John S. Adams on Donations as Threats for Democracies (Special Episode)

In this special episode of our podcast, the award-winning investigative and political reporter John S. Adams talks about money, politics and its effect on democracy. While there was always "money in politics," the practice of political donations has become a substantial threat to liberal democracies. "In the last several years, the flood gates have really opened," states Adams in his conversation with hosts Tom Zoellner and Aida Baghernejad. What are the real motivations behind these donations and what are the differences between political donations in Germany and the United States? Adams was the former Capital Bureau Chief of the Great Falls Tribune and a correspondent for USA TODAY. He is the founder and editor of the Montana Free Press, a digital news watchdog. His work on the subject of politics and money was featured in the 2019 PBS documentary Dark Money.