32 Comments

Heh, they are just following a family tradition. Koch built oil refineries in Russia in the 20's and 30's and for Nazi Germany built refineries that made airplane fuel. (Their late 30's slogan was, "The Battle of Britian - partially brought to you by Koch Industries.")

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Great report, Judd!

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Great reporting on the corrupt Koch supply chain. It's worth noting Koch has significant refining operations, which they'll likely defend from sanctions as well as the proposed windfall tax in the US. Regional refineries play a major role in retail gas/diesel pricing since they are few in number and influence local distribution.

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Koch Industries is the PREMIER example of the Corporate Disease that infects the US economy and political status.

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What I take from this is that the Koch’s are nothing but Quislings. ..

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Keep calling these amoral hypocrites out, Judd. It may seem pointless at times (another reader commented that Koch is boycott-proof), but in the end, shedding light on what is hidden will help drive out darkness everywhere.

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Koch will do as he pleases when it comes to Russia. He cares not one whit for public sentiment on the issue, since his businesses are a different animal than say McDonalds. He doesn't sell burgers to a large group of consumers here at home who may decide to forego a Big Mac if they don't like what the company is doing or not doing when it comes to Russia. He sells products and services to other businesses here and around the world. He is boycott proof and therefore pretty much bullet proof when it comes to the court of public sentiment.

Calling him and his business out on this issue is fine. But don't expect any response to public opinion. The only thing that will affect what he does about doing business in Russia is government action in the form of sanctions, or the business climate caused by economic conditions in Russia. Nothing more should be expected from a man who believes government's only real and valid function is to protect private property...his private property.

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Excellent news about affecting Disney decision with your reporting! Congratulations!

Koch is another danger billionaire who needs to go! His damn tentacles are in way too many industries. This includes his agenda control over smaller universities and colleges who need financial help. He donates generously for a reason! It is sickening.

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founding

Did you mean impose sanctions instead of oppose

Congratulations on moving Chapek at DIS

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It’s hard to believe Koch Industries & their subsidiaries are putting profits above the thousands of human lives being devastated and even eliminated by Putin. /sarcasm

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Excellent reporting as usual.

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I know Koch is evil and all, but lots of folks on the left and right question whether all-out sanctions on Russia are the right strategy, and whether cutting them off from the world economy is going to lead to peace. Others blame NATO and the US for the problem in the first place (I disagree). And, still others raise the issue of the danger posed by a handful of social media and tech monopolists who have the power to destroy lives half a world away by canceling services. All I'm saying is that the position that anyone who refuses to participate in the isolation of Russia is a pariah is an opinion, that's all, and there are other defensible opinions out there among people committed to peace.

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congratulations on the shout out you got on Last Week Tonight!

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founding

Thank you for your research and outreach into exactly what Koch is doing. No matter how much power they have, we know that exposure of the truth is more powerful.

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Your last report on Koch Industries in Russia was in March of 2022. As I recall, there was an update that Koch was terminating its Russian operations. However, an article I read today in the NYT.com didn't mention Koch as one of the major U.S. or European based companies that terminated doing business in Russia:

https://www.nytimes.com/article/russia-invasion-companies.html?action=click&pgtype=Article&state=default&module=styln-russia-ukraine&variant=show&region=BELOW_MAIN_CONTENT&block=storyline_flex_guide_recirc

Do you have an update on the status of Koch's Russian operations?

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Is there any evidence Koch stopped doing business in Russia, as Popular Info reported as their position?

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