FnF News
FNF News | Political Power & Influence
Published: June 21, 2025
By: Khadija Khan, Senior Political Correspondent
Beyond Obama: How Billionaires and Mega Donors Quietly Shape America’s Political Future
Washington, D.C. — For years, American political discourse has followed a predictable pattern: when something goes wrong, someone blames Barack Hussein Obama. From conservative talk radio to online forums, the 44th president’s name became shorthand for everything from economic frustration to global instability.
But as the country barrels deeper into the post-Trump political era, a growing number of Americans are asking a different question: Is it really Obama—or is it the billionaires, corporate lobbies, and mega-donors controlling the levers of power in plain sight?
“At some point, the obsession with blaming Obama becomes a convenient distraction,” said Dr. Janice Gold, a political historian at Georgetown University. “It’s easier than confronting how our political system actually works — who funds it, who influences it, and who benefits.”
From Blame to Billionaires: The Shift in Political Awareness
Since the 2008 financial crisis, and accelerated by the Citizens United v. FEC ruling in 2010, political donations from ultra-wealthy individuals and corporations have surged — bringing with them an unprecedented concentration of influence.
According to OpenSecrets.org, over $20 billion was spent during the 2024 federal election cycle, with the top 1% of donors contributing nearly 42% of all funds.
- Hedge fund tycoons, tech CEOs, fossil fuel magnates, and pharmaceutical PACs dominate the fundraising landscape.
- Dark money networks, often tied to 501(c)(4) groups, obscure donor identities while shaping federal and state races.
- Both Republican and Democratic candidates are backed by competing billionaire coalitions — often influencing not just policies, but primary outcomes.
“People keep looking for a shadowy cabal,” says political analyst Rashad Hill. “But the real puppet masters are operating in the open — signing checks to super PACs and getting tax write-offs for it.”
The Obama Legacy as a Political Strawman
Despite leaving office nearly a decade ago, Obama remains a fixation for many right-wing figures. Fox News commentator Jesse Watters recently quipped, “Obama still runs the show through Biden.” Meanwhile, MAGA influencers accuse him of embedding operatives throughout federal agencies — a claim with no clear evidence but significant online traction.
“Obama Derangement Syndrome is real,” tweeted conservative commentator Ben Domenech. “He’s the new Bush. Everything is his fault.”
Yet critics say this fixation conveniently distracts from the bipartisan structures of elite influence that remain untouched by party shifts.
Follow the Money: Obvious Control in Obvious Places
While conspiracies about secret cabals and foreign puppeteers dominate social media, the actual mechanisms of control are often boring, bureaucratic — and totally legal:
- A fossil fuel executive donates $20 million to a PAC, which funds Senate races in oil-rich swing states.
- A Silicon Valley firm bankrolls lobbying efforts to weaken antitrust regulations while pledging “equity.”
- Wall Street interests shape the SEC’s enforcement agenda through “industry consultants” placed inside regulatory commissions.
None of this requires cloak-and-dagger manipulation. It’s out in the open, often justified as part of the democratic process.
“America isn’t being hijacked by shadowy conspiracies,” says author Sarah Kendzior. “It’s being looted in broad daylight by donors with legislative wish lists.”
Democrats, Republicans, and the Illusion of Difference?
While partisan voters often clash over cultural issues, many of the same mega-donors contribute to both sides — hedging bets or supporting issues that transcend party lines, such as deregulation or tax law.
For instance:
- Venture capitalist Reid Hoffman contributes to moderate Democrats and anti-Trump Republicans.
- Conservative mega-donors like the Uihleins focus on culture war causes, but also fund libertarian think tanks pushing corporate-friendly policy.
“It’s like professional wrestling,” said one disillusioned former Hill staffer. “There’s a lot of yelling on stage, but backstage, the sponsors run the show.”
The Conspiracy Trap
Conspiratorial thinking about “secret elites,” the “deep state,” or foreign infiltration often distracts from the most provable, systemic form of control: legalized oligarchy.
Instead of chasing internet theories about George Soros, the Koch brothers, or Rothschild banks, experts urge a focus on:
- Campaign finance reform
- Corporate lobbying transparency
- Real-time disclosure of political donations
- Ending the revolving door between Congress and K Street
But those fixes rarely gain momentum — precisely because the people who could enact them are often beneficiaries of the current system.