Dark Money
The Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical Right
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Dark Money
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Narrated by:
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Kirsten Potter
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Written by:
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Jane Mayer
About this listen
Why is America living in an age of profound economic inequality? Why, despite the desperate need to address climate change, have even modest environmental efforts been defeated again and again? Why have protections for employees been decimated? Why do hedge-fund billionaires pay a far lower tax rate than middle-class workers?
The conventional answer is that a popular uprising against "big government" led to the rise of a broad-based conservative movement. But as Jane Mayer shows in this powerful, meticulously reported history, a network of exceedingly wealthy people with extreme libertarian views also played a key role by bankrolling a systematic, step-by-step plan to fundamentally alter the American political system.
The network has brought together some of the richest people on the planet, foremost among them Charles and David Koch. Their core beliefs - that taxes are a form of tyranny; that government oversight of business is an assault on freedom - are sincerely held. But these beliefs also advance their personal and corporate interests: Many of their companies have run afoul of federal pollution, worker safety, securities, and tax laws.
When libertarian ideas proved decidedly unpopular with voters, the Koch brothers and their allies decided on another path. If they pooled their vast resources, they could fund an interlocking array of organizations that could work in tandem to influence and ultimately control academic institutions, think tanks, the courts, statehouses, Congress, and, they hoped, the presidency.
The political operatives the network employs are disciplined, smart, and at times ruthless. And their efforts have been remarkably successful. Libertarian views on taxes and regulation, once far outside the mainstream and still rejected by most Americans, are ascendant in the majority of state governments, the Supreme Court, and Congress. Meaningful environmental, labor, finance, and tax reform have been stymied.
Jane Mayer spent five years conducting hundreds of interviews - including with several sources within the network - and scoured public records, private papers, and court proceedings in reporting this book. In a taut and utterly convincing narrative, she traces the byzantine trail of the billions of dollars spent by the network and provides vivid portraits of the colorful figures behind the new American oligarchy.
Dark Money is a book that must be listened to by anyone who cares about the future of American democracy.
©2016 Jane Mayer (P)2016 Random House AudioWhat listeners say about Dark Money
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- srwatson
- 2020-11-07
a must read
This may be the most informed and important book I have ever listened to. She shows how the .01% have worked diligently to manipulate democracy to serve the needs of their Cabal.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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- Fred
- 2021-12-28
Incredible
Probably one of the more important books of the past century and seemingly more relevant every year
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Jordan Johnstone
- 2022-07-18
Jane Mayer, a masterful investigative Jounralist
This book waa amazing gaave a detailed and thorough investigative work into the Koch brothers, and billions like them and their success in preverting the politicial system especially within yheir take over of the GOP. Mayer goes through their detest and hatred of workers and their hatred of a political system they cannot control.. she explored their own aelfishness and self serving pychotic behavouir.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Samantha Blackwell
- 2022-12-27
Infuriating
We all know it’s happening but to this degree of greed is beyond heartbreaking for the average American; every vote counts and we’re down to the wire! Please read this book it will blow your mind, sadden you and spark the anger we need to take down these self absorbed narcissist psychopaths!!! A MUST READ!!!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Bead Designer Lady
- 2020-04-05
Dark Money .....a must- read for all people, not just Americans
This is an astoundingly well researched book which now explains for all of us just why the EPA is so attacked in past and eliminated in present. It also explains how and why Obama and his Medicare for all did the serve the purposes of the .1%. Lots of food for thought and for Nov. 2020,!
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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- Steven
- 2023-02-17
Good Story
Great story and good insight into how billionaires get their money and peels back the layers of how far their reach goes in the name of getting more!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Satchmo Coltrane
- 2017-12-28
Eye opening
If you’re wondering what happened to the current Republican Party - here’s the book for you. Pretty straight forward and easy to follow. Chase the money, find the devil
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4 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Monieyo
- 2021-10-20
What you need to know, now.
I believe this book gives great insight to the shadow puppetry we’ve all become entranced by.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Tim Kirker
- 2021-06-23
Why US Politics is Hopelessly Corrupt
Anyone wanting to understand why the US political system is so dysfunctional needs to read this book, Mayer leaves no stone unturned, pulling back the curtain on the Koch Brothers and other billionaire families who have steered the GOP to their own hard right ideology. Bipartisanship is doomed and nothing gets accomplished. Dark money has corrupted the political right and hamstrung the left. Mayer’s excellent book paints a deeply disturbing political situation.
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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- Rob Stocki
- 2020-07-07
Completely one-sided political propaganda
I was invited to read this book, bought audio version instead. Painful to listen to as it's clearly a hit piece painting anything non-democrat as evil, whilst ignoring anything negative Democrats have done.
Stay away unless you enjoy mindless propaganda.
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