The hottest Lobbying Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top U.S. Politics Topics

Monopoly Round-Up: Bombshell Document Details Watergate-Style Corruption at the Antitrust Division

BIG by Matt Stoller • 35409 implied HN points • 16 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Lobbying
  1. Politically connected lobbyists, corporate executives, and big law firms used private meetings and influence to push weak antitrust settlements and sideline career enforcers.
  2. State attorneys general are conducting deep investigations, deposing DOJ officials and lobbyists, and building evidence that could lead judges to reject deals or trigger criminal or congressional actions.
  3. Those corrupt merger outcomes let dominant firms keep or grow market power, harming consumers and workers and highlighting the need for stronger oversight, more funding for state enforcers, and merger-law reform.

CIA Prepares Criminal Referral of Tucker Carlson, as Israel and Its Loyalists Demand His Arrest

Glenn Greenwald • 6506 implied HN points • 15 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Lobbying
  1. U.S. intelligence is reportedly preparing a criminal referral against a high-profile journalist over his communications with Iranian contacts, suggesting journalists could be prosecuted for critical war reporting.
  2. Influential Israeli-aligned voices and their U.S. allies pushed an orchestrated campaign demanding his arrest, showing growing efforts to punish and intimidate critics of Israel and the Trump-Netanyahu war.
  3. Evidence points to domestic and allied surveillance of the journalist’s communications, highlighting how spying and legal pressure can be used to chill independent reporting and free speech.

How Israel Convinced Trump to Wage War Against Iran (w/ Max Blumenthal) | The Chris Hedges Report

The Chris Hedges Report • 231 implied HN points • 19 Mar 26
🌍 World Politics Lobbying
  1. An influence campaign by Israeli-aligned actors and wealthy backers leveraged Trump’s transactional instincts and fears to push him toward aggressive action against Iran.
  2. The FBI’s use of informants and sting operations appears to have manufactured or exaggerated assassination plots on U.S. soil, reinforcing the belief that Iran was targeting Trump and helping justify escalation.
  3. Those pressures contributed to a damaging war that shut down negotiations, provoked heavy retaliation, and raised the risk of a wider or even nuclear confrontation while leaving key questions about motives and accountability.

Big Business Has Pam Bondi Fire Trump's Antitrust Chief

BIG by Matt Stoller • 34951 implied HN points • 13 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Lobbying
  1. Attorney General Pam Bondi fired antitrust chief Gail Slater amid internal conflict and apparent pressure from corporate lobbyists, undermining the division’s independence.
  2. Slater kept some big cases alive but failed to file new major antitrust suits. Her concessions and internal missteps show the populist right couldn’t turn anti-monopoly talk into lasting power.
  3. The firing is a win for corporate interests and weakens federal antitrust capacity under the current administration, even as state prosecutors and judges may now probe lobbyists and possible insider dealings.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

The Casual Fridays Edition

Why is this interesting? • 1749 implied HN points • 05 Mar 26
🎭️ Culture Lobbying
  1. Casual Friday wasn't a natural workplace trend but a deliberate marketing campaign by Hawaii's garment industry to sell aloha shirts.
  2. The industry used soft lobbying—sending shirts to politicians and getting prominent figures to wear them—to normalize aloha attire in official and corporate spaces.
  3. That long-running effort successfully manufactured a social norm and widespread consumer demand, turning a local product push into a national workplace habit.

How Politicians Smear The World, Vol. 1: The Contract

TK News by Matt Taibbi • 5125 implied HN points • 19 Feb 26
🌍 World Politics Lobbying
  1. A party-linked think tank hired APCO to run an offensive campaign against reporters, using human intelligence, forensic accounting, media packaging, and “stakeholder outreach” to target their work and networks.
  2. The operation fed outlets and intelligence channels misleading claims and used legal and cyber scare tactics that caused papers to kill stories and left reporters facing lost work and investigations.
  3. Those methods mirror long-standing smear and reputation-management playbooks tied to Russia-scare tactics, revealing industry hypocrisy and prompting a government inquiry and calls for resignations.

