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 campaignsThe undercounting of lobbyists and rise of “shadow lobbying”Insider stock trading and conflicts of interest among federal officialsThe post-Watergate shift that decentralized congressional powerHow corporations now lobby to harm competitors, not just reduce regulationBig Tech’s lobbying dominance and lessons learned from Microsoft’s misstepsHow lobbying distorts antitrust enforcement and policymakingThe revolving door between Capitol Hill and K StreetWhether we're witnessing the beginning of corporate lobbying’s declineTop Quote:“Corporate America actually has more influence over public policy than the president of the United States or Congress combined.” — Brody Mullins 🎙 The Pod is hosted by Jesse Wright💬 For guest suggestions, questions, or media inquiries, reach out at https://elpodcast.media/📬 Never miss an episode – subscribe and follow wherever you get your podcasts.⭐️ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review the show. It helps others find us. Thanks for listening!