About: Lee Fang
Bio: Lee Fang is a reporter for The Intercept. He has a longstanding interest in how public policy is influenced by organized interest groups and money. He was the first to uncover and detail the role of the billionaire Koch brothers in financing the Tea Party movement. His interviews and research on the Koch brothers have been featured on HBO’s “The Newsroom,” the documentaries “Merchants of Doubt” and “Citizen Koch,” as well as in multiple media outlets. He was an investigative blogger for ThinkProgress (2009-2011) and then a fellow at the Investigative Fund of the Nation Institute and contributing writer for The Nation. In 2012, he co-founded RepublicReport.org, a blog to cover political corruption that syndicates content with TheNation.com, Salon, National Memo, BillMoyers.com, TruthOut, and other media outlets. His work has been published by VICE, The Baffler, The Boston Globe, the San Francisco Chronicle, The Progressive, NPR, In These Times, and The Huffington Post. His first book, “The Machine: A Field Guide to the Resurgent Right,” published by The New Press, explores how the conservative right rebuilt the Republican Party and its political clout in the aftermath of President Obama’s 2008 election victory. He is based in San Francisco.
Congressman Silvestre Reyes Loses To Beto O’Rourke; Another Corrupt Democrat Loses His Primary Over Corruption
Congressman Silvestre Reyes lost in the Democratic primary last night to challenger Beto O’Rourke. It’s a notable upset given that this is only the third time this year an incumbent has lost to an outside challenge. But it’s also indicative of a larger wave against corruption. Republic Report profiled the race before, noting that Reyes
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Defense Contractor Lobby Sends Last Minute Cash To Save Drug Warrior Congressman In Texas
Congressman Silvestre Reyes (D-TX) is locked in one of the most watched primary elections tonight. He faces Beto O’Rourke, a businessman and former member of the El Paso City Council. Observers have noted that the election has become a referendum on Reyes’ close ties to the defense contracting industry. Reyes is a proud Drug War
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Lobbyists From Just One Association Plan To Spend $80 Million In Corporate Cash To Elect Pro-Big Business Congressmen This Year
The Supreme Court’s string of decisions to open up our elections to corporate control will have vast consequences this year. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, a private lobbying association made up of member companies like Wal-Mart and Prudential Financial, intends to use this new campaign finance landscape to elect many more pro-big business lawmakers to
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On Twitter, Koch Group Offers Illinois Residents Free Food, Trips To Wisconsin To Support Governor Scott Walker
David Koch, co-owner of the Koch Industries petrochemical, manufacturing and commodity speculation fortune, hasn’t been shy about supporting Governor Scott Walker (R-WI), whose controversial union-busting agenda has forced a recall election this summer. Earlier this year, Koch told the Palm Beach Post: “We’re helping him, as we should. We’ve gotten pretty good at this over
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Gingrich On What It Takes To Become President: “Raise A Lot Of Money”
Today on Meet the Press, David Gregory spoke to Governor Martin O’Malley (D-MD), seen as many as a likely contender for the presidency in the not so distant future, and Newt Gingrich. Asked what advice he would give O’Malley on becoming president, Gingrich was quite blunt: GREGORY: Newt Gingrich, what advice do you give Gov.
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Congressmen Fulfill Lobbyist Request, File Letter Requesting Carcinogenic Chemicals In Their Own Buildings
When lobbyists ask them to jump, lawmakers often ask how high. We’ve documented many examples of how corporate interests manipulate members of Congress like marionette dolls. But a recent letter from Congressman Mike Pompeo (R-KS), signed by 55 of his colleagues, takes the cake. At issue is a pitched lobbying battle between makers of toxic
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Mitt Romney May Place Top Oil Lobbyist In Charge Of His White House
When oil companies need help in Washington, they call Jack Gerard. But in January of next year, assuming he wins the presidency, Mitt Romney may be dialing Gerard for political support. According to media reports in his native Idaho, Gerard is on the shortlist to become Romney’s White House chief of staff. Gerard is the
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On Craigslist, Coal Lobby Offers $50 To People To Wear Pro-Coal T-Shirts At Regulatory Meeting
Here’s a great catch from the Environmental Law & Policy Center in Chicago. A coal group posted a Craigslist ad offering people $50 to wear pro-coal t-shirts at an upcoming EPA meeting in Illinois. The posting has been deleted, but here’s a screenshot: A local Sierra Club blog took pictures of people wearing the shirt
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