Dark Money and Controlling The Narrative?

The articles in this collection discuss dark money in politics—anonymous or undisclosed funding from private individuals, organizations, or special interests that can influence messaging and narratives behind the scenes. Importantly, the presence of such hidden funding does not inherently make the information or claims presented false; the validity of any message should be evaluated on its own merits, evidence, and reasoning. This is distinct from recent high-profile incidents, such as the federal agent-involved shootings in Minneapolis (January 7, 2026, where an ICE agent fatally shot Renee Nicole Good) and Portland (January 8, 2026, where Border Patrol agents shot and injured two people during separate encounters). In those cases, federal authorities have publicly claimed self-defense while facing widespread criticism for limited transparency, restricted access to evidence for state investigators, and control over the official narrative amid ongoing investigations and public protests. These government-led situations involve direct state action and accountability concerns, and should not be conflated with private dark money influence.