Latest news with #OhioConfidential
Axios
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Axios
"Democracy Day" returns to Cleveland City Hall
A community-led "Democracy Day" hearing arrives at Cleveland City Hall Monday as part of the national movement to get corporate money out of politics. The big picture: Cleveland is among more than 20 Ohio municipalities that have passed resolutions since 2012 pushing Congress to amend the U.S. Constitution to declare that money is not speech. Cities adopted these resolutions at the urging of advocacy groups like Move to Amend in response to the Citizens United Supreme Court decision in 2010. Cleveland's 2016 ordinance established a biennial public hearing at City Hall to allow the community to explore these topics. What they're saying: "We are witnessing in real time the increasing political and economic power of the super wealthy and corporations in our country to influence not only our elections, but public policies on health care, education, food, jobs, transportation, energy, and the natural world," said Cleveland Heights resident Greg Coleridge, national co-director of Move to Amend, in a statement. Between the lines: The meeting comes a month after HBO released "Ohio Confidential," a documentary that unraveled the HB6 bribery scandal. 💭 Sam's thought bubble: HB6 is, of course, a striking example of how a single corporation can warp public policy with big bucks.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ohio's HB 6 utility scandal gets true-crime treatment in HBO film
One of the largest utility scandals in U.S. history has remained largely unknown outside Ohio — until now. Last week, HBO released a documentary that covers the long, sordid saga, which led to the federal criminal convictions of a former speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives and a former head of the Ohio Republican Party. 'The Dark Money Game: Ohio Confidential' follows the story of how utility companies used roughly $60 million in bribes to public officials to secure more than $1.5 billion in ratepayer subsidies for aging, uneconomical coal and nuclear plants. Canary Media contributing reporter Kathiann Kowalski has spent more than a decade covering the House Bill 6 saga and Ohio utilities' other efforts to get ratepayer-funded bailouts. Dan Haugen, a senior editor at Canary Media, recently spoke with Kowalski about her reactions to the new film. The following transcript has been edited slightly for length and clarity. Haugen: So, you watched this new HBO documentary "Ohio Confidential" the other day. What about it is still on your mind today? Kowalski: I was struck by the focus they used of how dark money and gerrymandering undermined voters' will in the wake of a 2010 Supreme Court case that opened the door for unlimited corporate spending on political campaigns, subject to few conditions. Haugen: Was there any factual information that wasn't previously reported by you or others? Kowalski: A lot of it was very familiar, given the fact that I had read through most of the exhibits, read Neil Clark's book, gone to part of the trial, and been following this for years. There was an interesting scene where they were able to get footage of the FBI observing a private detective that former Ohio GOP Chair Matt Borges and company had apparently retained to follow Tyler Fehrman, who was a witness in the federal criminal case. Haugen: Did the film change your understanding of the HB 6 story in any way? Kowalski: They did a decent job connecting some dots. I had not thought through how former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder's actions also enabled a far-right coalition in the Legislature to push through an anti-abortion law in 2019. It gave me a broader perspective on the anti-democracy angle of the public corruption, but my understanding of the basic story did not change. Haugen: Where did the abortion legislation appear on the timeline? Kowalski: The way that the filmmaker presents it is that once Householder helped these people get the anti-abortion legislation passed, he then had people who felt they owed him something. I looked at the timing, and Gov. Mike DeWine signed the anti-abortion legislation the day before House Bill 6 was introduced. Haugen: One of the biggest unknowns still today is what, if any, role the governor's office had in all this. You and others have reported on a December 2018 dinner with FirstEnergy executives, DeWine, and Jon Husted, just weeks before the latter two took office as governor and lieutenant governor. Neither has been charged nor accused of any wrongdoing. Does the film shed any new light on their connections? Kowalski: The filmmakers include an allegation of $5 million going from FirstEnergy to help elect