Politicology Foreign Agents
9 snips
Jan 30, 2025 In this discussion, Casey Michel, Director of the Combating Kleptocracy Program and author of "Foreign Agents," exposes how foreign money infiltrates U.S. politics. He reveals the shadowy world of foreign lobbying, tracing its roots with figures like Ivy Lee and Paul Manafort. Michel discusses the complications of the First Amendment and legal loopholes that allow foreign influence to flourish. He also highlights how universities and think tanks are new battlegrounds for foreign interests, emphasizing the intricate ties between money, influence, and democracy.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Ivy Lee's Clients
- Ivy Lee, the creator of PR, worked with prominent figures like the Rockefellers and Woodrow Wilson.
- Later, he tarnished his legacy by working with fascist and Nazi regimes.
Manafort's Legacy
- Paul Manafort, Trump's 2016 campaign manager, revived the foreign lobbying industry.
- He worked with authoritarian regimes in Nigeria, Somalia, the Philippines, and Ukraine.
First Amendment and Lobbying
- The First Amendment protects lobbying, creating tension with limiting foreign interference.
- Lobbying itself has a long history in the US, dating back to the 1780s and 1790s.
