# The Case That Could Take Down Super PACs & Stop Dark Money ft. Lawrence Lessig | Shane Has Questions

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/shane-smith-has-questions-7035837/the-case-that-could-take-down-super-pacs-stop-dark-money-ft-lawrence-lessig-shane-has-questions
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/shane-smith-has-questions-7035837/the-case-that-could-take-down-super-pacs-stop-dark-money-ft-lawrence-lessig-shane-has-questions.md
Podcast: [Shane Smith Has Questions](https://stenobird.com/podcast/shane-smith-has-questions-7035837)
Published: 2025-11-13T17:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://pdst.fm/e/mgln.ai/e/135/verifi.podscribe.com/rss/p/tracking.swap.fm/track/i7NUCPwi3tJP053nG6mP/pdrl.fm/1bfae6/traffic.megaphone.fm/STU3370215929.mp3?updated=1763018897
Audio file: https://pdst.fm/e/mgln.ai/e/135/verifi.podscribe.com/rss/p/tracking.swap.fm/track/i7NUCPwi3tJP053nG6mP/pdrl.fm/1bfae6/traffic.megaphone.fm/STU3370215929.mp3?updated=1763018897
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Duration seconds: 2757

## Resource

Harvard Law’s Lawrence Lessig, founder of Creative Commons and Equal Citizens, joins Shane for look at how money captured American politics and what it will take to break its grip. Lessig explains why the real super PAC problem wasn’t created by Citizens United but by a lower-court ruling, and why a new Maine initiative could become the test case that finally reins in unlimited outside spending, potentially nationwide by 2028. They dig into the Supreme Court’s expanding power, how crypto and AI money are rewriting policy in real time, and whether “lawfare” is a buzzword or a genuine threat. Along the way: wage theft vs. our TV-obsession with robberies, why institutions keep settling with extortionists, and what reform has the best odds. In the lightning round, Lessig names dark money as democracy’s bigger danger over disinformation. Subscribe to VICE News here: http://bit.ly/Subscribe-to-VICE-News Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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## Transcript

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