THE SWAMP LOG - The March To War, A President Deposed, Bigger in Texas

TK News by Matt Taibbi • 2367 implied HN points • 02 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Lobbying
  1. The newsletter spotlights big political storylines — a march to war, a president being deposed, and major developments in Texas.
  2. It bills itself as a weekly dispatch pushing back against Washington’s “Blob” and aiming to demystify D.C. by using public resources and plain language instead of insider chatter.
  3. It’s published on Racket as paid newsletter content with subscription options, while occasionally offering free posts or promotional free access.

How a Billionaire Friend Changed Trump’s Mind About Pot

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 222 implied HN points • 16 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Lobbying
  1. A billionaire friend persuaded the president to reverse long-standing Republican opposition to marijuana through a close personal relationship.
  2. The influencer made his fortune by pioneering affinity credit cards and now lives in a lavish Palm Beach estate.
  3. Personal ties can change political positions, showing that relationships sometimes matter more than party orthodoxy.

THE SWAMP LOG: The Peace Hawk, Homeland Shutdown, An Extraordinary Assertion of Power

TK News by Matt Taibbi • 2884 implied HN points • 23 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Lobbying
  1. It aims to demystify Washington and push back against insider, elite-driven coverage so regular readers can understand how power works.
  2. This edition centers on high-stakes themes — a "peace hawk" stance, a homeland shutdown, and an extraordinary assertion of power — highlighting tensions in foreign policy and domestic authority.
  3. The publication is reader-supported and mixes paid subscriptions with sponsor-backed free posts so some content can be accessed without a paywall.

Monopoly Round-Up: Corporate Lawyers and Fat Envelope America

BIG by Matt Stoller • 19481 implied HN points • 21 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Lobbying
  1. Lobbyists and well‑connected corporate lawyers are buying influence over antitrust enforcement, pushing mergers through and sidelining career officials and tougher scrutiny.
  2. The leading antitrust bar groups are largely defending big business and promoting merger‑friendly policies, remaining quiet instead of calling out suspected pay‑to‑play behavior.
  3. There is growing pushback from judges, state enforcers, and whistleblowers who are using court oversight, the Tunney Act, and congressional testimony to demand documents and challenge suspicious settlements.

THE SWAMP LOG: National Non-Emergency, AOC's Munich Mumbling, Longevity Cultist's Untimely End

TK News by Matt Taibbi • 3407 implied HN points • 16 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Lobbying
  1. A weekly Washington dispatch covers varied political stories — a "national non-emergency," AOC's awkward Munich remarks, and the unexpected death linked to a longevity movement.
  2. The newsletter aims to demystify Washington by explaining politics in plain language and rejecting insider jargon or elite gatekeeping.
  3. It’s a paid newsletter that also offers some free posts (one noted as courtesy of Matt Taibbi) and encourages readers to subscribe for full access.

THE SWAMP LOG

TK News by Matt Taibbi • 4001 implied HN points • 09 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Lobbying
  1. The newsletter aims to make Washington reporting interesting and easy to understand instead of dry insider chatter.
  2. It will highlight real stories like officials fighting the managerial state, intraparty power struggles, and corruption, pushing back against conventional DC narratives.
  3. Published as a regular Monday newsletter, it positions itself as an accessible alternative to mainstream morning coverage.

Congress Forces NIH to Reverse Policy, Continue Funding Fauci’s “Unsafe” Infectious Disease Centers

The DisInformation Chronicle • 485 implied HN points • 25 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Lobbying
  1. Congress forced NIH to reverse its prior decision and allocate $18.2 million to restart the Centers for Research in Emerging Infectious Diseases (CREID), despite earlier NIH findings that the program was unsafe and not a good use of taxpayer funds.
  2. The CREID awards involve controversial researchers, including Kristian Andersen and Peter Daszak; their work has been criticized over the 'Proximal Origin' paper, and Daszak has previously been debarred from receiving federal funds.
  3. HHS officials say they are alarmed that university lobbyists and Congress intervened in funding decisions, and the White House is finalizing a risk-based policy to limit funding for dangerous gain-of-function research and penalize nondisclosure of risky studies.

