InfluenceWatch Podcast

Have you ever wondered how and why Big Labor became such a driving force in American politics, and how it’s come to be associated with the American left and the Democrat party? Many may be surprised to learn that in the Trump-era – for lack of a better expression -- some conservatives have begun embracing labor unions, and unions have, in return, begun openly donating to Republican politicians. But when one learns the history of the public and private labor union sector in this country, it’s immediately apparent that Big Labor has always been all over the map ideologically, and that political twists and turns are actually the norm rather than the exception. I’ll be interviewing the regular host of this podcast today, who also happens to be our labor expert here at CRC, Michael Watson, on a five-part history of Big Labor he recently published at our website. Sitting third chair today is CRC Special Projects researcher Robert Stilson, who will have a few questions of his own.Links: Big Labor’s Decline and Left Turn: A New Power RisesThe Turn at the Millennium: Why Big Labor Switched Sides on ImmigrationDemocracy Alliance (DA)Follow us on our Socials:Twitter: @capitalresearchInstagram: @capitalresearchcenterFacebook: www.facebook.com/capitalresearchcenterYouTube: @capitalresearchcenter

Congressional debate over the social media app TikTok has brought the subject of China’s influence operations into sharp focus for many Americans who might have known China was a geopolitical adversary but may not have known just how close they are to home, that they may have been quite literally in their child’s pocket as they sent them out the door.But TikTok is really just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what China has been up to stateside, much of it in conjunction with lobbying and currying influence with American legislators, many of them at the state and local level. Fortunately, a new organization called State Armor was formed in January to counter these influence operations and give states quote “the tools they need to thwart Chinese Communist Party influence operations and comprehensively protect residents and state assets.” State Armor founder Michael Lucci joins us today to discuss his organization and their goal of using federalism to protect national security.Links: State ArmorTikTok Is The CCPTo Combat China's Infiltration Of The US We Must Start With The StatesSelect Committee Unveils CCP Influence Memo, "United Front 101"Follow us on our Socials:Twitter: @capitalresearchInstagram: @capitalresearchcenterFacebook: www.facebook.com/capitalresearchcenterYouTube: @capitalresearchcenter

Wind power sounds lovely; supposedly free, indeed infinite “renewable” clean energy from the predictable patterns of moving air. Except it isn’t quite so simple. Turbines catch fire with disquieting frequency. The amount of land needed to produce electricity is quite high. And there’s a political protection racket keeping even clean-generating rivals out of the market and wind generators on the government dole. Here to explain is our colleague Ken Braun, who follows the energy and environmental issues for Capital Research Center. Links: Italian Energy Giant Invades America: The Cheapest Way to Make Expensive ElectricityWind Turbines Produce Drama, Cash, and Some Electricity: Big Trouble at Biglow CanyonWind Turbines Produce Drama, Cash, and Some Electricity: Support for Anti-Nuclear NonprofitsOpposition to Nuclear EnergyClimate Alarmists Hoover Up Corporate Welfare: The Rocky Mountain InstituteFollow us on our Socials:Twitter: @capitalresearchInstagram: @capitalresearchcenterFacebook: www.facebook.com/capitalresearchcenterYouTube: @capitalresearchcenter

In 2022, Patagonia outdoors-wear brand owner and self-described socialist Yvon Chouinard and his family transferred ownership of the company to Holdfast Collective, an LLC that controls 98 percent of the shares, and the Patagonia Purpose Trust, an entity that holds two percent of the shares and allows Chouinard’s family to retain effective control of Patagonia. Holdfast Collective was announced as an environmentalist project, with Chouinard claiming, “Earth is now [Patagonia’s] only shareholder.” But Americans for Public Trust found something curious in some FEC filings: Holdfast Collective is using some nonprofit groups it created and manages Arabella Advisors-style to make contributions to Democratic Super PACs, and the paperwork is questionable. Here to explain is Caitlin Sutherland, the executive director of Americans for Public Trust, which filed a complaint asking the Federal Elections Commission to investigate. Links: Major outdoor clothing company quietly operating liberal dark money group hit with FEC complaintFEC ComplaintPatagoniaHoldfast CollectiveYvon ChouinardFollow us on our Socials:Twitter: @capitalresearchInstagram: @capitalresearchcenterFacebook: www.facebook.com/capitalresearchcenterYouTube: @capitalresearchcenter

