On April 6, Popular Information published a report on Stand Together, the influential non-profit organization run by right-wing billionaire Charles Koch. The piece featured excerpts from an internal email that Dan Caldwell, Stand Together's Vice President of Foreign Policy, sent to Stand Together's staff on March 16. This email, which you can read in full
Yes, that’s all right out of their machine’s standard playbook. They’ve been doing this stuff for years ; just publishing word salads & sprinkled with indignation.
The thing that gets me is these connections aren't necessarily hard to make, no offense. These writers are potentially compromised by their funding sources, which a cursory search reveals. It's why disclosure of these possible conflicts of interest are so important to the concept of journalistic integrity.
Then again, for shills masquerading as journalists and a conservative audience that laps their work up, that might not be a concern.
To fully understand the effects of Charles Koch and his brother David (now deceased) on American politics, one should read Dark Money, by Jane Meyer. This seminal work offers a deep-dive expose on America’s transformation from constitutional Democracy to full-blown oligarchy. For the last 50 years, the Koch Brothers and their network have been at the forefront of an extreme right-wing effort to completely unravel the country as we have known it since the construct of the New Deal era. This “Libertarian” effort has been nothing less than a very blatant-and very successful-movement to enable corporations and the uber-wealthy to literally do what they want whenever they want, regardless of the effects on the public at large. Their efforts are typified by massive funding of right-wing “think tanks” and media, and sponsoring (essentially) of political candidates who share their views. I regard Dark Money as the single most important book I’ve read on recent American political history. While Leggum’s recent reporting regarding Russia has clearly caught the attention of the Koch Network, it is really only a smidge of a look at how profoundly the Kochs and other oligarchs have damaged our politics and our country.
This reporting needs to be picked up by bigger outlets as well. Keep proving that Koch is influencing policy and politicians with $$$. They don't dispute the facts of your reporting and that's all you needed to say to prove that they don't care about freedom or America. They care about advancing their far right religious agenda.
And this from the founders of the John Birch Society! A group of right wing anti communist extremists founded in the basement of their childhood home in Wichita, KS in 1958. Now they support Russia. I guess the money is good. Oh how the worm turns.
Judd thank you for all the time, energy and effort you and your staff expend to provide the facts and well thought out and accurate writing.
When businesses, government and church seek to influence each other with money the end result becomes ugly. The reality is that as Americans, in general, we have short memories and can be swayed depending on how long and hard the main stream media sensationalizes any given event… we become desensitized and want it to end!
I appreciate your clear and concise factual reporting. It is my hope you continue to be energized and not drained by the swamp you must wade in to keep up this much needed reporting! Popular Information provides me as an individual reader hope for our future especially when I read others comments. I no longer feel alone!
I don't know how anyone could call you lazy with a straight face. You are showing journalists everywhere how good investigative work is done. It isn't easy, but your thoroughness is a testament to your work ethic. Thank you, and keep up the invaluable Work!
You seem to have pressed some buttons….keep up the great work.
There isn’t a company more dangerous to the idea of a United States than Koch
Yes, that’s all right out of their machine’s standard playbook. They’ve been doing this stuff for years ; just publishing word salads & sprinkled with indignation.
Great work! You know you're having an impact when they start targeting you directly. Keep it up!
The thing that gets me is these connections aren't necessarily hard to make, no offense. These writers are potentially compromised by their funding sources, which a cursory search reveals. It's why disclosure of these possible conflicts of interest are so important to the concept of journalistic integrity.
Then again, for shills masquerading as journalists and a conservative audience that laps their work up, that might not be a concern.
To fully understand the effects of Charles Koch and his brother David (now deceased) on American politics, one should read Dark Money, by Jane Meyer. This seminal work offers a deep-dive expose on America’s transformation from constitutional Democracy to full-blown oligarchy. For the last 50 years, the Koch Brothers and their network have been at the forefront of an extreme right-wing effort to completely unravel the country as we have known it since the construct of the New Deal era. This “Libertarian” effort has been nothing less than a very blatant-and very successful-movement to enable corporations and the uber-wealthy to literally do what they want whenever they want, regardless of the effects on the public at large. Their efforts are typified by massive funding of right-wing “think tanks” and media, and sponsoring (essentially) of political candidates who share their views. I regard Dark Money as the single most important book I’ve read on recent American political history. While Leggum’s recent reporting regarding Russia has clearly caught the attention of the Koch Network, it is really only a smidge of a look at how profoundly the Kochs and other oligarchs have damaged our politics and our country.
This reporting needs to be picked up by bigger outlets as well. Keep proving that Koch is influencing policy and politicians with $$$. They don't dispute the facts of your reporting and that's all you needed to say to prove that they don't care about freedom or America. They care about advancing their far right religious agenda.
And this from the founders of the John Birch Society! A group of right wing anti communist extremists founded in the basement of their childhood home in Wichita, KS in 1958. Now they support Russia. I guess the money is good. Oh how the worm turns.
Judd thank you for all the time, energy and effort you and your staff expend to provide the facts and well thought out and accurate writing.
When businesses, government and church seek to influence each other with money the end result becomes ugly. The reality is that as Americans, in general, we have short memories and can be swayed depending on how long and hard the main stream media sensationalizes any given event… we become desensitized and want it to end!
I appreciate your clear and concise factual reporting. It is my hope you continue to be energized and not drained by the swamp you must wade in to keep up this much needed reporting! Popular Information provides me as an individual reader hope for our future especially when I read others comments. I no longer feel alone!
Great work, how do you keep up with the barrage of attacks? You are a hero. My hero.
Keep this work up Judd!! And stay resilient!! You personally inspire me!
Not altruistic, highest level of hypocrisy. Keep beating the bushes and shaking the trees!
I don't know how anyone could call you lazy with a straight face. You are showing journalists everywhere how good investigative work is done. It isn't easy, but your thoroughness is a testament to your work ethic. Thank you, and keep up the invaluable Work!
Keep on uncovering these less-than-subtle facts about truth versus insinuations.
Hah! Good job putting them on the back foot.
Thank you! Stay straight and strong...Many people support your courageous work.