DeWine. And they note a disclaimer from DeWine's office that it was all within the confines of what was allowed under the law. That's basically about all they did. It was not a deep dive into the governor's actions or Husted, who was recently appointed to fill Vice President JD Vance's U.S. Senate seat. I think maybe they wanted to keep their story tightly focused on the Legislature and what has been proven in the first federal criminal case. That also avoids having to include more disclaimers about how nothing's been proven against others, everybody denies wrongdoing, etc., etc. Haugen: Did anything in this film make you smile or laugh? Kowalski: A couple things. First, it starts off with actor Michael Imperioli reading an excerpt from lobbyist Neil Clark's tell-all book, which was published after Clark, who had been criminally charged for his role in the HB 6 scandal, died by suicide in 2021. The fact that Imperioli is famous for roles in Goodfellas and The Sopranos just struck me as a wonderful bit of filmmaking irony. There were also some scenes about whistleblower Tyler Fehrman meeting with the FBI or Matt Borges. The locations included Graeter's Ice Cream and a Starbucks, and so the film has scenes of people working in those places. It made me think, well, gee, if you had included Dewine and Husted's dinner with the FirstEnergy executives, you could have shown the inside of the Athletic Club of Columbus or its menu or storefront or something. Haugen: So is this something you would recommend that your readers watch? Kowalski: Yes. It's compelling storytelling. It does a good job of explaining things in plain terms. There's a limited cast of characters, and you can follow the story. If House Bill 6 is new to you, it's definitely worth watching. And it's certainly important now as we're looking at not only the continued use of dark money in politics through either nonprofits or limited liability corporations, but also, with technology, likely more ways to cover up potential bribes. So, yes, people should be aware of this. The Dark Money Game: Ohio Confidential is streaming now on MAX. For occasional HB 6 updates from Kathiann Kowalski, subscribe to our Ohio Utility Watch newsletter.
Axios
15-04-2025
- Politics
- Axios
HBO doc digs into Ohio's biggest bribery scandal
HB6 is coming to HBO Tuesday night. The big picture:"Ohio Confidential" is part of a two-film documentary series about dark money in politics, releasing 15 years after the Citizens United Supreme Court case. State of play: The series is directed by Alex Gibney and inspired by Jane Mayer's book "Dark Money: The Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical Right." "Ohio Confidential" features the suicide of lobbyist Neil Clark to unravel the story of FirstEnergy's $60 million bribery scheme, which secured power for Speaker of the House Larry Householder and 2019 passage of the controversial energy bailout. Householder was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison in 2023 and is currently incarcerated at FCI Elkton in Lisbon, Ohio. Zoom in: Featured in the film are Mayer herself, former Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor, Columbus Dispatch reporter Laura A. Bischoff, and a number of federal lawyers and investigators. 💭 Sam's thought bubble: I know the ins and outs of the case by now, but I'm still eager to watch this and thrilled the material is getting professional treatment and distribution on a major platform. "Wealth of the Wicked," the second film in the series, traces the history of campaign finance in the U.S. from the creation of the Federal Election Commission in 1974.
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Stephen A. Smith Says He's 'Officially Leaving All Doors Open' To Potential Presidential Bid
ESPN host Stephen A. Smith said that he is 'leaving all the doors open' to a potential presidential bid, as his name has been mentioned as a potential unconventional choice in the Democratic field in 2028. After appearing at the National Association of Broadcasters convention in Las Vegas, Smith posted an article about the speculation and wrote on X, 'Time to stop messing around. Life is great. Especially at ESPN/Disney. Hate the thought of being a politician. But sick of this mess. So I'm officially leaving all doors open.' More from Deadline Stephen A. Smith Signs 5-Year, $100M Deal With ESPN – Report Stephen A. Smith Says Contract Talks With ESPN Have Been 'Constructive,' Calls Report Of $120M Payday 'A Lie' HBO Sets Premiere Dates For Alex Gibney Docs 'Ohio Confidential' & 'Wealth Of The Wicked' At the NAB show, Smith talked extensively about the possibility and said he would 'no longer close the door,' according to Forbes. Smith recently signed a five-year, $100 million deal with ESPN. There's a big gap between considering a presidential bid and actually launching one, as figures like The Rock and Bob Iger have entertained the possibility, only to stay out of politics. Smith's name has come up in the aftermath of the Democrats' defeat. On The View last month, Smith was asked about polls that showed him among the contenders. 