Brody Mullins, a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter and co-author of "The Wolves of K Street," dives into the evolution of lobbying since the 1970s. He reveals how corporate influence and shadow lobbying tactics transformed American politics, exposing the shift from transparent practices to opaque power plays. The discussion also highlights the rise of dark money and its impact on legislative representation, as well as the implications of grassroots movements contrasting with traditional lobbying in the tech sector. History intertwines with current dynamics, especially under Donald Trump's era.
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Evan Morris Case
The book opens with the story of Evan Morris, a pharmaceutical lobbyist who died in 2015.
Investigating his death reveals the shift in lobbying from regulated disclosure to shadow lobbying.
insights INSIGHT
Corporate Lobbying Dominance
Companies outspend other lobbying groups, diminishing the power of labor unions and consumer advocates.
This imbalance creates an environment where corporate interests dominate policy decisions.
insights INSIGHT
Shadow Lobbying Tactics
Shadow lobbying involves funding groups with generic names to influence policy indirectly.
These groups avoid disclosure requirements by not directly contacting members of Congress.
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The Secret History of How Big Money Took Over Big Government
Luke Mullins
Brody Mullins
The Wolves of K Street offers a detailed and engaging portrait of how corporate power and lobbying have grown in influence over the past fifty years in Washington. The book follows the stories of several prominent lobbyists, illustrating how corporations have gained significant control over public policy, often surpassing the influence of the president and Congress. It also explores how reforms have inadvertently strengthened the power and secrecy of corporate lobbyists, shifting their focus from Congress to voters nationwide. The narrative is described as irresistibly dramatic, spectacularly timely, and meticulously researched, making it essential reading for understanding the impact of corporate interests on American democracy.
Today, we’re talking about politics and lobbying in America. It’s hard to imagine a time when the influence of big corporations and billionaires didn’t touch every part of American politics, but the kind of lobbying we have now didn’t really exist before the 1970s. Now, our political debates about everything from energy, finance, and healthcare are deeply intertwined with corporations and their money — and new big players in tech now spend tons of political money of their own.
To understand the structure of today’s political lobbying and how we go here, I brought Pulitzer Prize winner Brody Mullins on the show. Brody has a new book he co-wrote with his brother Luke Mullins called The Wolves of K Street: The Secret History of How Big Money Took Over Big Government, which came out last month. It’s a definitive history of modern lobbying in America, told through the lens of some of the industry’s most unsavory characters and the influence they’ve exerted on DC politics across decades.
Links:
If Donald Trump Wins, Paul Manafort Will Be Waiting in the Wings | NYT
Meta had its biggest lobbying quarter ever | The Verge
Apple quietly bankrolled a lobbying group for app developers | The Verge
The Many Reinventions of a Legendary Washington Influence Peddler | Politico
The Wolves of K Street review: how lobbying swallowed Washington | The Guardian
Decoder with Nilay Patel 