and the justice department will not be intimidated. we will continue to do our jobs free from political influence, and we will not back down from defending democracy. attorney general merrick garland facing a republican party hell bent on doing everything it can to push conspiracy theories and attack the rule of law in the wake of donald trump s felony conviction in new york. plus, president biden making bold and controversial moves today on immigration and on his rhetoric towards israel. but we begin tonight with the rule of law. in our democrat, system it is the principle under which all persons, institutions, and entities are supposed to be accountable to laws that are publicly promulgated, equally enforced and independently adjudicated. in a perfect world, the idea is to protect the rights of all people in our society. it hasn t always worked out perfectly, to say the least, in this country s long and difficult history, but that is the idea. donald trump and his maga
chicago study, on the effects of citizens united, on corporate spending, the 2012 presidential election saw a 594% increase in independent expenditures versus the 2008 election. in dollar amounts, that meant $144 million in 2008 compared to $1 billion in 2012. $1 billion with a b. it s an insane amount of money. with money and politics even more aligned, billionaires felt a sense of ownership, not just over politics but the presidency itself, and no one senses that almost organically than donald trump, the long time grifter and snake oil selling president who is promising to sell his second term for parts to wealthy donors. billionaires like miriam adelson, his top donor in 2020. one of the richest women in republican circlesering she