The Lawsuit That Could Change American Elections | Lawrence Lessig

Can one lawsuit change the future of American elections? Harvard Law professor Lawrence Lessig believes it can. Most Americans blame Citizens United for the rise of Super PACs—but Lessig argues that's not actually what happened. Now, after years of litigation, a new court case could finally give the Supreme Court a chance to decide whether unlimited donations to Super PACs are constitutional at all. If the courts rule in his favor, the decision could dramatically reshape campaign finance before the 2028 presidential election by allowing limits on massive contributions to Super PACs once again. In this conversation, Shane Smith and Lawrence Lessig discuss: - Why almost everyone misunderstands Citizens United - The legal mistake Lessig says created Super PACs - Elon Musk's reported $270 million in political donations—and why it matters to this case - Whether billionaires are effectively buying political influence - Why this case is likely headed to the U.S. Supreme Court if the current ruling stands - What American elections could look like if Super PACs were fundamentally changed Whether you agree or disagree with the current campaign finance system, this is one of the most consequential legal challenges to election law. #LawrenceLessig #ShaneSmith #VICE #HarvardLaw #CampaignFinance #SuperPACs #CitizensUnited #SupremeCourt #Democracy #PoliticalCorruption #MoneyInPolitics #AmericanPolitics #CampaignFinanceReform Subscribe to VICE News here: http://bit.ly/Subscribe-to-VICE-News Check out VICE News for more: http://vicenews.com Follow VICE News here: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@vicenews?lang=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vicenews Twitter: https://twitter.com/vicenews Instagram: http://instagram.com/vicenews =========================== Chapters: 0:00 The Battle to End Super PACs and the $270 Million Question 1:52 Citizens United, Super PACs and the DC Circuit's Mistake 8:53 The Practical Difference Between Giving to a Candidate vs. a Super PAC 12:42 How the World Has Changed Since Buckley v. Valeo 17:40 90% of Americans Believe the System Is Corrupt 22:00 What Happens in 2028 If the Supreme Court Rules in Their Favor 25:51 Won't the Billionaires Just Find Another Way Around This? 27:46 The 2026 Version of a Bag of Cash and the Appearance of Corruption 33:41 When Does Supporting a Candidate Become Buying Influence? 36:21 The Argument Against the Case and the Originalist Response 41:50 What 2028 Looks Like If Super PACs Are Eliminated 44:50 Who's Funding This Case on Both Sides ================================ The Lawsuit That Could Change American Elections | Lawrence Lessig | Shane Smith Has Questions https://www.youtube.com/@VICENews