The hottest Lobbying Substack posts right now

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

What Coinbase learned from Uber about fighting regulation

Alex's Personal Blog • 98 implied HN points • 19 Dec 25
🕹 Technology Lobbying
  1. Tech companies learned a "grow first, fight later" playbook from Uber, using customer popularity to push back against local regulators instead of asking permission.
  2. Crypto firms are compressing those fights to the federal level by arguing for exclusive federal oversight, suing states when needed, and lobbying and staffing regulators to be favorable.
  3. Expect more tech money and talent aimed at shaping federal policy, efforts to block state-level rules (especially on AI), and louder campaigns to resist strict foreign regulations.

More thoughts on political realism

In My Tribe • 486 implied HN points • 14 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Lobbying
  1. Political equilibrium means that in elections, candidates tend to adopt similar policies to win votes. This makes it hard to see real change since both sides may end up supporting the same things.
  2. Special interest groups often have a louder voice than the average voter, which can lead to policies that support their interests more than those of the general public.
  3. There are two kinds of societies: commercial, which benefits everyone, and tribute, where a few control the resources. A commercial society allows anyone to start a business, making it more inclusive.

“UK Files” Exclusive, Part 2: The Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) Told the IRS It Was A Charity. Documents Say Otherwise

TK News by Matt Taibbi • 3820 implied HN points • 31 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Lobbying
  1. The Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) incorrectly claimed charity status with the IRS, raising questions about their truthfulness.
  2. The CCDH is known for pressuring companies to restrict certain content and promoting its own political agenda in the media space.
  3. The CCDH's ties to major-party politics and regulatory mix-ups suggest a complex background and operational strategy.

Congress Must Pass KOSA By Christmas. The Only Obstacle Seems to be Meta’s Influence

After Babel • 1221 implied HN points • 12 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Lobbying
  1. The Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) aims to protect children online by introducing stronger privacy settings and reducing harmful features on social media platforms.
  2. There is significant concern over the current impact of social media on kids, including issues like sextortion and mental health problems, which KOSA seeks to address.
  3. The bill has strong bipartisan support in Congress, but its progress is hindered by lobbying from major social media companies that fear regulation.
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Reagan’s Secretary of Education Joins Qatar’s Payroll

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 370 implied HN points • 23 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Lobbying
  1. Qatar is increasing its lobbying efforts in the U.S., especially in higher education. They're not backing down despite facing criticism.
  2. Georgetown University awarded a medal to Sheikha Moza bint Nasser for her work in education, but this decision is being questioned due to her support for controversial figures.
  3. The former congressman and lobbyist, Jim Moran, is closely tied to Qatar's interests in the U.S. and was present during a controversial testimony at Congress.

Was the AI executive order a mistake?

Alex's Personal Blog • 65 implied HN points • 22 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Lobbying
  1. The executive order preempting state AI rules was a temporary, unilateral move that skipped Congress and undercut the chance for a durable national standard.
  2. A bipartisan deal was within reach that would have given industry preemption plus new child safety and frontier-AI rules, but the administration’s choice to act by executive order instead of pushing for compromise killed that opportunity.
  3. The EO backfired politically by angering governors and the public and prompting states to keep passing laws, so a negotiated federal law would likely have been more stable and better for the AI industry’s long-term interests.

We need more than Westminster reporters to understand government

Odds and Ends of History • 1072 implied HN points • 09 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Lobbying
  1. Relying only on political reporters can lead to misunderstandings of complex topics. We need experts in various fields to report accurately.
  2. Specialist journalists can provide important context that general political reporters might miss. This can help clarify complicated subjects for the public.
  3. The issue isn't about political bias, but rather the dominance of lobby reporters in news coverage. This can result in incomplete or unclear stories about significant issues.

Why the Deep State Loves Tariffs

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 579 implied HN points • 21 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Lobbying
  1. Tariffs raise prices for consumers, going against the goal of reducing inflation. It's a way for bureaucrats and lobbyists to benefit at the expense of everyday people.
  2. The system of tariffs is controlled by complex bureaucracies that aren't transparent. This means that the true impact and manipulation of tariffs can be hidden from public view.
  3. If someone wants to reduce the power of the government and its administration, getting rid of tariffs would be a good starting point.

