In recent months, Art Pope has been thrust into the national spotlight -- and the public is eager to learn more about his money, network and influence. This week, a teach-in about Pope in Raleigh drew nearly 300 attendees in-person and online, and calls for further scrutiny of Pope's empire and agenda.

The program included Bob Hall, long-time election watchdog with Democracy North Carolina; MaryBe McMillan, secretary-treasurer of the N.C. AFL-CIO; Seth Keel, a Raleigh high school student active with the group NC HEAT; and myself.

MaryBe McMillan emphasized the key role Art Pope's groups have played in the attacks on the minimum wage, labor standards and the ability of workers to form unions. Here's a clip from her speech:

Seth Keel talked about Pope's leadership in overturning Wake County, N.C.'s socioeconomic diversity policy, and how Pope's overall agenda undermines the right to an education enshrined in the state's constitution:

I looked at how the combination of Pope's personal, corporate and foundation wealth makes him the single largest Big Money power-broker in the state, and how he uses his network to exert influence:

The teach-in drew a lively discussion both in the room and online, where the event was live-streamed to an audience of more than 200.

Would you like the Art Pope Exposed teach-in to come to your area? Let us know in the comments!