How Dark Money Networks and NGOs Influence Elections and Public Policy

On September 22, 2022, Kim Monson examines the hidden world of dark money networks with researcher Lisa Bennett, who reveals how non-governmental organizations funnel hundreds of millions into political causes while obscuring donor identities. Later, mortgage expert Lorne Levy and real estate professional Karen Levine analyze the Federal Reserve’s aggressive interest rate hike and its impact on Colorado’s housing market.

Dark Money Networks and Charitable Money Laundering

Start listening at 17:21 – Hour 1

Lisa Bennett exposes the mechanics of what she calls “charitable money laundering” pioneered by organizations like the Arabella Advisors Group. Founded by former Clinton staffer Eric Kessler around 2005, Arabella operates as a hub that funnels money to spoke organizations while obscuring the original donors’ identities. Bennett explains how these networks outspent conservative dark money nearly two to one in 2020, directing almost a billion dollars to politically active organizations.

The 1630 Fund, one of Arabella’s spoke organizations, spent millions lobbying Congress on the Build Back Better bill, filibuster reform, and D.C. statehood. In Colorado, approximately $4 million flowed through the network under the name “Rocky Mountain Values” to unseat Senator Cory Gardner. Bennett emphasizes that these groups often adopt patriotic or innocuous names while pursuing opposite agendas, making it difficult for everyday Americans to understand who truly funds political campaigns.

“When you listen to a station like NPR and they say that it’s sponsored by all these charitable trusts and foundations, the Ford Foundation, the Pew Charitable Trust, things like that, those are the NGOs we’re talking about.”

Lisa Bennett, Entrepreneur and Researcher

Election Integrity and Voter Registration Concerns

Start listening at 39:00 – Hour 1

Lisa Bennett raises concerns about the Election Registration Information Center (ERIC), used by approximately 33 states to maintain voter rolls. She argues that ERIC has focused primarily on adding voters rather than cleaning up rolls, pointing to communities where registered voters approach or exceed 100 percent of voting-age population.

Bennett connects this to “get-out-the-vote” operations funded by organizations like the State Engagement Fund, which receives money from the National Education Association, Planned Parenthood, and George Soros’s Open Society. Rather than targeting random voters, she contends these groups focus on populations they can manipulate, including the elderly and homeless. Bennett urges listeners to vote in person rather than by mail-in ballot and emphasizes that despite concerns about election manipulation, citizens must vote to overcome any potential fraud margins.

“They cannot cheat for all of us. There’s not enough room for them to swing an election if all of us get out and vote.”

Lisa Bennett, Entrepreneur and Researcher

Fed Rate Hike and Mortgage Market Reality

Start listening at 57:59 – Hour 2

Lorne Levy, mortgage specialist with Polygon Financial Group, breaks down the Federal Reserve’s 75 basis point interest rate increase. While the hike itself matched expectations, the Fed’s forward guidance surprised markets by signaling potentially higher rates through year-end than previously anticipated. The 10-year Treasury jumped to 3.6 percent, directly impacting mortgage rates.

Levy notes that homeowners who locked in rates “with a two in front of it” during the pandemic are now reluctant to refinance, prompting banks to develop creative second mortgage and equity line products. With national credit card debt at record highs, he advises those struggling with debt to explore consolidation options. For seniors over 62, reverse mortgages offer a way to access home equity without taking on new monthly payments.

“I had a client call and she’s like, Lauren, correct me if I’m wrong, but it seems like the Fed is trying to slow the economy. Like they’re trying to put us in a recession. I’m like, absolutely.”

Lorne Levy, Polygon Financial Group

Colorado’s Cooling Real Estate Market

Start listening at 70:00 – Hour 2

Karen Levine, award-winning Remax Alliance realtor, describes a market in transition. Higher interest rates have reduced buyer purchasing power, putting downward pressure on home values. Buyers are now waiting for price reductions before engaging, a stark contrast to the frenzy of early 2022. Sellers who hoped to capture peak values are watching their equity positions erode.

Levine warns that government policies continue to pick winners and losers in the housing market. Upcoming ballot measures in Denver, including a sidewalk tax based on linear footage and a library mill levy, would add to homeownership costs. She encourages listeners to scrutinize candidates and ballot measures carefully, noting that some candidates have been “well-groomed” to answer questions correctly regardless of their actual positions.

“The government will use fear to make you do or not do things. So if you can get that out of your psyche and go to the professional about what it is you’re trying to achieve, you’ll see a clearer picture.”

Karen Levine, Remax Alliance