E81: How Lobbyists Rule the Government w/ Brody Mullins

Investigative journalist Brody Mullins reveals how corporate lobbying has quietly become more powerful than Congress and the presidency, shaping U.S. policy from the shadows.

Guest Bio:Brody Mullins is a Pulitzer Prize–winning investigative reporter at The Wall Street Journal, where he covers lobbying, business, and campaign finance. He is the co-author of The Wolves of K Street: The Secret History of How Big Money Took Over Big Government, which chronicles the rise of corporate influence in Washington.

Discussed Topics:

• How lobbying has evolved from steak dinners to sophisticated public campaigns
• The undercounting of lobbyists and rise of “shadow lobbying”
• Insider stock trading and conflicts of interest among federal officials
• The post-Watergate shift that decentralized congressional power
• How corporations now lobby to harm competitors, not just reduce regulation
• Big Tech’s lobbying dominance and lessons learned from Microsoft’s missteps
• How lobbying distorts antitrust enforcement and policymaking
• The revolving door between Capitol Hill and K Street
• Whether we're witnessing the beginning of corporate lobbying’s decline

Top Quote:
“Corporate America actually has more influence over public policy than the president of the United States or Congress combined.” — Brody Mullins

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