How did Trump, a deeply flawed candidate who stumbled often during the 2016 campaign, win the presidential election?

There are familiar explanations for the outcome. Analysts point out that Trump blamed China for the decline of manufacturing in the USA and he criticized immigration. Trump excited voters with promises to create new jobs and “Make America Great Again.” Also, Clinton failed to give adequate attention to voters in the northern “Rust Belt.”

But you hear almost nothing about the point explored in this podcast – that just five men effectively undermined Hillary Clinton’s campaign. They played major roles in delivering the 2016 election to Donald Trump.

The Supreme Court ‘s 2010 ruling in Citizens United v FEC declared the First Amendment prohibits the government from restricting independent financial contributions. In subsequent years wealthy individuals, large corporations, and special interest groups poured billions of dollars into political campaigns. Candidates that received those hefty donations often dominated political communications. They overwhelmed the voices of ordinary citizens.

What ‘s the story behind that decision? How did five justices in the majority and four in the minority argue their case?

This personality-based history focuses on the role of a few key individuals whose ideas and actions played major roles in the leadup to Citizens United v FEC. The program also shows how that controversial ruling made an impact in recent elections.

The guest is Steve Bevis. He is a communications professional who met and worked with presidents, senators, representatives, governors, and corporate executives.

Bevis recalls the racial injustices he saw growing up in Alabama. He discusses important changes in race relations in the South from the Civil War to the present. There was considerable progress in the 1960s and later, he notes, but setbacks in recent years are concerning. Bevis points especially to the recent Supreme Court ruling in Louisiana v Callais that significantly weakened the 1965 Voting Rights Act. That controversial ruling can made it difficult for blacks to win elections in the South, even though African Americans constitute a large portion of the population in many southern states. After the Court’s ruling, leaders in several Republican-led southern states moved quickly to redraw congressional maps through partisan gerrymandering.