mission, the platform's recent "Democracy Madness" tournament in which money in politics played a big role, and how he's thinking about covering our democracy's health for the balance of the 2020 election cycle.

The coronavirus pandemic has fundamentally changed how campagins are operating. But despite the circumstances, staffers continue to need to be paid, advertisements still cost money, and elections will inevitably take place. On today's "How To" episode of the Money in Politics podcast, Andrew shares best practices from what he has been hearing from campaigns and fundraising professionals across the country about how they have been adapting to these challenging times.