Money in Politics

Big-money donors can already donate anonymously through social welfare groups. If Congress keeps a provision in the House tax bill, it would allow charitable organizations to play politics.

Aides from the president's campaign are working with a group that will not have to reveal donors. Contributors will fund efforts to promote his goals without revealing their role.

In an election year characterized by populist energy over economic concerns like jobs and trade, the gap between the wealth of both major party candidates and typical voters is striking.

Clinton's vice presidential pick received more than $160,000 in gifts while governor of Virginia. He disclosed it all, as required by state law, but it could be a problem in this year of populists.

Once the domain of presidential and congressional candidates, the big-spending political committees are now a feature of city politics, too.

Thanks to small donors fueling Bernie Sanders and Ben Carson, the campaign donation race last quarter got a lot tighter.

The groups funded by the Koch brothers have run lots of TV ads, but now they're making a big community-organizing push. They have the money to do it, too, vowing to spend almost $1 billion for 2016.

The pope spoke for 51 minutes before Congress and read his speech verbatim from prepared remarks. That is, except for one line he omitted about politics not being "a slave to the economy and finance."