A sad day for America

Marcus on AI • 11619 implied HN points • 12 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Lobbying
  1. A presidential Executive Order blocks states from making their own AI rules, which in practice leaves AI largely unregulated at the federal level.
  2. The move drew unusual bipartisan opposition — from Democrats to many right-wing Republicans — and mirrors a Senate vote that similarly failed 99–1, while big tech stood to gain.
  3. This strategy risks political and legal blowback: any AI harms are likely to be pinned on the administration, constitutional challenges are possible, and many argue the country needs a middle path between overregulation and no regulation.

Has the bailout of generative AI already begun?

Marcus on AI • 11185 implied HN points • 27 Nov 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Lobbying
  1. The White House's Genesis program involves big government purchases of AI chips and could effectively act as a bailout for money‑losing AI companies.
  2. The timing and quick reversal of industry leaders' rhetoric make the support look coordinated rather than purely coincidental.
  3. It's uncertain whether this funding will produce real scientific gains or just prop up unprofitable firms, and it could be the first of many such subsidies.

Business vs Politics

Points And Figures • 506 implied HN points • 04 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Lobbying
  1. Business-minded people tend to decide quickly and act, while politics usually involves long consultation and slower timelines.
  2. Career politicians can make it hard to pass popular or timely measures because they move cautiously and protect entrenched processes.
  3. Putting more entrepreneurs and everyday citizens into leadership and investment roles improves decision-making and execution, and encouraging ordinary people to run for office can make government more efficient and responsive.

Zionist Billionaires Openly Acknowledge Manipulating The US Government

Caitlin’s Newsletter • 2496 implied HN points • 19 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Lobbying
  1. Two wealthy pro-Israel donors openly suggested they use large donations and undisclosed tactics to influence U.S. politicians, while refusing to explain the details.
  2. They framed political contributions as a way to buy access and shape policy, making clear that those who give more get more influence over decisions affecting Israel.
  3. The situation is presented as an example of how powerful moneyed interests can undermine democratic control, leaving ordinary voters with little real influence over government actions.

They're Trying To Sneak Israel's President Into Australia Without Anti-Genocide Protests

Caitlin’s Newsletter • 2030 implied HN points • 23 Jan 26
🌍 World Politics Lobbying
  1. The Australian government is trying to quietly bring Israel's president into the country to avoid large anti‑genocide protests, which suggests they are prioritizing protecting the visit over allowing visible public dissent.
  2. Western governments are escalating repression by labeling pro‑Palestine activists as terrorists and arresting supporters, a dangerous move that risks silencing dissent and curbing free speech.
  3. The Israel lobby in Australia wields real political influence to push laws that threaten pro‑Palestine speech, and lawmakers often use emergencies to fast‑track authoritarian measures, so safeguards like a cooling‑off period are needed.

Public Choice Links, 2/23/2026

In My Tribe • 197 implied HN points • 23 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Lobbying
  1. Firms exist because centralized coordination has its own costs, but market coordination also has transaction costs, so internal management can be more efficient when that tradeoff favors it.
  2. Lobbying reached record levels in 2025 as companies spent more to influence an unpredictable federal government, and foundations/nonprofits increasingly fund projects tied to donors' ideological priorities like social justice.
  3. A universal flat Social Security benefit set above the poverty line would more effectively and cheaply reduce senior poverty, raising benefits for low earners and reducing them for higher earners, and would shift the common 'you earned it' narrative.