'I make of it that citizens, particularly on the left, are desperate,' he said. He voted for Kamala Harris but has been critical of the Democratic party, appearing on Fox news and shows like Real Time with Bill Maher. Smith also has attacked Trump, lately over the president's across-the-board tariffs. Best of Deadline Brad Pitt's Apple 'F1' Movie: Everything We Know So Far Everything We Know About 'Tron: Ares' So Far Everything We Know About 'Only Murders In The Building' Season 5 So Far
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
HBO Sets Premiere Dates For Alex Gibney Docs ‘Ohio Confidential' & ‘Wealth Of The Wicked'
HBO on Monday unveiled premiere dates for a pair of Alex Gibney documentaries falling under the double-bill title The Dark Money Game. Ohio Confidential debuts Tuesday, April 15 at 9 p.m. ET/PT, and Wealth of the Wicked premieres Wednesday, April 16 at the same time. Both films will be available to stream on April 15. The Dark Money Game investigates the shadowy world of political donations and fundraising 15 years after the Supreme Court's Citizen's United decision, which enabled unlimited spending by hidden sources on political campaigns. Inspired by Jane Mayer's book Dark Money: The Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical Right, the project features interviews with journalists including Mayer, as well as lawmakers, judges, FBI investigators, whistleblowers and insiders on both sides of the issue. Through two separate stories, the films reveal how an untraceable web of money from wealthy individuals and corporations representing business interests or religious agendas flows through nonprofits and super PACs (political action committees) to support candidates and political movements. More from Deadline Alex Gibney Accuses BBC Of 'Bending Knee' To Benjamin Netanyahu By Rejecting 'The Bibi Files' Anonymous Content And Alex Gibney Developing Documentary On Luigi Mangione 2025 Premiere Dates For New & Returning Series On Broadcast, Cable & Streaming Ohio Confidential finds a powerful political lobbyist shot to death, his apparent suicide highlighting a bizarre turn in Ohio's largest public corruption case accidentaly uncovered by federal investigators that was nearly concealed by loose super PAC campaign financing rules. FBI wiretap recordings ultimately unravel a conspiracy involving a secret $61 million slush fund for Ohio's Speaker of the House to secure power in order to pay back corporate donors with a billion-dollar corporate bailout at the expense of the state's taxpayers. Participants in the doc include Dark Money author Mayer; Maureen O'Connor, former Chief Justice of Ohio's Supreme Court; Laura A. Bischoff, journalist at the Columbus Dispatch; Jeffrey Williams, former FBI agent; Tyler Fehrman, former Republican campaign manager; Emily Glatfelter, assistant U.S. Attorney, Southern District of Ohio; and David M. Devillers, former U.S. Attorney, Southern District of Ohio. Wealth of the Wicked traces the tangled history of campaign finance back to the creation of the Federal Election Commission in 1975, the 2002 McCain-Feingold Campaign Finance Reform Bill, and the Citizens United decision of 2010 that has molded the shape and opacity of present-day super PACs which now flood the system with money. The film looks at the stealth influence of religious groups and explores the fine line between a bribe and a political 'gratuity' or donation, and the reciprocity between well-funded special-interest groups and the political process as well as attempts to influence the judiciary at the highest levels. In addition to Mayer, documentary subjects include former U.S. senator Russ Feingold; Rev. Robert Schenck; James Bopp, attorney for the National Right to Life Committee; David M. McIntosh, co-founder of the Federalist Society; Jonathan Riehl, author of Inside the Federalist Society; and O'Connor. Written and directed by Gibney, an Academy Award winner who most recently took to HBO with Wise Guy: David Chase and The Sopranos, The Dark Money Game is produced by Trevor Davidoski, Gibney and John Jordan. Exec producers included Mayer and Richard Perello, as well as Nancy Abraham, Lisa Heller and Sara Rodriguez for HBO. Best of Deadline Everything We Know About 'Only Murders In The Building' Season 5 So Far '1923' Season 2 Release Schedule: When Do New Episodes Come Out? Everything We Know About 'Nine Perfect Strangers' Season 2 So Far
