Topic: Campaign Money

James Carville calls for a full audit of the Democratic National Committee and the Harris campaign, alleging that $2.5 billion was squandered. He describes the campaign as a "money laundering scheme" for consultants and lobbyists. The hosts discuss reports that Al Sharpton's organization received $500,000 shortly before he interviewed Harris on MSNBC.

Donald Trump's legal team is attempting to move his criminal case from Manhattan to federal court to find a more favorable jury pool. The hosts compare the current charges against Trump to the 2011 indictment of former Senator John Edwards. They play a supercut of media figures from that era questioning the validity of using campaign finance laws to prosecute personal scandals, highlighting a perceived double standard in current reporting.

The Democratic National Committee has reportedly lifted a ban on donations from federal lobbyists and super PACs. This policy, originally implemented by President Obama to distance the party from special interest money, was reversed as the 2016 election cycle intensified. The move has drawn criticism from those advocating for campaign finance reform.

Senator Al Franken questions First Amendment attorney Floyd Abrams about the potential for wealthy corporations to intimidate politicians with threats of massive campaign spending. The discussion touches on "dark money" and 501(c)(4) social welfare groups. The hosts counter that such influence is no different from existing lobbying by groups like the Sierra Club and dismiss Franken's arguments as specious.

California Attorney General Kamala Harris is linked to the mortgage settlement. Her brother-in-law, Tony West, is an Assistant Attorney General and a major "bundler" who reportedly raised $65 million for Barack Obama's 2008 campaign.

ShoreBank, a Chicago-based institution now known as Urban Partnership Bank, is alleged to be a "whitewashing" operation for political funds. The bank, which received bailout money and has a presence in Islamabad, Pakistan, is linked to the Obama administration. The hosts suggest that campaign donations are being funneled through such institutions to bypass standard financial oversight.

Questions regarding Barack Obama's 2008 campaign finance sources resurface, including allegations of untraceable foreign donations and internet-based money laundering. The hosts suggest that the legalization of Super PACs serves as a "legal whitewashing" for these practices, allowing unlimited funds to enter the political system without transparency.