Sunlight Foundation Reporting Group

Facebook in Washington: Baby steps of a giant

Ad buys mostly outside of FCC's new disclosure rule

New rules requiring greater online disclosure of political TV advertisements in the country's top 50 markets wouldn't have applied to the majority of ads aired by the Obama campaign during an 11 day period in April, according to a new analysis.

Coincidence? Sunlight map shows how Obama fundraising crosses paths with his super PAC

Super PACs first quarter haul: More than $100 million in political contributions

Super PACs raised more in the first three months of 2012 than they did in all of 2011, and after just two years of existence have emerged as a financial force that rivals the political parties and candidates' campaign committees.

Brazil-U.S. trip part of larger PR strategy

Who's the web savviest presidential candidate of all?

Running for president requires web presence. Facebook, Twitter, web videos and websites that take online donations are ubiquitous among this year's presidential contenders. Yet, in an ever-more sophisticated technical world, the basics are not enough, and each candidate is trying some unique approaches to mine the Internet for donations -- a key to President Obama's fundraising success in 2008.

Ohio, Tennessee and Georgia see super PAC influx

Of the nearly $10.7 million dollars in super PAC spending dumped on the super Tuesday states over the last two weeks, three — Ohio, Tennessee and Georgia — account for nearly all of the spending and almost half of the available delegates.

On eve of Netanyahu visit, a look at Israel's lobbying

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday begins a visit to the United States amid tensions surrounding Iran's nuclear program and a report President Obama will urge his Israeli counterpart to postpone a preemptive strike. In addition to Obama, Netanyahu will call on another U.S. power political player, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).

Influence at the Oscars

Update: The contribution amounts coming from George Clooney and Kathleen Kennedy have been corrected.

Crossroads, Planned Parenthood advertise in presidential battlegrounds

As if independent expenditures by super PACs weren't enough, two major political players have notified the Federal Elections Commission of recent electioneering communications in states likely to be battlegrounds this fall.

Super PAC profile: Democratic governors play in presidential primary

DGA Action is a super PAC created by the Democratic Governors Association, but so far in this election cycle, all of its ads have been against Republican presidential candidates.

Nine things you need to know about super PACs

What makes a super PAC super?

Super PACs: How we got here

Nearly four decades ago, the delivery of a suitcase stuffed with $250,000 in cash to one of then-President Richard Nixon's top aides helped fuel the Watergate scandal and a complete overhaul of the laws regulating campaign finance. Voters in the 2012 election are likely to know less about who is trying to influence their decision than they have at any time since then. And, compared to the amounts of unregulated dollars flowing into campaigns, the stash of cash that former Commerce Secretary Maurice Stans accepted during the 1972 presidential campaign seems like peanuts.

Evolution of money in politics

Here is an interactive timeline of the events that shape money in politics. Click on the dots for more information.