or the electoral college

That's the part that's relevant...

Whether a state goes 51% of 100%, counts the same.

This leads to depressed turnout and obviously no elections being on "all Americans". Most of our votes for president don't matter because most states go one way or the other.

considering the state of mainstream american news, pretty sure those listening to "influencers" are better informed. especially as far as iran/isreal/american imperialism in general is concerned

The PAC system is legal bribery with the added bonus of the public being unaware of who is doing the bribing.

Nations use it to "influence" our representatives, from Israel to Saudi Arabia; the USA is open to all interests with enough cash involved.

Corporations and billionaires also prefer Super PACs, as what they actually want can be very unpopular publicly (like keeping minimum wage down to seven dollars an hour).

So, for example, if your (the briber) position is right wing, you contribute to the R party; if the R party won't accommodate your position for some reason, the Ds will (but it will cost you a lot more); if your position is left wing, you contribute to the D party; if the D party won't accommodate your position, the Rs will (but it will cost you a lot more).

With enough money, you can actually change the major parties political platform. See the history of unions, for example. The Democrats were once the "labor party", when unions were 40% of the workforce in the 1940s. Over the decades, it's now down to 10%. Or "state's rights", the Republicans position for many decades. Now, today they are all about flexing federal power.

This has absolutely nothing to do with what the American voters actually want at any time.

Electoral college? Oh dear God I won't even try to explain, it's different for every state (like a province, and there are 50).