From CIA station chief to AI chatbots to Trump-adjacent lobbying

All-Source Intelligence Fusion • 529 implied HN points • 20 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Lobbying
  1. Enrique de la Torre, a former CIA station chief, has now joined a lobbying firm with ties to the Trump administration. This shows a trend of government officials moving to private sector roles.
  2. De la Torre criticized the CIA's new AI system for profiling world leaders, calling it inadequate compared to his ideas. This highlights ongoing discussions about the effectiveness of technology in government work.
  3. His views on U.S. foreign policy, especially in Latin America, suggest he will push for strong stances against countries like Cuba and Venezuela in his new role. This aligns with certain hawkish perspectives in U.S. politics.

Could October 7 Bring Down the Squad?

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 964 implied HN points • 21 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Lobbying
  1. Democratic Rep. Summer Lee faced backlash from Pittsburgh's Jewish community for her actions and comments regarding Israel and Hamas.
  2. The Squad members, including Summer Lee, are facing serious primary challenges from well-funded opponents due to their stance on Israel and their support of movements like Ceasefire Now.
  3. The Democratic Party is experiencing internal conflict over attitudes towards Israel, with more moderate Democrats and the pro-Israel lobby opposing the harsh criticism of the Jewish state by some left-wing members of the party.

Short-term lobbying on a long-term plan

City Hall Watcher • 255 implied HN points • 05 Sep 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Lobbying
  1. Short-term lobbying efforts are being made on a long-term plan in Toronto.
  2. The City Hall Watcher post discusses tax reactionaries, snow removal, pet licensing, and more, along with a special City Council preview.
  3. Readers can access the full post archives with a 7-day free trial subscription to City Hall Watcher.

Seattle, We Have a Problem

The Cholent • 98 implied HN points • 09 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Lobbying
  1. BLM at School in Seattle has embraced anti-Israel ideology, causing concern among parents.
  2. King County Bar Association published an article equating pro-Palestinian stance with terrorism, sparking controversy.
  3. Real Change newspaper rejected a Jewish Rabbi's column about anti-Semitism, showcasing a trend of lack of openness in progressive spaces.

Me and Alan Dershowitz

John’s Substack • 19 implied HN points • 04 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Lobbying
  1. The relationship between Alan Dershowitz and Jeffrey Epstein is significant, especially regarding efforts to discredit critics of Israel. This shows how personal motives can play into public debates.
  2. Dershowitz's portrayal of his past actions as merely academic discourse contrasts sharply with the aggressive tactics he used against critics before. This highlights a change in public attitudes toward discussions about Israel.
  3. Dershowitz appears to be on the defensive compared to his previous aggressive stance. This shift illustrates a broader change in the conversation about Israel and its supporters.

A Profit-Seeking Government?

In My Tribe • 425 implied HN points • 19 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Lobbying
  1. Government can be categorized into Limited-Access (L) and Open-Access (O) Orders based on who is allowed to form significant organizations.
  2. In Limited-Access Orders (L), the ruling coalition can extract resources and form organizations, while in Open-Access Orders (O), citizens have the right to form political parties and corporations independently.
  3. Profit-seeking government tends to align with one-party government and can lead to corruption and favoritism, making a competitive, open-access order preferable.

The Pure Folly of Claiming Weight Loss Is An Anti-Weight Stigma Measure

Weight and Healthcare • 239 implied HN points • 29 Oct 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Lobbying
  1. Promoting weight loss as an anti-weight stigma measure is harmful and misguided.
  2. The weight loss industry often tries to frame weight loss as a solution to weight stigma, but it is not a genuine anti-stigma action.
  3. Misinformation sponsored by the weight loss industry can lead to misunderstanding about fighting against weight stigma.

How to Fix America in One Week

PashaNomics • 2 implied HN points • 04 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Lobbying
  1. The United States functions more as a state-driven economy than a pure market one, with large flows of taxpayer money ending up with “state oligarchs” who effectively own and profit from the system.
  2. Money is used to fund propaganda that hides that ownership and justifies continued spending, using narratives that either ignore the state’s role or worship it as necessary.
  3. The first step to fixing this is clear shared understanding: collect data, track money and propaganda, and negotiate realistic deals or reforms to interrupt the regressive feedback loop instead of just chasing fraud.

The Last Supper

The Weekly Gazette • 15 implied HN points • 17 Nov 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Lobbying
  1. In 1993, a major dinner at the Pentagon for defense contractors led to big changes in the U.S. defense industry. Many companies merged or went out of business, leaving only five major contractors in the field.
  2. This consolidation allowed a few companies to hold significant power over military spending, making lobbying crucial for their survival. They shifted focus to securing government contracts after many defense budgets were cut.
  3. The relationship between defense contractors and U.S. foreign policy became tighter, especially as conflicts like the Iraq War arose. This has raised concerns about how much influence these companies have over decisions affecting national and global security.

