USDA Plagued With Conflicts As It Sets Dietary Guidelines
A corn syrup lobbyist received an ethics waiver to help write the USDA's Dietary Guidelines, and she's not the only staffer there with conflicts of interest.
Corn Syrup Lobbyist Is Helping Set USDA Dietary Guidelines
Despite a long history of sugar interests influencing federal nutritional standards, a recent lobbyist for the corn syrup industry is now advising Trump's USDA on its dietary guidelines.
Koch Industries Gave $300,000 To GOP Lawmakers Just Before Tax Vote
Shortly before voting on a sweeping tax cut bill that the billionaire Koch brothers favored, 60 Republican lawmakers received political donations from Koch Industries' political action committee.
List of Politicians Giving Away Their Steve Wynn Donations Remains Short
Only a handful of Republican politicians who received donations from casino boss Wynn, recently exposed for alleged sexual misconduct, have announced they will donate that money to charity.
Paul Ryan Thanks Koch Network Donors For Helping Pass Tax Cuts That Benefit Them
At a lavish gathering of donors in the Koch brothers' political network, House Speaker Paul Ryan thanked some of the nation's wealthiest conservatives for their help passing the GOP tax bill, which offers these donors major tax breaks.
Fossil Fuel Companies Donated To House Tax Writer As Congress Finalized Tax Break For Industry
A new campaign finance report reveals that some oil and gas companies that got a special tax break from the GOP tax bill donated to the House's top tax writer, even as Congress was finalizing the legislation.
Koch Brothers Could Be $1 Billion Richer Each Year From GOP Tax Bill
Political mega-donors Charles and David Koch (and/or the business they operate) could pocket between $1 billion and $1.4 billion each year because of giant tax breaks in the legislation passed last month, a new analysis found.
Activists Protest Universities Over Investments In Puerto Rico Bondholders
Activists launched a week of campus protests, calling on the universities to withdraw their investments from hedge funds that hold Puerto Rican debt and have advocated austerity measures in the U.S. territory.
After Scoring Huge Tax Cuts, Charles Koch Floods Ryan With Cash
Two weeks after Speaker Paul Ryan passed the GOP tax cut bill in the House, billionaire Koch, who will benefit from the bill, gave hundreds of thousands of dollars to Ryan's joint fundraising committee.
As Government Shutdown Looms, Ending DACA Would Cost Hundreds Of Billions Of Dollars
Democrats seemed likely to hold the line on a government funding bill unless it extends a program protecting residents who were brought to the U.S. as children by their undocumented parents. Deporting the “Dreamers” will cost the economy hundreds of billions of dollars.
How Much Money Has Trump Made From His Hotels And Golf Clubs?
A new report details how trade groups, companies, foreign governments, interest groups and political candidates booked rooms or events at properties owned by the president, raising ethics questions that “previously were unimaginable.”
Former Democratic Senator Represents Oil Pipeline Company While Influencing Permitting Process
Former U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu has been advocating for the approval of a crude oil pipeline while lobbying on behalf of a government entity that must approve the project.
Trump FBI Revives Investigation Into Clinton Foundation Donations: The Key Allegations
The FBI has started a new probe into alleged pay-to-play activities involving the Clinton Foundation. Here's a summary of the key reporting on the potential conflicts of interest.
Endowment Tax Hits Wealthy Universities, But They’re Paying Wall Street Far More
As some private universities express concern over a new tax on their endowment income, they are paying millions of dollars to Wall Street investors who manage their money.
Congressman Took Job With Business Group While Writing Tax Bill That Benefits Its Members
A long-time Ohio congressman negotiated a new job while he helped write the Republican tax bill that will benefit his campaign donors and the companies he will represent. What do Congressional ethics rules say?
Bitcoin Drops To $13,000 Amid Biggest Price Swings In Years
At the end of a week of drastic swings, the value of Bitcoin hit below $13,000 on Sunday afternoon, with some experts thinking a correction is in order and others predicting that a bubble is just now bursting.
More Vice Employees Allege Sexual Misconduct And Abuse After NYT Exposé
On Twitter, Vice employees shared disturbing stories of harassment following a New York Times exposé revealing sexual misconduct settlements amidst "a top-down ethos of male entitlement at Vice."
Trump Cost Taxpayers Tens Of Millions Visiting His Own Properties In 2017
The big price tag covers travel on Air Force One, cargo planes and expenses for White House aides and the fleet of security that accompany him.
Why Are Politicians Allowed To Vote On A Bill They Profit From?
Reports of special provisions in the tax bill, which could enrich the lawmakers who voted on it, prompted questions about whether the practice is legal. Here's what the rules say.
Republican Senators Will Save Millions With Special Real-Estate Tax Break
The GOP tax bill includes a special real-estate tax cut — a provision that could personally enrich more than a dozen Republican senators who voted on the bill.
Last-Minute Real Estate Tax Break In GOP Bill Will Benefit Trump
President Donald Trump has made tens of millions of dollars of rental income that could be subjected to a special new tax break in the Republicans’ tax legislation released Friday.
Paul Ryan And Top Republican Lawmakers Could Reap Personal Windfall From New Real Estate Tax Breaks
House Speaker Paul Ryan and 12 other Republicans are crafting tax provisions that could end up making them big money.
Tax Bill: John Cornyn’s Fossil Fuel Provision Would Personally Enrich Republican Lawmakers
GOP’s middle-of-the-night tax break for oil and gas investors would benefit some of the Republican Party’s wealthiest legislators
Charles Koch Gave $50 Million To Higher Ed In 2016. What Did He Buy?
Koch family foundations doled out millions of dollars to colleges and universities, aiming to produce bright young conservatives and professors who align with the billionaire brothers’ libertarian ideals and business interests.
Tax Bill: Former House Staffers Return, Now Representing Special Interests
As Republican lawmakers prepare to finalize a sweeping tax cut bill, their former aides are back in congressional offices, now representing the real estate, tech, health care and private jet management industries.
Koch-Funded Academics Bring Free-Market Ideology To The Trump Administration
There’s a blurry line between the Kochs’ academic philanthropy and political activism, as academics from free-market centers at George Mason University (funded by the billionaire brothers) have joined the Trump administration this year.
How Trump Uses ‘Acting’ Directors To Give Himself More Power, Less Scrutiny
Agencies like the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau were set up to be independent and insulated from White House political pressure. But by naming only interim, acting chiefs, Trump keeps them on a short leash.
Who’s Behind The ‘Project Veritas’ Sting Operation Against The Washington Post?
Provocateur James O’Keefe’s group, which tried to fool the Washington Post, has a history of failure — but its funding from far-right billionaires has kept growing.
Who Funds Conservative Campus Group Turning Point USA? Donors Revealed
Wealthy GOP families and Republican politicians enable the group to spread its free-market principles and funnel thousands of dollars into student government elections to elect conservatives.
350 Percent Interest Rate? Senators Bankrolled By Payday Lenders Can Live With That
Virginia Democratic Sen. Mark Warner, who introduced a bill deregulating the payday loan market, is a top recipient of campaign cash from the industry, which has also engaged in considerable lobbying on Capitol Hill.
