Independent Media  ·  Following the Money  ·  By Rob C

Democracy For Sale

How Corporate Greed is Corrupting Democracy and Endangering the Planet

The Book

Follow the Money

Democracy for Sale documents the corporate takeover of American democracy.

Get the Facts.

Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and booksellers everywhere.

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The Mission

Money flows where cameras don't. We follow both.

Democracy for Sale is an independent investigation into the funding mechanisms, influence networks, and financial architecture that shape American political life. No corporate backing. No access journalism. Just public records, data, and the questions the mainstream press won't sit with long enough to answer.

Read the Manifesto

$15.9B

Spent on 2024 federal elections — a new record

9 in 10

House races won by the bigger spender

$5.1B

Record lobbying spend in 2025

$1.9B

Dark money in 2024 — a new record (Brennan Center)

Launching Soon

The
Podcast

Long-form conversations with investigative journalists, political scientists, former lobbyists, and the people who've watched money corrupt the democratic process up close. New episodes dropping soon.

Latest Episode

State Houses for Sale

EP 6  ·  55:19
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Coming Soon
S1 EP 6 55:19

State Houses for Sale

The big money battle for state legislatures — why donors are targeting statehouses and what's at stake for redistricting, abortion, and labor.

Ari Berman
Not yet available
state politicsredistricting
Coming Soon
S1 EP 5 49:33

The Think Tank Industrial Complex

Behind the policy papers and TV talking heads: how corporate money funds the ideas that become law — and how it stays hidden.

Jane Mayer
Not yet available
think tanksdark money
Coming Soon
S1 EP 4 62:08

Billionaires and Ballot Boxes

A handful of ultra-wealthy donors now account for a staggering share of all political spending. We ask: is democracy still one person, one vote?

Chuck CollinsAnand Giridharadas
Not yet available
billionairesinequality
Coming Soon
S1 EP 3 44:15

Super PACs Explained

Citizens United opened the floodgates. Fifteen years later, we look at how Super PACs have reshaped American elections — and who's really writing the checks.

Trevor Potter
Not yet available
super pacscitizens united