Powerful Forces Are Eroding Ownership

Fight to Repair • 78 implied HN points • 26 May 23
🕹 Technology Lobbying
  1. Powerful forces are challenging the traditional concept of ownership, making people 'buy' and 'rent' simultaneously, like throttled iPhones and gated features on cars.
  2. Digitization, with software and Internet connectivity, has enhanced products but also limits consumer control, leading to issues like prohibitive repair costs and locked features.
  3. The erosion of ownership rights extends beyond repair laws, touching on political influence, outdated copyright laws, and enforcement challenges, highlighting the need for broader reforms.

Opinion: Killing Right to Repair Bills is Money Well Spent For Corporations

Fight to Repair • 118 implied HN points • 14 Nov 22
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Lobbying
  1. Follow the money: Corporations spend heavily on lobbying and campaign donations to prevent right to repair bills from impacting their profits.
  2. Anti-repair lobbying impact: Companies like Apple invest in lobbying efforts to circumvent potential losses from repair laws, highlighting the power of money in shaping legislation.
  3. Persistence pays off: Despite corporate lobbying, the right to repair movement has achieved victories in some states, showcasing the importance of popular support and legislative perseverance.

Dear governments - stop listening to whining utilities

Jérôme à Paris • 437 implied HN points • 28 Jul 23
💼 Business Lobbying
  1. Utilities lobbying for special favors can be seen as tactics to pressure governments for more favorable terms.
  2. Increased costs in the wind industry are real and partly a result of business decisions not to hedge against risks.
  3. Government regulations like the CfD are effective tools for encouraging low-cost capital investment in projects and should not be changed based on short-term pressures.

A sneak peek at Chinese fast fashion giant Shein's DC lobbying efforts

Wenhao’s news blog • 58 implied HN points • 11 Jul 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Lobbying
  1. Shein has hired powerful lobbying firms and influential individuals to lobby Congress amid criticism of its practices.
  2. The company faces scrutiny over labor and business practices, especially regarding allegations of forced labor in China's Xinjiang region.
  3. Shein's lobbying efforts show the company's proactive approach to navigating challenges and protecting its interests in the US market.

The Plot to Get RFK, Jr.

Who is Robert Malone • 25 implied HN points • 01 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Lobbying
  1. There's a big concern about a campaign to remove Robert F. Kennedy Jr. from his position as Secretary of Health. This comes from a leaked memo showing a trade group spending a lot of money to achieve that.
  2. The group behind this plot, BIO, plans to influence public opinion by using emotional messaging and recruitment of various influencers instead of debating Kennedy's actual policies.
  3. Their fear is not about health issues, but that Kennedy's reforms could expose problems in their profit-driven practices and change how the vaccine industry operates.

Law Firms Pocket Millions Helping Nonprofits, Bureaucrats Expand Environmental Regulations

OpenTheBooks Substack • 4 implied HN points • 03 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Lobbying
  1. "Sue and settle" lets environmental groups privately settle lawsuits with federal agencies so agencies agree to new rules, which can bypass Congress and public rulemaking.
  2. Taxpayers have paid over $20 million in plaintiff attorney fees since 2013, with payouts growing under recent administrations and those payments are often opaque and hard to oversee.
  3. The practice creates conflict-of-interest risks because lawyers and staff move between agencies, nonprofits, and firms, and efforts to curb the practice have been inconsistent so the issue remains unresolved.

NY Governor Signs Slimmed Down Right To Repair Act

Fight to Repair • 39 implied HN points • 29 Dec 22
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Lobbying
  1. New York Governor signed a comprehensive Digital Fair Repair Act, covering a wide range of personal electronics, marking a significant victory for right to repair advocates.
  2. The passage of the Digital Fair Repair Act in New York highlighted the enduring power of manufacturers and big tech in influencing legislation, showcasing the need for continued advocacy and push for expansion.
  3. Despite facing lobbying pressure from big tech companies, the passage of the modified repair law in New York sets a precedent for other states to introduce similar legislation to promote repairability and consumer rights.