If Israel Gets To Undermine Our Rights, Then We Get To Undermine Israel

Caitlin’s Newsletter • 2835 implied HN points • 21 Dec 25
🌍 World Politics Lobbying
  1. Israel is pushing Western governments and institutions to crack down on pro‑Palestine speech and protests, influencing laws and arrests that restrict civil liberties.
  2. When a foreign state works to erode civil liberties at home, citizens are justified in fighting back by targeting that state's influence and interests in their own countries.
  3. People should openly and unapologetically work to weaken support for Israel — exposing propaganda, making ties to its lobby politically costly, and campaigning to reduce its standing.

Stop Picking On Poor Little Israel

Caitlin’s Newsletter • 2370 implied HN points • 23 Dec 25
🌍 World Politics Lobbying
  1. People who criticize Israel are often dismissed as simply being antisemitic instead of being allowed to complain about alleged human rights abuses, lobbying, and suppression of dissent.
  2. Tragic events are portrayed as being used to wipe away prior criticisms and to justify harsher policies, effectively silencing opposition and reshaping the public conversation.
  3. The piece argues there’s an outsized, obsessive focus on one small state while ignoring wider historical and geopolitical factors, including Western imperial backing and powerful influence operations that shape other countries’ politics and media.

They Feign Concern About Pro-Palestine Chants In Order To Shut Down Pro-Palestine Protests

Caitlin’s Newsletter • 1909 implied HN points • 28 Dec 25
🌍 World Politics Lobbying
  1. People who back the establishment often pretend they’re worried about protest chants or methods as a way to shut down pro-Palestine protests.
  2. This is a common tactic: critics will attack the way people protest rather than the issues those protests raise, which keeps the status quo intact.
  3. Across countries and institutions, arrests, laws, and censorship are being framed as safety concerns but actually make it harder to criticize Israel; watch their actions, not their words.

The Australian Israel Lobby Is Flat-Out Saying They Want A Ban On Criticism Of Israel

Caitlin’s Newsletter • 2007 implied HN points • 19 Dec 25
🌍 World Politics Lobbying
  1. Leaders of the Australian Israel lobby are openly calling for bans on protests and limits on speech that criticise Israel, and they want prosecutions for what they call hate speech.
  2. Those leaders claim criticism of Israel motivates antisemitic violence and are using that claim to push for tougher enforcement, more surveillance (especially of Muslim communities), and even jail for offenders.
  3. The Bondi Beach attack is being used as a pretext for the government to expand restrictions on free speech and online content, which could lead to broader authoritarian measures to police criticism of Israel.

Israel expanded propaganda contract with Trump's former campaign manager

All-Source Intelligence Fusion • 1139 implied HN points • 07 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Lobbying
  1. Brad Parscale’s firm Clock Tower X expanded a U.S. propaganda contract for the Israeli government to $9 million and is working through intermediaries like HAVAS.
  2. The operation runs at least nine branded websites and channels to push pro‑Israel messaging across culture, economics, technology, and 'fact‑checking,' and it even targets AI/GPT framing.
  3. Some brands carry aggressive information‑warfare tactics—targeting Christian audiences, trying to influence Wikipedia, and amplifying content on platforms like YouTube—while disclosing distribution by Clock Tower X for the State of Israel.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce: From Fighting Obamacare to Defending Big Pharma

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 559 implied HN points • 20 Aug 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Lobbying
  1. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has a history of opposing health care reforms like Obamacare, fighting to protect the insurance industry's profits. Their actions have often prioritized big business over the needs of everyday people.
  2. Recently, the Chamber has also opposed Medicare's efforts to negotiate lower drug prices. They claim it will harm the pharmaceutical industry, but many seniors could benefit from cheaper medications.
  3. Overall, the Chamber does not represent small businesses or local interests as much as it represents large corporations. Their lobbying efforts highlight how some businesses prioritize profit over the well-being of the public.

Israel, Its Lobby, and the Iran War

John’s Substack • 16 implied HN points • 18 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Lobbying
  1. The Israel lobby still strongly shapes U.S. policy. It has lost control of the public conversation, and many now believe the U.S. was pulled into the Iran war by Netanyahu and the lobby.
  2. A senior U.S. official resigned, saying he could not support the Iran war and arguing the conflict began because of pressure from Israel and its American lobby.
  3. The war appears to be in a stalemate with no clear way for the U.S. to end it or win it, and there is no obvious viable exit strategy.

