After Words Ken Vogel’s “Devils’ Advocates”: Inside Rudy Giuliani, Hunter Biden, and D.C.’s Hidden Foreign Influence Networks
Nov 30, 2025
Kenneth P. Vogel, a New York Times reporter and investigative journalist, dives into the murky waters of foreign lobbying in D.C. He reveals the historical roots of lobbying, tracing back to the 1930s and the Foreign Agents Registration Act. Vogel discusses the ironic legacy of FARA's author, Congressman Dickstein, while highlighting how figures like Paul Manafort revolutionized influence peddling. He also dissects Hunter Biden's complex ties, Rudy Giuliani's controversial diplomacy, and the evolving landscape of political influence under Trump's presidency.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
FARA's Origin And Ongoing Role
- The Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) grew from 1930s concern over Nazi influence in the U.S.
- FARA remains the primary transparency tool for foreign-paid advocacy in Washington, D.C.
Author Of FARA Was A Secret Agent
- Congressman Samuel Dickstein sponsored FARA while secretly on the Soviet payroll, revealed decades later by Kremlin archives.
- Vogel calls it ironic that an author of the law violated its intent while in office.
Manafort Created A Global Influence Model
- Paul Manafort professionalized foreign political consulting by combining campaign work and lobbying for foreign clients.
- He ran campaigns abroad, then lobbied Washington while leveraging U.S. political clients for pay.