Offshore wind and big company lobbying

Jérôme à Paris • 121 implied HN points • 21 Sep 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Lobbying
  1. Big offshore wind projects often require government support or changes in regulations to be built
  2. Companies involved in offshore wind projects may try to renegotiate after making commitments, leveraging their political weight
  3. Offshore wind projects have high visibility, symbolic value, and political weight, making them a common target for lobbying and political maneuvering

Peter Thiel is a Vampire

The Corbett Report • 37 implied HN points • 10 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Lobbying
  1. Peter Thiel is heavily involved in the tech and military sectors, linking his companies like PayPal and Palantir with governments and intelligence agencies. This raises questions about his true motivations and influence.
  2. He is a regular participant in exclusive meetings like the Bilderberg Group. Being part of the steering committee shows he has a significant role in shaping global discussions among powerful figures.
  3. Thiel claims to be a libertarian, but his actions suggest otherwise. His support for authoritarian practices and interest in life-extending technologies indicates a different set of priorities.

Anti-competitive Illumina

ASeq Newsletter • 14 implied HN points • 06 Feb 25
💼 Business Lobbying
  1. Illumina is lobbying the government to protect American genetic data, possibly in response to competition from China.
  2. The Biosecure Act started being developed before Illumina faced a significant loss to a Chinese company in 2022.
  3. Illumina spends a lot on lobbying, particularly about early cancer detection, but their focus has shifted over time.

Nyhetsbrev steigan.no 17.07.2025

steigan.no • 4 implied HN points • 17 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Lobbying
  1. Trump promised that Europe would pay for missiles for Ukraine without asking them first. Many European countries are hesitant to join this arrangement.
  2. The British government secretly paid foreign YouTube stars to promote propaganda that aligns with its foreign policy, raising questions about transparency and ethics.
  3. An expert stated that Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people, highlighting the severe impact of military actions and the resulting humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Israel & the Threat to Free Speech

John’s Substack • 8 implied HN points • 26 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Lobbying
  1. The Israel lobby can silence voices that criticize Israel in the US. This limits open discussion about important issues.
  2. The relationship between the US and Israel is complicated and affects the situation in the Middle East.
  3. Concerns about free speech are rising as more people feel pressured to avoid discussing Israel's policies.

The Israel Lobby's Awesome Power

John’s Substack • 7 implied HN points • 14 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Lobbying
  1. The Israel lobby has a significant impact on US policy in the Middle East, often prioritizing Israeli interests over American ones.
  2. President Trump's plans for Gaza have been criticized as morally wrong and potentially harmful.
  3. The Trump administration is also making bold moves to settle conflicts in Ukraine and reduce US involvement in Europe.

Kleptocracy Inc.

Klement on Investing • 3 implied HN points • 01 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Lobbying
  1. During Trump's first term, Republican donors received more favorable treatment than Democratic donors. This suggests that political donations can significantly influence government decisions.
  2. Businesses that lobbied for tariff exemptions had a better chance of getting them, especially if they donated to the Republican Party. This shows how lobbying can affect political outcomes.
  3. Donating to the Republican Party increased company profits due to tariff exemptions, while donating to the Democratic Party had the opposite effect. This highlights the impact political contributions can have on a company's value.

The anti-climate lobby is winning

Klement on Investing • 2 implied HN points • 17 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Lobbying
  1. Anti-climate lobbying is heavily funded, with US companies spending more on opposing climate efforts than supporting them. This shows a strong influence from these companies on political decisions.
  2. On average, each US firm spends $277,000 on anti-climate lobbying, which is 50% more than the $185,000 spent on pro-climate lobbying. This spending difference highlights a significant imbalance in support for climate action.
  3. A few companies are leading the anti-climate efforts, outspending and outnumbering those in favor of pro-climate policies. This concentration of lobbying power makes it harder for the pro-climate side to compete.

Colorado Lawmakers Sing A Familiar Tune in Opposing Right to Repair: Google’s

Fight to Repair • 0 implied HN points • 18 May 21
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Lobbying
  1. Right to repair legislation has faced opposition from industries like electronics, home appliances, medical devices, and telecommunications, leading to many bills being defeated or put on hold.
  2. Disabled Coloradans faced challenges due to restrictions on wheelchair repair, highlighting the importance of the right to repair for ensuring timely repairs of medical equipment.
  3. Lobbyists for large technology firms influenced Colorado lawmakers, shaping their viewpoints with arguments like ownership interpretation, interstate commerce concerns, and warranty implications.

Does Canada's "Integrity Regime" actually work?

Michelle Rempel Garner • 0 implied HN points • 16 Feb 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Lobbying
  1. Canada's Integrity Regime is meant to prevent companies with unethical behavior from receiving government contracts.
  2. Recent events show that there are concerns about the effectiveness of the Integrity Regime in practice.
  3. A strong Integrity Regime is important to prevent political interference, promote good corporate behavior, and ensure ethical standards for contractors.