Hello, I'm Michael Watson, and this is the Influence Watch podcast.

The Southern Poverty Law Center, trading on a reputation at earned suing the remnants of the organized

two-clux clan in the 1980s, claims to be an honest watchdog of extremism on the political right.

But our guest, Tyler O'Neill, a senior editor at The Daily Signal, has written a book on how the organization went from an indigent legal defense organization, a poverty law center, as it were, to the well-funded public bullying arm of the organized left.

And my colleague Robert Stilson has taken a look at just how big the SPLC has gotten, compared to other less politically activist charities. They joined me today to discuss the SPLC has gotten compared to other less politically activist charities.

They joined me today to discuss the SPLC in its role in present day politics in the charitable sector.

Robert, welcome back.

Yeah, thanks, Mark.

And Tyler, before we begin, can you tell us a little bit about your background and what you do for Daily Signal?

Yeah, thanks, Michael.

I am senior editor at Daily Signal.

I just recently actually testified in Congress about the way that our tax dollars fund

the left's dark money apparatus.

Alongside Robert and my boss, so if you are interested in what was discussed at that,

at that hearing, you can listen to our previous episode with our boss, Scott Walter, Tyler's

co-panelist.

Yes.

I was fantastic to testify alongside him, as I had actually done in the past.

But, yeah, really great stuff you guys do over at CRC and Influence Watch.

So a couple years ago, you wrote a book about focusing on the Southern P law center give us the pre you know let our

listeners know about it well as as you mentioned uh i describe how the southern poverty law

center went from a noble civil rights nonprofit that represented poor people in the South legally,

...