You’ve probably heard of the Democratic Socialists of America, the left-wing radical faction we most recently discussed in episode 302 for its financial problems. But the DSA is just a relatively small part of a worldwide movement for Marxist-inflected Everything Leftism led by a former Greek government minister and having current and former heads of state among its current and former leadership: The Progressive International. Joining us to discuss the left of the international left, its ties to America, and its broader influence is Robert Stilson, who wrote a four-part series on the Progressive International for CapitalResearch.org.Links:The Progressive International: The “Left of the Left” Goes GlobalThe Progressive International: Israel the EnemyThe Progressive International: MembersThe Progressive International: LeadershipProgressive InternationalFollow us on our Socials:Twitter: @capitalresearchInstagram: @capitalresearchcenterFacebook: www.facebook.com/capitalresearchcenterYouTube: @capitalresearchcenter

In 1965, future U.S. Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan (D-NY), then an Assistant Secretary of Labor in the Johnson administration, issued a report expressing alarm at rising rates of unwed childbearing, especially among Black Americans. In the intervening nearly six decades, the situation among Black Americans and white Americans alike has only gotten worse, and the left-progressive movement that has risen in influence has challenged the very idea that marriage and family formation, at least on historical American lines, is even a good thing. Joining us to discuss this trend and its effects on American society is Delano Squires, a research fellow at the Heritage Foundation’s Richard and Helen DeVos Center for Life, Religion, and Family.Links: America Needs a “Black Wives Matter” Movement To Rebuild the Black FamilyThe Moynihan Report 50 Years Later: Why Marriage More Than Ever Promotes Opportunity for AllSociety Suffers When Progressives Spurn Fatherhood, Marriage, and FamilyKids Get Schooled on Radical PoliticsD.C. Area Educators for Social JusticeD.C. Area Black Lives Matter at School Week of ActionFollow us on our Socials:Twitter: @capitalresearchInstagram: @capitalresearchcenterFacebook: www.facebook.com/capitalresearchcenterYouTube: @capitalresearchcenter

Whether or not it is the cause of recruiting shortfalls or not, rising left-wing ideology in the military is cause for concern. But who is pushing the military to adopt widespread social-liberal activist policies? Fred Lucas, a reporter from the Heritage Foundation’s Daily Signal, joins us to discuss the organizations pushing the military to sign up to Everything Leftism.Links: The Architects of the Woke U.S. Military: Military Woke ComplexThe Architects of the Woke U.S. Military: Common DefenseThe Architects of the Woke U.S. Military: Vets for the PeopleThe Architects of the Woke U.S. Military: Service Women’s Action NetworkWhy Military Recruitment Is MiserableFollow us on our Socials:Twitter: @capitalresearchInstagram: @capitalresearchcenterFacebook: www.facebook.com/capitalresearchcenterYouTube: @capitalresearchcenter

As state legislatures convene in what is likely to be a competitive federal election year, what can states do to ensure their elections are fairly conducted? Jason Snead of the Honest Elections Project joins us to discuss his organization’s recommendations for safeguarding U.S. elections.Link: Safeguarding Our ElectionsFollow us on our Socials:Twitter: @capitalresearchInstagram: @capitalresearchcenterFacebook: www.facebook.com/capitalresearchcenterYouTube: @capitalresearchcenter

All is not well at the Democratic Socialists of America, the most prominent and powerful openly socialist political advocacy organization in America. Longtime activists are quitting, the budget isn’t balancing, and Everything Leftism is propagating. Joining me to discuss the turmoil at the DSA are my colleagues Sarah Lee and Robert Stilson.Links: Turmoil at the Democratic Socialists of AmericaExplaining “Everything Leftism”Follow us on Socials:Twitter: @capitalresearchInstagram: @capitalresearchcenterFacebook: www.facebook.com/capitalresearchcenterYouTube: @capitalresearchcenter

Energy policy expert Robert Bryce discusses the realities of the power grid, the failure in Texas, and the need for nuclear power. The podcast explores the role of NGOs in hindering the shift to nuclear energy, the negative impacts of wind turbines, the lack of support from environmental groups, and the development of renewable energy sources. It also touches on the disparity in federal subsidies for energy sources and the challenges facing the power grid.