Kristi Noem’s Reckless Lies. Plus. . .

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 533 implied HN points • 26 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Lobbying
  1. After the Minneapolis killing of Alex Pretti, senior officials quickly labeled him a terrorist and described a plot, but eyewitness videos contradicted those claims and exposed a coordinated spread of misleading information.
  2. A proposed one‑time wealth tax in California has prompted many billionaires to plan to leave, sparking a notable exodus of superrich residents.
  3. Sharp policy moves and political fights—like big tariff threats, a proposed cap on credit‑card interest, and legal battles over sanctuary cities—are creating widespread instability and unintended consequences for consumers, lobbyists, and local governments.

Former CIA Venezuela chief is raiding clients from Rubio-affiliated lobbying firm while the US continues seizing oil tankers

All-Source Intelligence Fusion • 996 implied HN points • 27 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Lobbying
  1. Enrique de la Torre, a former CIA station chief for Venezuela, left the Rubio-linked Continental Strategy to start Tower Strategy and brought four clients with him.
  2. Tower Strategy’s initial clients include Odyssey Marine (which has a history of international legal scandals), Bitdeer, T1 Energy, and UGT Renewables/Sun Africa, so the firm represents a mix of controversial and strategic energy/tech interests.
  3. De la Torre and his partner James Story openly back aggressive U.S. action to oust Maduro while U.S. forces have been seizing Venezuelan oil tankers, and their career moves reflect a broader pattern of ex-intelligence officials moving into lobbying and foreign-agent work that can carry legal risks.

Term Limits Would Make The DC Swamp Even Worse

Stark Realities with Brian McGlinchey • 428 implied HN points • 19 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Lobbying
  1. Term limits are popular but would likely make Congress worse because they address turnover instead of the underlying concentration of federal power; the real problem is how much power Washington holds, not who holds it.
  2. Shorter tenures would leave more inexperienced lawmakers vulnerable to lobbyists and party control, and fundraising rules that tie committee slots to donations would keep members focused on money even with term limits.
  3. Term limits wouldn’t reduce polarization because most seats are safe and primaries drive outcomes, and predictable exits would fuel the revolving door as former members chase lobbying or private-sector jobs.

"The Israel Lobby" after 20 Years

John’s Substack • 18 implied HN points • 15 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Lobbying
  1. A 2006 academic essay about the Israel lobby produced intense controversy and had a lasting impact on debates over US foreign policy.
  2. Twenty years later, the argument was revisited to evaluate how the lobby's influence and the surrounding debate have changed.
  3. A recent interview with outspoken commentators shows the issue still generates heated discussion and remains a live topic in public discourse.

Gaming and Prediction Markets

Points And Figures • 612 implied HN points • 15 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Lobbying
  1. Prediction markets about real-world outcomes like housing, elections, or product release dates create useful, liquid signals that help buyers, sellers, developers, and policymakers make better decisions and manage risk.
  2. Sports prediction markets are largely entertainment and a zero-sum form of gambling that doesn’t advance economic decision-making or reduce societal uncertainty.
  3. Policy should distinguish between entertainment gambling and valuable prediction markets, with sports regulated under state gambling laws while enabling economic and political markets through clear legislation or federal guidance rather than leaving it to the courts.

Bound to Lose

John’s Substack • 16 implied HN points • 14 Mar 26
🌍 World Politics Lobbying
  1. A military campaign by the US and Israel against Iran is portrayed as likely to fail and unwinnable.
  2. The Israel lobby is described as a powerful force that shapes and steers US foreign policy decisions.
  3. Those two points are connected: the lobby’s influence helps drive policies that increase the chances of entering a costly, hard-to-win conflict with Iran.

