Jane Mayer's Dark Money is an indispensable history of the billionaires behind the rise of the radical right in the US. The book reveals how the Koch brothers and their allies have spent hundreds of millions to move their political ideas from the fringe to the center of American political life. The review highlights the Kochs' extremist views and their impact on American politics, from the 1960s to the present day.
Jane Mayer's Dark Money is a comprehensive and eye-opening exploration of the origins, rise, and dominance of a billionaire class in the US, particularly focusing on the Koch brothers. The book delves into the Kochs' family history, including their father's involvement with the Nazis and his extremist views. Mayer reveals how Charles and David Koch, along with other billionaires like Richard Scaife, have spent hundreds of millions to push their political agenda, moving it from the fringe to the center of American political life. The review highlights the Kochs' goal to 'tear the government out at the root' and their significant impact on American politics, from the 1960s to the present day. The book also discusses the rise of the Tea Party movement and the Kochs' role in its creation. Overall, Dark Money is a crucial read for understanding the influence of dark money in American politics.
Quick quotes
Jane Mayer has combined her own research with the work of scores of other investigators, to describe how the Kochs and fellow billionaires like Richard Scaife have spent hundreds of millions to “move their political ideas from the fringe to the center of American political life”.
Another man who studied Charles thought “he was driven by some deeper urge to smash the one thing left in the world that could discipline him: the government”.
The genius of this strategy was to “turn corporate self-interest into a movement among people on the streets”.