Investigating Power
The International Climate Science Coalition and other denial organizations have roots reaching into companies like ExxonMobil. Even though they say their donations come from individuals, the coalition received a $45,000 donation in 2007 from the Heartland Institute, a conservative think tank, according to SourceWatch.
“If single payer ever took off anywhere, it could threaten their anti-government messages,” Mary Bottari, of the Center for Media and Democracy, told Truthout in a previous interview about the Kochs’ activities on health policy.
The thousands of documents obtained for The New York Times investigation were organized and published online in a searchable format by the Center for Media and Democracy. Those memoranda, emails, and other materials offer an insightful window into the cozy relationships among the upper echelons of the U.S. media, the U.S. military, and the U.S. government. General Marks fits neatly in the intersection of these three entities.
ALEC, Bradley Files, Koch, SPN
However the Center for Media and Democracy, a progressive research group, has identified many of its principal contributors, including Donor’s Trust, the State Policy Network and the American Legislative Exchange Council, as closely tied to oil tycoons Charles and David Koch, along with the Milwaukee-based Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, a backer of Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s high-profile efforts to constrict public employee unions.
While the Trumpian turmoil is new, past presidents’ attempts to compel localities to comply with federal policies have met with mixed success. A new report, “Reagan vs. Cities: The 20th Century Battle Over South African Apartheid & Lessons for the Trump Era,” from Jobs to Move America and the Center for Media and Democracy, details the 40th president’s efforts to stamp out the U.S. anti-apartheid movement by several means, including denying federal funds to cities and states that took actions against companies that did business in South Africa.
Lisa Graves joins Allen Ruff on today’s program. Lisa Graves is the Executive Director of the Center for Media and Democracy here in Madison. Graves joined the CMD in 2009, where she and her associates investigate dark money donations, and a ever-broadening examination of policy shapers and democratic investigations.
Today they discuss the potential changing of the U.S. Constitution, the Convention of State project, her recent piece on undermining public policies that help women and families, and more.
Up until her confirmation as Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos had financial ties to a large student loan servicer in contract negotiations with the Department of Education. PRWatch reported in January that one of the firms DeVos divested from — LMF WF Portfolio — helped finance a $147 million loan to a student debt collection agency called Performant, which had more than 346 complaints brought against it with the Better Business Bureau.
The liberal Center for Media and Democracy (CMD), which has done a series of investigative reports on the Bradley Foundation, recently reported that the Pope network has a history of trying to suppress voter rights.
Climate, Democracy, Environment, Koch
The Center for Media and Democracy (CMD) made nine open records requests to Pruitt’s office starting around January 2015. The requests sought Pruitt’s correspondence with 29 fossil fuel companies, including Murray Energy Corp., Devon Energy Corp. and Koch Industries Inc. (Climatewire, Feb. 15).
Plus, the union foes said on their website, they got Zimolong’s help for free, because the Center for Independent Employees “has agreed to pay for his legal fees.” CIE says it aids people “opposed to union oppression in their workplace.” It receives funding from a Koch brothers affiliate, according to Sourcewatch, run by the Center for Media and Democracy.