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.
The Top Five Special Interest Groups Lobbying To Keep Marijuana Illegal
Last year, over 850,000 people in America were arrested for marijuana-related crimes. Despite public opinion, the medical community, and human rights experts all moving in favor of relaxing marijuana prohibition laws, little has changed in terms of policy. There have been many great books and articles detailing the history of the drug war. Part of
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Republicans Tout Video Of A Commodity Lobbyist To Laughably Claim That Oil Speculation Is Not A Problem
On Tuesday, President Obama boldly called for cracking down on rampant oil speculation, which experts say has increased the amount consumers pay at the pump by as much as $10 dollarsper a tank of gas. In response, the Republican Party and a set of big business-friendly blogs are rushing to promote a video clip of
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REVEALED: Corporate Lobbyists Air $100,000 In Attack Ads To Save Rep. Tim Holden (D-PA), Pro-Corporate Blue Dog In Tight Race
Congressman Tim Holden (D-PA) is in a fight for his career as he takes on left-leaning attorney Matt Cartwright in the Pennsylvania Democratic primary next week. Holden has faced criticism that he serves the interests of his corporate donors rather than the public interest — voting time and again to help big banks, industrial polluters,
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The Wall Street Journal Confuses ALEC’s Crony Capitalism With Free-Markets
On the heels of Fox News, the Wall Street Journal has a new editorial bemoaning the pressure brought by activist groups on the American Legislative Exchange Council, a corporate law-writing front better known simply as ALEC. Thanks to efforts by a coalition of watchdog and civil rights activists, plus blogs like Republic Report, the public now knows
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Blue Dog Congressman, Facing Tough Election, Complains About Citizens United – But Voted Against Fixing The Problem
Here’s an obvious reason for members of Congress to fix our campaign finance system in the wake of the Citizens United decision: Big, sometimes secret, money can cost them their jobs. Congressman Tim Holden (D-PA), who is facing a strong challenge from the left in his primary election next week, is also facing a barrage
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Needing Last Minute Political Support, Rep. Tim Holden Introduces Bill To Allow Pollution Into Chesapeake Bay, Collects Big Ag Cash
Congressman Tim Holden (D-PA) is locked in a tough Democratic primary fight with Matt Cartwright, a local attorney who is challenging the entrenched congressman over his votes against health reform, clean energy, and for voting to deregulate the fracking industry. Holden, a member of the pro-corporate Blue Dog caucus, appears to be raising last minute
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Journalists Begin To Take Notice Of Unregistered Lobbying Phenomenon
As we’ve noted, one of the biggest problems in Washington is the level of secrecy in lobbying. Communications consultants, lawyers, fundraisers, and other political professionals produce public pressure campaigns and make back room deals without ever registering as lobbyists, so the public is constantly left in the dark about who is really shaping our government.
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How the Citizens United Decision is Helping Chemical Companies Squash Efforts to Assess Cancer Risks With Common Household Items
Big chemical companies are quietly buying campaign ads that are polluting the airwaves in a bid to convince Congress not to regulate carcinogenic chemicals or not take other actions to protect health and the environment. The ads have appeared in districts of lawmakers who are poised to impact legislation to overhaul health and environmental standards.
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