A commentary piece criticizes the state of Ohio politics and the impact of dark money in the upcoming election. The author describes the 2026 campaign as an example of a degraded public discourse, with politicians and political operatives displaying a ‘sickness of heart and mind.’ The piece mentions that ‘so-called news influencers’ are compared to ‘open wounds of viral rot’ on America’s political body. The author also notes that ‘cynical politicians’ have used ‘naked abuse of political power’ through mid-decade gerrymandering. The piece highlights that ‘obscene amounts of money’ are being spent on elections, with AdImpact projecting that three-quarters of a billion dollars will be spent on campaign ads in Ohio this year. The author also discusses how dark money special interests receive ‘hundreds of billions in public goods and resources’ through mechanisms such as regulatory capture and sweetheart lawmaking. The author states that ‘the public is reportedly very concerned about public corruption’ and that ‘normal Ohioans are horrified and sick of the madness.’ The piece concludes with a call for citizens to ‘stand up for themselves’ and ‘turn away from the screens and toward each other as human beings.’
