History Archives

A History of Koch Industries: A Twisted Tale of Dark Money?

What causes have the Koch Industries supported over the years? What was behind the lawsuits against the company in the 1970s? Why did the Senate later investigate them? In Dark Money, Jane Mayer explores how a small group of extremely wealthy individuals, led largely by Charles and David Koch, have effectively legitimized far-right beliefs in America using their massive wealth. Koch Industries, the family business, has served as the engine behind the influence. Read more to learn about Mayer’s “dark money” history of Koch Industries from the 1970s to the 1990s.

Richard Fink’s 3-Phase Plan to Take Over Politics in America

Who’s Richard Fink? What’s his relationship with the Koch brothers? How did he help them wield their political influence? According to journalist Jane Mayer, Charles and David Koch used their fortunes to propagate far-right ideology in American politics between the 1970s and 2016. Richard Fink is the advisor who devised their strategy. Continue reading to learn about Richard Fink’s plan to influence American politics.

The Koch Brothers, Tea Party, & Efforts to Undermine Obama

What’s the connection between the Koch brothers and the Tea Party? Was the Tea Party truly a grassroots movement? The Koch brothers had hoped to block the election of Barack Obama in 2008. He succeeded, they failed, and a new season began. Journalist Jane Mayer discusses this period of American politics in her book Dark Money. Continue reading to learn Mayer’s take on the Koch brothers, the Tea Party, and the efforts to obstruct Obama’s first-term agenda.

The Citizens United Ruling & Project REDMAP: Shifting Right

What was the Citizens United ruling? What was Project REDMAP? What impact did these have on American politics? In Dark Money, Jane Mayer discusses the U.S. Supreme Court’s Citizens United ruling and Project REDMAP in the context of the Koch brothers. She explains how the ruling and the project led to a shift rightward in American politics, particularly in the states. Read more to learn about the Citizens United ruling and Project REDMAP—and to see how money and politics converge.

After the 2012 Presidential Election: A Conservative Reboot

Why did the Republicans lose the 2012 presidential election? How did the loss shape the conservative approach to elections? Republicans received a shock in 2012 when Obama won reelection. In Dark Money, Jane Mayer discusses the aftermath of the 2012 presidential election in the context of the Koch brothers and their influence. Read more to learn how the 2012 presidential election loss led to a shift in the way conservatives operate.

General McMaster: Afghanistan Was a Tragic Missed Opportunity

When it comes to Afghanistan, where did U.S. policy go wrong? How did it become such a failure? According to General McMaster, Afghanistan was an opportunity for the U.S. to make peace in the region. Instead, the U.S. allowed it to return to a place of conflict that once again poses a serious threat to the world. Continue reading to learn McMaster’s take on Afghanistan and the lessons to be learned.

The Kochtopus: The Multiple Arms of the Koch Brothers

What on earth is the Kochtopus? How has it shaped politics and economics in America? The Kochtopus is an informal term used to describe the network of nonprofits that Charles Koch and David Koch funded to spread their free market ideals. In her book Dark Money, Jane Mayer discusses this network, arguing that it does more harm than good. Keep reading for Mayer’s history of the Kochtopus.

U.S. Foreign Policy in the Middle East: Gen. McMaster Weighs In

What caused the Islamist movement and sectarian conflict in the Middle East? How has U.S. policy failed in the region? In his book Battlegrounds, General H. R. McMaster explains the Middle East’s tangled history and the motivations of Iran, in particular, to disrupt its Arab neighbors. He provides his analysis of the U.S.’s bungled approach to diplomacy and military action in the region. Keep reading for McMaster’s take on U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East.

The Growing Threat of China: General McMaster’s Assessment

What’s China’s vision for the world? How is China’s economic warfare being played out? What’s the risk to the rest of the world? In Battlegrounds, General H. R. McMaster identifies five “hot spots”—points of conflict between the U.S. and other parts of the world. These are China, Russia, Afghanistan, the Middle East, and North Korea. Keep reading for McMaster’s assessment of the growing threat of China, including China’s economic warfare.

Russian Aggression in Europe: Pining for the U.S.S.R.’s Glory Days

What motivates Vladimir Putin? What’s he after? What’s his strategy? In Battlegrounds, General H. R. McMaster explains Vladimir Putin’s emotional motivations. He also describes the methods by which Russia is reasserting itself as a world power. Read more for this enlightening and timely discussion of Russian aggression in Europe.