i haven't heard anything. haven't heard mention of that. >> this month, the supreme court hears oral argumt on a case whether former psint trump has presidential immunity agnst criminal prosecution for his alleged role in attempts to overturn the 2020 election results. we will have live coverage of the oral arguments thursda april 25 beginning at 10:00 a.m. eastern on c-span, o fe mobile app-sn now, and online atn.org. night, president biden and first lal biden host a state dinner honoring the japanese prime ministe at 11:00 p.m. ea on c-span, highlights from the evening including the prime min's white house arrival and toa given at the dinner. watch at c-span.org or on the free c-span video app.

>> c-span is your unfiltered view for government, funded by these cut -- these television companies including comcast. >> is this a community center? >> it is more than that. >> comcast is partnering with 1000 community centers to enable wi-fi and students from low income familiesan be ready for anything. >> comcast supports c-sp as a public service along with these other television providers, ving you a front proceed to democracy. -- front row seat to democracy. ask more than 3200 students from across the country participated in the 20 year anniversary of c-span's studentcam documentary competition. this year we asked students in the next 20 years, what is the most important change you would like to see in america or over the past 20 years, what has been the most important change in america? all this month we are featuring

our top 21 winning entries. second prize is a 10th grader oklahoma, where c-span is available through cox communication. their winning documentary talks about how super pac's influence campaign financing. >> super p.a.c.s are a disaster. they're a scam, you better get rid of them. they cause dishonesty. >> billionaires right now through super p.a.c.s can spend as much money as they want, tens of millions, hundreds of millions of dollars to elect the candidates who they want, who represent their interests. >> voting, a crucial aspect of our democracy that allows everyone to have a say in government. along with casting your vote, you can volunteer and vote with your dollar to your preferred candidate, so long as your donation is under $3,300. these caps are put in police to

-- put in place to ensure elections are fair by preventing the wealthy from having too much influence. at least this used to be the case until citizens united happened in december 2007. citizens united, a nonprofit organization, sued the f.c.c., because they couldn't air their movie meant to smear hillary clinton. releasing any kind of media 30 days before a primary is illegal . >> district courts sided against citizens united and they appealed. >> citizens united argued it violated their freedom of speech. in the end, the supreme court ruled in favor of citizens united, citing that -- >> political speech must prevail against laws that would suppress it, whether by design or effort. >> the landmark decision set a precedent that allows corporations and organizations

to have fewer restrictions when it comes to media and donations. >> corporations are just the same as an american citizen in terms of campaign finance laws. >> last week the supreme court reversed a century of law that i believe will open the floodgates for special interests. >> the ruling established a new norm that prevented individuals -- that allowed individuals and corporations to donate unlimited funds to super p.a.c.s, -- >> if you can receive unlimited money you can speak louder. it is difficult for candidates to answer back. >> these organization have gained momentum with groups spending over $4 billion in the 2022 election cycle. >> people talk about the money spent in politics but americans spend more money on halloween than they do on their democracy. >> americans, arguably, consider free speech their most crucial right. it's the foundation of the united states. super p.a.c.s allow americans to voice their political aspirations without limitations. >> the premise is freedom of speech, the more speech, the

better. >> the more people participate, the more information people are getting, it's a good thing. it has given candidates who may not have otherwise had much of a chance to win, suddenly they have outside allies and sizable support networks they otherwise didn't have. >> in 2022, voter turnout and donations to political campaigns were the highest they have ever been. 3.7 million small donors donated over $740 million. this sounds incredible, and it is, until you look at the other donors. >> almost 60 donors have accounted for nearly one third of all of the money donated so far in the presidential race. >> these 60 donors currently hold an incredible amount of leverage over politicians and that just isn't right. the citizens united decision has played a pivotal role in american politics over the

years. that's why many people have started calling for increased donor transparency. super p.a.c.s have to disclose all their donors but 501-c-4 nonprofits don't. the nonprofit can donate to the same super p.a.c. this money donated is called dark money and it's a way foreign governments and corporations exercise secret control in u.s. elections. >> long story short it created a landscape where it's easy for very wealthy people to influence politics without any of us knowing. >> because super p.a.c.s operate on independent expenditure they're prohibited from being in contact with a candidate. they find ways around this. take ted cruz. his campaign uploaded 15 hours of stock footage of him doing good deeds, sharing it with anyone interested in making any kind of advertisement or support for him. or jessica cisneros who used a method called red boxing when she ascribed the demographic of

voters she wants to target and the message she wants them to hear. >> this isn't a good system. we have a chance to make a better one. many cities around the country are implementing democracy voucher programs. instead of people individually donating to political campaigns they get vouchers to give to a politician of their choice to spend in. in oakland, california, a ballot measure passed to give every resident a $100 voucher to give to a local politician. in seattle, washington, a ballot initiative passed in the landslide in 2015 to give every eligible citizen a $25 to give to a city council or attorney candidate while only costing the average seattleite $8. this process encourages candidates to appeal to voters rather than corporate donors to get their money, leading to a greater sense of empowerment for voters. >> you appeal to the people whose voices will be amplified. >> over the past 25 years our campaign finance system changed drastically.

our system before citizens united wasn't perfect but we have an opportunity to make things better. by instituting a national democracy voucher program we can level the playing field, reduce the power of corporations and the wealthy and make the country more democratic over the next 20 years. ♪ >> to watch this and all winning entries, visit our website at studentcam.org. >> tonight, a look bk a busy day at the white house where president biden thenir lady jill biden welcomed the japanese prime minister and his wife for a state visit. we will show you today's welcome ceremony othsouth lawn followed by a joint news conference between the two leaders, then highlights from tonight's dinner later, testimony fr heland security secretary alejandro mayorkas before thhoe appropriations subcommittee

ahead of h uoming impeachment trial which is expected to begin next week. this and more, tonight on c-span. >> c-span's washington journal, involving you in the latest decisions in government, politics and public policy. from washington and across the country. thursday morning, this week's efforts by house leadership to pass legislation reauthorizing the foreign intelligence surveillance act. we will discuss the arizona supreme court abortion ban, u.s. aid to israel and ukraine, and wyoming republic -- republican congresswoman. washington journal, join in the conversation thursday morning on c-span, c-span now, our free mobile app, or online at c-span.org.

>> the house will be in order. >> c-span celebrates 45 years of covering congress like no other. since 1979 we have been your primary source for capitol hill, providing balanced, unfiltered coverage of government, taking you to where the policies are debated and decided with the support of america's cable companies. c-span, 45 years and counting, palo -- powered by cable. >> president biden then the first lady welcomed the japanese prime minister and his wife to the white house during a ceremony on the south lawn that included u.s. and japanese delegations, u.s. military honor guards and guests, the parnas -- and the president and prime minister delivered remarks. this is the first state visit for a japanese prime minister in nine years. ♪