Impact of New Tariffs on U.S. Companies and Consumers

New tariffs on imports from China, Canada, and Mexico are causing concern among U.S. companies and consumers. Companies are finding ways to avoid tariffs through strategies like lobbying for exemptions, changing sourcing locations, and engaging in tariff engineering. Tariff engineering involves creative methods like relabeling products to lower duty rates or making product modifications. While companies can try to mitigate the impact of tariffs, consumers may ultimately bear the burden.

Audit of NGOs on Southern Border

Rep. Lance Gooden (R-TX has asked the Trump administration to conduct a widespread audit of NGOs on the southern border to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse. Gooden believes many NGOs have a conflict of interest by facilitating migration of illegal aliens and lobbying for open border policies, while receiving billions of dollars in government funds.

Facebook and Meta's successful lobbying against the Kids Online Safety Act

In 2024, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and his company Meta successfully lobbied against the Kids Online Safety Act, preventing Congress from passing legislation to protect kids online. Their efforts, including lobbying, strategic political contributions, and advocacy, helped preserve free speech concerns and maintain their influence. Despite bipartisan support and efforts to compromise, the bill ultimately failed due to opposition from Meta and other tech industry players.

Potential VP Selection of Sen. J.D. Vance by Former President Trump

Sen. J.D. Vance hopes to be selected as former President Trump's running mate and has been lobbying donors for the re-election campaign.

AIPAC Influence in Rep. Jamaal Bowman's Primary Defeat

MSNBC host Chris Hayes appears to blame AIPAC for Rep. Jamaal Bowman's primary defeat, claiming AIPAC's $14.5 million support for George Latimer was decisive. Bowman, a far-left Israel critic, lost to Latimer in a rare rebuke by his own party voters. AIPAC's influence and Bowman's polling weaknesses were key factors in the race.

President Biden's Pre-Election Amnesty and Work-Visa Programs

President Biden's pre-election amnesty will use work-visa programs to move 100,000 illegal migrants into white-collar jobs, potentially displacing U.S. graduates and lowering wages. The amnesty will fast-track work visas for illegals who attended U.S. colleges and remove barriers to citizenship. The move is supported by employers and lobbying groups aiming to hire migrants over Americans. The influx of migrants could impact job opportunities and salaries for U.S. graduates, while also affecting housing costs. The broader economic strategy, known as Extraction Migration, prioritizes lower salaries and higher stock values.

House Republicans Funding Bill for Mass Migration

House Republicans propose a funding bill including billions for mass migration facilitated by the United Nations' International Organization for Migration. The bill aims to prevent the encouragement of mass-migration caravans towards the U.S. southwest border but faces criticism for being unenforceable.

The Revolving Door in Washington

The revolving door in Washington refers to the practice of lawmakers leaving office to work for lobbying firms or corporate interests, often receiving substantial financial rewards. This can create conflicts of interest and lead to lawmakers prioritizing special interest groups over the public good.

Renewed Push for Amnesty for Certain Illegal Aliens in the U.S.

Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto and other Senate Democrats are urging President Biden to take executive action to grant amnesty to certain groups of illegal aliens in the U.S. This comes a month after one of Cortez Masto's staffers was killed by an illegal alien. The renewed push for amnesty follows statistics on the taxes paid by undocumented immigrants in Nevada.

TikTok and Chinese Embassy Lobbying

The Chinese Embassy has been lobbying against legislation that would force the sale of TikTok, owned by Beijing-based company ByteDance, in the United States. The embassy downplayed national security concerns and emphasized the app's alignment with American interests.

Chinese Communist Party lobbying against TikTok legislation in the U.S.

The Chinese Communist Party is secretly lobbying the U.S. Congress to prevent legislation that would force a sale of TikTok or ban the app in the United States due to national security concerns. Former employees of TikTok have claimed that the app continues to work closely with its parent company, ByteDance, despite public statements suggesting otherwise.

Chinese Military Companies Lobbying in the U.S.

Chinese military companies have spent over $24 million on lobbying the U.S. government since 2020, targeting proposed policies that would impact their U.S. operations. Huawei and other major security threat companies have been lobbying extensively, with Huawei spending the most on Washington lobbyists.

Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) Extension

The House passed a two-year extension of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) after intense lobbying from the Biden administration. A key amendment requiring a warrant for searching American citizens' communications was defeated in a tie vote. The extension must pass another procedural vote in the Senate, with plans potentially affected by an impeachment trial of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.

Students learning to lobby for causes in Nebraska

Students from Nebraska learn how to lobby for causes that matter to them.

Fossil Fuel Industry Benefit from EV Charging Station Funds

The fossil fuel industry is benefitting from the $7.5 billion allocated for electric vehicle charging stations by lobbying for them to be built at existing gas station locations, reinforcing fossil fuel infrastructure.