Foreign Lobbying Is Booming in Trump’s Washington

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 102 implied HN points • 19 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Lobbying
  1. Foreign governments and companies are spending big on Washington lobbyists to get access to the Trump administration.
  2. Since the 2024 election there have been over 380 new foreign lobbying registrations, a higher total than in the comparable period under any of the last seven presidents.
  3. Critics say this boom clashes with "America First" goals, because tariff fights and new trade deals are creating lucrative opportunities for lobbyists to influence policy.

Two Drinks with . . . Don Jr.’s Hunting Buddy

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 143 implied HN points • 23 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Lobbying
  1. He’s a well-connected Republican lobbyist who also hangs out with Donald Trump Jr. on hunting trips, blending personal ties with political influence.
  2. His firm, Checkmate Government Relations, moved to Washington after Trump’s reelection and has pulled in over $21 million recently from major corporations and foreign clients.
  3. He used that access to win big results — helping secure a pardon for a crypto executive and getting federal recognition for the Lumbee Tribe tucked into a massive defense bill.

Balsa Update: Springtime in DC

Don't Worry About the Vase • 1971 implied HN points • 08 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Lobbying
  1. A new proposal could limit U.S. exports by requiring a certain percentage to be on U.S.-built ships, which currently don't exist in enough numbers. This could drastically reduce export volumes.
  2. Only a few voices were raised against this proposal, as many industries have adapted to a system where shipbuilding is not prioritized in the U.S. This led to a lack of awareness about the negative impact of the new rules.
  3. Balsa Research decided to take action after realizing the importance of the issue. They submitted comments and presented their findings, which contributed to changes in the proposed export restrictions.

The Trillion Dollar War Machine (w/ William D. Hartung) | The Chris Hedges Report

The Chris Hedges Report • 163 implied HN points • 01 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Lobbying
  1. The military-industrial complex now channels massive public money to private defense firms and uses lobbying and secret deals to keep itself growing.
  2. Big Tech has merged with the defense sector, promoting automated warfare, widespread surveillance, and the blurring of public and corporate roles for profit and control.
  3. Recent political shifts have empowered this trillion-dollar war machine to keep expanding, which risks democracy, public welfare, and national safety as profit motives trump oversight.

Exclusive: Republicans Accuse Climate Groups of Doing China’s ‘Dirty Work’ in the U.S.

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 227 implied HN points • 16 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Lobbying
  1. Twenty-six Republican state attorneys general asked the Justice Department to investigate whether two climate-focused nonprofits failed to disclose lobbying or acting on behalf of China.
  2. The complaint cites evidence that the Energy Foundation China and the Center for Climate Integrity may have acted as unregistered agents, pointing to EFC’s Beijing office and staff who previously worked for Chinese government climate agencies.
  3. Those groups present themselves as U.S. tax-exempt organizations working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but Republicans say their ties to China raise concerns about foreign influence on U.S. energy policy.

Political Realism

In My Tribe • 880 implied HN points • 12 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Lobbying
  1. Political Realism suggests that government officials often act in their own interests instead of just fixing market problems. This means sometimes they may take advantage of their power for personal gain.
  2. Rent-seeking is when interest groups spend a lot of resources to influence government decisions that benefit them. This can lead to a lot of money being wasted on lobbying instead of being used for productive activities.
  3. The combination of subsidizing demand and restricting supply by the government doesn't always make sense. In practice, it often serves the interests of producers rather than addressing the real issues in the market.

How the nursing home lobby uses it's political prowess to kill would-be regulations and line the industry's pockets

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 619 implied HN points • 05 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Lobbying
  1. The nursing home lobby uses its influence to protect its profits and avoid regulations. This means that they can get away with poor care for residents.
  2. There is a strong connection between nursing home companies and politicians, with money flowing back and forth. This cozy relationship can lead to decisions that favor the industry over the needs of elderly residents.
  3. Many countries do a better job of caring for seniors than the U.S. does. There's a call for the U.S. to change how we think about and treat older adults, emphasizing their needs and quality of care.