Economy

Charles Koch’s “Stand Together” Donor Conduits Move $176 Million into his Network, Higher Education, and Right-Wing Policy, Advocacy, Litigation, and Media Groups in 2022

By David Armiak | December 20th, 2023 at 7:54 AM (CST)

In 2022, Stand Together Trust and Stand Together Chamber of Commerce contributed over $176 million to groups in Charles Koch’s “Stand Together” constellation of nonprofits as well as to higher education and right-wing policy, advocacy, litigation and media groups, the Center for Media and Democracy has found.

Bradley Funneled $86 Million to Right-Wing Litigation, Policy, Media, Youth Groups, and Higher Education in 2022

By David Armiak | December 13th, 2023 at 2:30 AM (CST)

The Milwaukee-based Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation and its “aligned” donor advised fund funneled a total of $86.4 million to right-wing litigation outlets, national and state policy groups, media outlets, youth groups, and higher education in 2022, according to an analysis of its most recent IRS filings obtained by the Center for Media and Democracy.

ALEC Policy Summit Features Push to Legally Force a Constitutional Convention

By David Armiak | December 8th, 2023 at 6:31 AM (CST)

State lawmakers, corporate lobbyists, and right-wing operatives got together in Scottsdale, Arizona last week for the 2023 States and Nation Policy Summit hosted by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). The summit — one of the largest annual gatherings of the ALEC faithful, along with the summer meeting — caps off ALEC’s 50th anniversary year.

Economy | Education | Featured Investigations | Koch | News

Charles Koch Foundation Sent $52.6 Million to Colleges and Universities in 2022 to Promote Its Business and Policy Interests

By David Armiak | November 29th, 2023 at 11:17 AM (CST)

Charles Koch contributed $52.6 million in grants to colleges and universities through his Charles Koch Foundation in 2022, an analysis of the personal foundation’s latest IRS filing obtained by the Center for Media and Democracy found.

Economy | Environment | Featured Investigations | Koch | News

Louisiana Environmental Justice Groups Oppose $6 Million Subsidy for Koch Methanol Plant Expansion

By Don Wiener | November 21st, 2023 at 10:28 AM (CST)

On October 11, St. James Parish in Louisiana approved giving Koch Industries an 80% property tax break on a $150-million expansion of its local methanol plant, which will save the company $5.9 million over the next decade.

DonorsTrust Funneled $134 Million to Right-Wing Groups in 2022

By David Armiak | November 17th, 2023 at 2:26 PM (CST)

To hide their identities from public scrutiny, megadonors used the Koch political network’s favorite conduit, DonorsTrust, to funnel $134 million to groups promoting the Right’s culture wars and spreading climate misinformation, Trump’s big lie, and hate, as indicated in IRS filings obtained by the Center for Media and Democracy.

Koch Industries Forced to Pay $1.2 Million for its Latest Lies

By Don Wiener | October 25th, 2023 at 10:30 AM (CDT)

On September 13, 2023, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) fined Georgia-Pacific, a subsidiary of Koch Industries, $1.2 million for abandoning a natural gas pipeline without notifying federal regulators and lying about work already completed once it did notify them.

ALEC | Economy | Featured Investigations | News

Parent Company of Taco Bell & KFC Pivots to Funding Right-Wing Causes

By Juliana Broad | October 5th, 2023 at 7:32 AM (CDT)

The fast food giant Yum! Brands has reversed its 2012 decision to stop funding the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) and started paying annual dues to an association of right-wing attorneys general, according to its most recent voluntary financial disclosure.

After 50 Years, This Right-Wing Law Factory Is Crazier Than Ever

By Arn Pearson and David Armiak | October 4th, 2023 at 1:01 PM (CDT)

The American Legislative Exchange Council is where corporations and far-right groups go to buy government policy.

Software Giant Oracle Joins American Legislative Exchange Council

By Don Wiener | October 4th, 2023 at 10:48 AM (CDT)

Oracle, the fifth largest tech company in the U.S., has voluntarily disclosed that it has joined the American Legislative Exchange Council.