Joanna Zdanys

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Articles

Brennan Center Announces Election of Kimberley Harris and Christine Varney as New Co-Chairs

Jan 29, 2024 | brennancenter.org | Joanna Zdanys |Gabriella Sanchez |Alice Clapman |Spencer Reynolds

Today the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law announced that Kimberley D. Harris and Christine A. Varney have been elected Co-Chairs of the Center’s Board of Directors. Kimberley D. Harris is Executive Vice President of Comcast Corporation and General Counsel of NBCUniversal. In this role, Harris oversees all international government and regulatory affairs for Comcast, supporting the company’s businesses worldwide.
Wealthy donors influence elections with their wallets. Small donor public financing would benefit everyday Americans.

Jan 25, 2024 | chicago.suntimes.com | Joanna Zdanys

Exploring critical issues facing our democracy and searching for solutions. The 2024 elections are already on track to be the most expensive on record. And it’s a safe bet that just a handful of ultra-wealthy donors will funnel millions to their favored politicians, drowning out the dollars and preferences of everyday working voters. In 2022, just 100 wealthy Americans gave $1.2 billion, compared to just over $747 million from all 3.7 million small donors combined.
The Answer to Citizens United Is Becoming Reality

Jan 24, 2024 | brennancenter.org | Joanna Zdanys

Fourteen years ago this week, a 5–4 majority of the Supreme Court unleashed a tidal wave of money into our elections. By forbidding limits on “independent” political spending — that is, spending that isn’t clearly coordinated with a candidate — the justices in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission handed the ultrawealthy a blank check to influence American politics. Since then, megadonors have spent heavily to dominate our democracy.
Decoding the Iowa Caucuses

Jan 16, 2024 | brennancenter.org | Michael Waldman |Joanna Zdanys

You’re reading The Briefing, Michael Waldman’s weekly newsletter. Click here to receive it in your inbox. Donald Trump’s win in the Iowa Republican caucus did not surprise. Turnout was desultory, about 40 percent lower than the last time there was a contested GOP race in 2016. Trump’s 56,000 votes would not fill the seats at the local college football stadium. At the same time, the result suggested that the race for the Republican nomination could effectively be over.
New York Strikes a Blow Against Citizens United

May 21, 2023 | portside.org | Joanna Zdanys

American politics is awash in big money. Ever since the Supreme Court’s infamous Citizens United ruling largely deregulated political spending, the influence of wealthy campaign donors has ballooned. The 2022 elections were the most expensive midterms ever, and megadonors dominated the spending: just a handful of big donor families gave more than all 3.7 million small donors. This influence imbalance drowns out everyday voters’ voices.
New York Strikes a Blow Against Citizens United

May 17, 2023 | brennancenter.org | Joanna Zdanys

American politics is awash in big money. Ever since the Supreme Court’s infamous Citizens United ruling largely deregulated political spending, the influence of wealthy campaign donors has ballooned. The 2022 elections were the most expensive midterms ever, and megadonors dominated the spending: just a handful of big donor families gave more than all 3.7 million small donors. This influence imbalance drowns out everyday voters’ voices.