Alex is an investigative reporter on the Political Capital team focusing on money in politics. Before joining IBT, he worked as a researcher and writer for the Institute for Southern Studies in Durham, NC and as a freelance journalist in New York City, having been published by over 20 outlets including AlterNet, the Center for Media and Democracy, Rewire, Salon, Truthout and VICE.com. For more on Alex, please visit alexkotch.com. To leak to Alex via encrypted email, download his PGP key.
USDA Plagued With Conflicts As It Sets Dietary Guidelines
A corn syrup lobbyist received an ethics waiver to help write the USDA's Dietary Guidelines, and she's not the only staffer there with conflicts of interest.
Corn Syrup Lobbyist Is Helping Set USDA Dietary Guidelines
Despite a long history of sugar interests influencing federal nutritional standards, a recent lobbyist for the corn syrup industry is now advising Trump's USDA on its dietary guidelines.
Koch Industries Gave $300,000 To GOP Lawmakers Just Before Tax Vote
Shortly before voting on a sweeping tax cut bill that the billionaire Koch brothers favored, 60 Republican lawmakers received political donations from Koch Industries' political action committee.
The Short List Of Politicians Giving Away Their Steve Wynn Donations
Only a handful of Republican politicians who received donations from casino boss Wynn, recently exposed for alleged sexual misconduct, have announced they will donate that money to charity.
Paul Ryan Thanks Wealthy Republican Donors For Aiding Tax Cuts
At a lavish gathering of donors in the Koch brothers' political network, House Speaker Paul Ryan thanked some of the nation's wealthiest conservatives for their help passing the GOP tax bill, which offers these donors major tax breaks.
As Tax Bill Was Written, Fossil Fuel Companies Gave — And Got
A new campaign finance report reveals that some oil and gas companies that got a special tax break from the GOP tax bill donated to the House's top tax writer, even as Congress was finalizing the legislation.
Koch Brothers Could Be $1 Billion Richer Each Year From GOP Tax Bill
Political mega-donors Charles and David Koch (and/or the business they operate) could pocket between $1 billion and $1.4 billion each year because of giant tax breaks in the legislation passed last month, a new analysis found.
Protests At Harvard And Yale? Here’s Why
Activists launched a week of campus protests, calling on the universities to withdraw their investments from hedge funds that hold Puerto Rican debt and have advocated austerity measures in the U.S. territory.
After Scoring Huge Tax Cuts, Charles Koch Showers Ryan With Cash
Two weeks after Speaker Paul Ryan passed the GOP tax cut bill in the House, billionaire Koch, who will benefit from the bill, gave hundreds of thousands of dollars to Ryan's joint fundraising committee.
Ending DACA Would Cost Hundreds Of Billions Of Dollars
Democrats seemed likely to hold the line on a government funding bill unless it extends a program protecting residents who were brought to the U.S. as children by their undocumented parents. Deporting the “Dreamers” will cost the economy hundreds of billions of dollars.
Who’s Spending Money At Trump’s Hotels And Golf Clubs?
A new report details how trade groups, companies, foreign governments, interest groups and political candidates booked rooms or events at properties owned by the president, raising ethics questions that “previously were unimaginable.”
Conflicts Of Interest On A Controversial Pipeline
Former U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu has been advocating for the approval of a crude oil pipeline while lobbying on behalf of a government entity that must approve the project.
Trump FBI Revives Investigation Of Clinton Foundation Donations
The FBI has started a new probe into alleged pay-to-play activities involving the Clinton Foundation. Here's a summary of the key reporting on the potential conflicts of interest.
Endowment Tax Hits Wealthy Universities, But They’re Paying Wall Street Far More
As some private universities express concern over a new tax on their endowment income, they are paying millions of dollars to Wall Street investors who manage their money.
Congressman Took Job With Business Group While Writing Corporate Tax Cuts
A long-time Ohio congressman negotiated a new job while he helped write the Republican tax bill that will benefit his campaign donors and the companies he will represent. What do Congressional ethics rules say?
Bitcoin Price Drops To $13,000
At the end of a week of drastic swings, the value of Bitcoin hit below $13,000 on Sunday afternoon, with some experts thinking a correction is in order and others predicting that a bubble is just...
More Vice Employees Allege Sexual Misconduct And Abuse After NYT Exposé
On Twitter, Vice employees shared disturbing stories of harassment following a New York Times exposé revealing sexual misconduct settlements amidst "a top-down ethos of male entitlement at Vice."
Trump Cost Taxpayers Tens Of Millions Visiting His Own Properties In 2017
The big price tag covers travel on Air Force One, cargo planes and expenses for White House aides and the fleet of security that accompany him.
Are Politicians Allowed To Vote On A Bill They Profit From?
Reports of special provisions in the tax bill, which could enrich the lawmakers who voted on it, prompted questions about whether the practice is legal. Here's what the rules say.
GOP Senators Who Could Benefit From Special Tax Break
The GOP tax bill includes a special real-estate tax cut — a provision that could personally enrich more than a dozen Republican senators who voted on the bill.