Discover video-sourced quotes by politicians

Bernie Sanders: “Today the oligarchs have enormous political power.”

Featuring: Bernie Sanders, Independent | U.S. Senate, Vermont

Bernie Sanders Warns Iowa City About Rise Of Oligarchy Power In The United States

Published February 22, 2025 | Video Starts at 14:15

That's not just what we're talking about when we discuss oligarchy. What we are also talking about is that Today the oligarchs have enormous political power. As all of you know or should. Know, we have a corrupt political system which as a result of this disastrous. Supreme Court decision on Citizens United, allows. (14:15–14:23)

CLAIM

Asserts that oligarchs currently hold significant political power.

This is an excerpt from a raw transcript. The assertions have not been audited or verified. Tap the video to view the source footage and understand the context.

Discover more from

Bernie Sanders

“Our nation is facing a series of crises unprecedented in our modern history.”
Bernie Sanders Warns Iowa City About Rise Of Oligarchy Power In The United States | Uploaded February 22, 2025 | 01:30-01:38
“Today in America, we are rapidly moving toward an oligarchic form of society where a handful of multi billionaires not only have…”
Bernie Sanders Warns Iowa City About Rise Of Oligarchy Power In The United States | Uploaded February 22, 2025 | 04:18-04:37
“Standing right behind Trump as he was being sworn in were the three wealthiest people in America, Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Mark…”
Bernie Sanders Warns Iowa City About Rise Of Oligarchy Power In The United States | Uploaded February 22, 2025 | 05:04-05:22
“There were 13 of those billionaires who were nominated by Trump to be major agency heads.”
Bernie Sanders Warns Iowa City About Rise Of Oligarchy Power In The United States | Uploaded February 22, 2025 | 05:04-05:22
“We have more income and wealth inequality than we have ever had.”
Bernie Sanders Warns Iowa City About Rise Of Oligarchy Power In The United States | Uploaded February 22, 2025 | 06:51-06:57
“The bottom half of American society. 170 million people, top 1%, now owns more wealth than the bottom 90%.”
Bernie Sanders Warns Iowa City About Rise Of Oligarchy Power In The United States | Uploaded February 22, 2025 | 07:05-07:23
“Almost all of the new wealth that has been created has gone to the top 1%.”
Bernie Sanders Warns Iowa City About Rise Of Oligarchy Power In The United States | Uploaded February 22, 2025 | 07:09-07:23
“Today, 60% of our people in the richest country in the history of the world are living paycheck to paycheck.”
Bernie Sanders Warns Iowa City About Rise Of Oligarchy Power In The United States | Uploaded February 22, 2025 | 07:36-07:47
“We have one of the lowest life expectancies of any major country on Earth.”
Bernie Sanders Warns Iowa City About Rise Of Oligarchy Power In The United States | Uploaded February 22, 2025 | 08:27-08:34
“Working class people in our country live six or seven years shorter lives than the very rich.”
Bernie Sanders Warns Iowa City About Rise Of Oligarchy Power In The United States | Uploaded February 22, 2025 | 08:43-08:52
“85 million Americans are uninsured or underinsured.”
Bernie Sanders Warns Iowa City About Rise Of Oligarchy Power In The United States | Uploaded February 22, 2025 | 10:26-10:39
“Half of older workers have nothing in the bank as they face retirement.”
Bernie Sanders Warns Iowa City About Rise Of Oligarchy Power In The United States | Uploaded February 22, 2025 | 11:29-11:36
“25% of senior citizens in America are now living on $15,000 a year or less.”
Bernie Sanders Warns Iowa City About Rise Of Oligarchy Power In The United States | Uploaded February 22, 2025 | 11:42-11:55
“We have the highest rate of childhood poverty of almost any major country on earth.”
Bernie Sanders Warns Iowa City About Rise Of Oligarchy Power In The United States | Uploaded February 22, 2025 | 12:23-12:30
“We have a corrupt political system which as a result of this disastrous [Supreme Court decision on] Citizens United, allows billionaires to…”
Bernie Sanders Warns Iowa City About Rise Of Oligarchy Power In The United States | Uploaded February 22, 2025 | 14:38-14:43
“Mr. Musk himself donated $270 million into Trump's campaign.”
Bernie Sanders Warns Iowa City About Rise Of Oligarchy Power In The United States | Uploaded February 22, 2025 | 14:45-14:55
“Musk himself is so very arrogant that he is intervening, getting involved in a Supreme Court election in the state of Wisconsin.”
Bernie Sanders Warns Iowa City About Rise Of Oligarchy Power In The United States | Uploaded February 22, 2025 | 15:44-15:58
“Role of billionaires in politics, it's not just Musk, it's others. It's not just Republican billionaires, it is Democratic billionaires.”
Bernie Sanders Warns Iowa City About Rise Of Oligarchy Power In The United States | Uploaded February 22, 2025 | 16:59-17:08
