Brock Lowrance Study Group: Talking Benjamins: The Politics of Money in Politics

You can’t talk about politics without talking about money. In 2024, $16 billion was spent on federal elections while another $4.5 billion went into lobbying. But money in politics is more than campaign ads — it shapes policy, sets agendas, and fuels influence. Is money corrupting politics, or is it an expression of free speech? In this session, we’ll explore how money flows through the political system, discuss the mechanics of campaign finance, and confront the double standard of "dark money" — the dirty secret some politicians and even reform groups denounce in public, but rely on in practice.

AUDIENCE: These conversations are open to members of the Harvard community. Please RSVP with a valid Harvard email address. 

OFF-THE-RECORD: In keeping with our long tradition at the IOP to ensure honest and candid discussions of politics, all IOP study groups are off-the-record.