“We have got to overthrow this disastrous Citizens United Supreme Court decision.”
Bernie Sanders Warns Iowa City About Rise Of Oligarchy Power In The United States | Uploaded February 22, 2025 | 17:26-17:34
“Working people today are earning less in inflation adjusted wages than 50 years ago, despite all of the increases in worker productivity and…”
Bernie Sanders Warns Iowa City About Rise Of Oligarchy Power In The United States | Uploaded February 22, 2025 | 18:05-18:19
“We are also fighting what is equally dangerous, and that is Trump's moving this country to authoritarianism.”
Bernie Sanders Warns Iowa City About Rise Of Oligarchy Power In The United States | Uploaded February 22, 2025 | 20:33-20:45
“Trump, in violation of the Constitution and federal law, is attempting to suspend all federal grants and loans.”
Bernie Sanders Warns Iowa City About Rise Of Oligarchy Power In The United States | Uploaded February 22, 2025 | 21:31-21:41
“He has tried to block funding and in some cases, has blocked funding for Medicaid, the Veterans Administration, Head Start, food stamps…”
Bernie Sanders Warns Iowa City About Rise Of Oligarchy Power In The United States | Uploaded February 22, 2025 | 21:44-21:56
“Trump has dismembered the Consumer Financial Protection Board, which has saved Americans billions of dollars from illegal corporate and…”
Bernie Sanders Warns Iowa City About Rise Of Oligarchy Power In The United States | Uploaded February 22, 2025 | 23:12-23:24
“Trump has the right to go forward regardless of what the courts say.”
Bernie Sanders Warns Iowa City About Rise Of Oligarchy Power In The United States | Uploaded February 22, 2025 | 24:01-24:10
“Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, has also had to respond and settle a lawsuit that he brought.”
Bernie Sanders Warns Iowa City About Rise Of Oligarchy Power In The United States | Uploaded February 22, 2025 | 24:54-25:04
“Trump continues to argue that the 2020 election that Biden won was stolen from him, a big lie.”
Bernie Sanders Warns Iowa City About Rise Of Oligarchy Power In The United States | Uploaded February 22, 2025 | 26:44-26:54
“Trump announced to the shock of everybody that it was Ukraine that started the [war].”
Bernie Sanders Warns Iowa City About Rise Of Oligarchy Power In The United States | Uploaded February 22, 2025 | 27:19-27:27
“This legislation will provide over a trillion dollars in tax breaks to the billionaire class and the entire 1%.”
Bernie Sanders Warns Iowa City About Rise Of Oligarchy Power In The United States | Uploaded February 22, 2025 | 28:35-28:47
“We are the richest country in the history of the world.”
Bernie Sanders Warns Iowa City About Rise Of Oligarchy Power In The United States | Uploaded February 22, 2025 | 32:07-32:12
“There is no rational reason why we are not providing a decent standard of living for every man, woman and child in our nation.”
Bernie Sanders Warns Iowa City About Rise Of Oligarchy Power In The United States | Uploaded February 22, 2025 | 32:18-32:31
“We need to understand that the ages of 0 through 4 are the most important intellectually and emotionally for a human being.”
Bernie Sanders Warns Iowa City About Rise Of Oligarchy Power In The United States | Uploaded February 22, 2025 | 35:13-35:24
“Should be tuition free all over America.”
Bernie Sanders Warns Iowa City About Rise Of Oligarchy Power In The United States | Uploaded February 22, 2025 | 35:57-36:09
“And despite what Trump thinks, we understand that climate change is an existential threat.”
Bernie Sanders Warns Iowa City About Rise Of Oligarchy Power In The United States | Uploaded February 22, 2025 | 36:33-36:42
“In the 1920s, women won the right to vote.”
Bernie Sanders Warns Iowa City About Rise Of Oligarchy Power In The United States | Uploaded February 22, 2025 | 39:03-39:07
“In the midst of a terrible depression, Congress passed Social Security, Medicare, and over the years, Medicaid, minimum wage, clean air and…”
Bernie Sanders Warns Iowa City About Rise Of Oligarchy Power In The United States | Uploaded February 22, 2025 | 40:46-40:58
“Demand that [your member of Congress] votes no on any bill that cuts Medicaid, housing, nutrition, education, or other basic needs in order…”
Bernie Sanders Warns Iowa City About Rise Of Oligarchy Power In The United States | Uploaded February 22, 2025 | 42:09-42:26
“Will she vote no on the Republican reconciliation bill? No tax breaks for billionaires and cuts to programs that working people need.”
Bernie Sanders Warns Iowa City About Rise Of Oligarchy Power In The United States | Uploaded February 22, 2025 | 43:11-43:22
“We own the media, we own the political process. We own the company that you work for.”
Bernie Sanders Warns Iowa City About Rise Of Oligarchy Power In The United States | Uploaded February 22, 2025 | 44:00-44:06