Popular Information - UPDATE: Koch Industries breaks silence
On Monday, Popular Information broke the news that Koch Industries, the conglomerate run by right-wing billionaire Charles Koch, continued to business in Russia through three wholly-owned subsidiaries. Hundreds of other companies have exited Russia as its military intensified attacks on Ukraine, including targeting civilians. Koch Industries did not respond to multiple requests for comment. It attempted to let the story fade away without confirming or denying its activities in Russia. But Popular Information's report on Koch Industries was picked up in the New York Times, CBS News, Newsweek, Marketwatch, Daily Beast, and other outlets. On Wednesday morning, Popular Information exposed how pundits and groups backed by Charles Koch were publicly advocating against economic sanctions on Russia — without disclosing their ties to Koch. On Wednesday afternoon, Koch Industries finally spoke. It released a public statement from Koch Industries' COO, Dave Robertson. The statement confirmed that Koch Industries was still doing business in Russia. And it made clear that Koch Industries has no plans to stop.
This is an extraordinary public statement. Koch Industries is attempting to argue that continuing to operate in Russia is in the best interest of Ukraine and the Russian people. The company suggests that shuttering its massive glass manufacturing plants would benefit the Russian government. The implication is that the hundreds of companies that have left Russia are, in fact, empowering the Putin regime. Koch Industries is also directly rejecting the explicit plea that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made in an address to the United States Congress on Wednesday. "All American companies must leave their market immediately because it is flooded with our blood," Zelensky said. This is a defining moment for Koch Industries, the largest privately-held company in the United States, and Charles Koch, one of the most influential figures in American politics. Jane Mayer, who wrote a book chronicling the Koch network, said that statement revealed that "all Koch’s talk of rights and liberty means nothing… making money is what they value." It will not soon be forgotten. Popular Information is a three-person newsletter, but we can rattle the cages of the most powerful people in the world. That's because our work is not duplicated by any other media outlet. Prior to our report earlier this week, there was no reporting on Koch Industries' ongoing operations in Russia. You can support our independent accountability journalism — and help us do more of it — with a paid subscription. If the cost of this newsletter ($6/month or $50/year) would create any kind of financial strain, please stay on this free list. But, if you can afford it, please consider becoming a paid subscriber. |
Older messages
As Koch Industries continues business in Russia, Koch-backed groups oppose sanctions
Wednesday, March 16, 2022
On Monday, Popular Information revealed that Koch Industries, the conglomerate run by right-wing billionaire Charles Koch, was continuing to operate in Russia through three wholly-owned subsidiaries.
Decisions have consequences
Tuesday, March 15, 2022
A core component of President Biden's failed Build Back Better plan was the extension of the expanded child tax credit. The American Rescue Act, which was signed into law in March 2021, expanded
Koch Industries continues doing business in Russia
Monday, March 14, 2022
Koch Industries, the conglomerate run by right-wing billionaire Charles Koch, has numerous ongoing business operations in Russia. Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Koch Industries has given no
These companies are still doing business in Russia
Thursday, March 10, 2022
Since Russia invaded Ukraine last month, there has been a mass exodus of companies from Russia. The pace of these withdrawals from Russia has intensified as the Russian military adopted increasingly
AT&T breaks pledge, directly donates to Republican objectors
Thursday, March 10, 2022
On January 11, 2021, five days after the attack on the United States Capitol, AT&T announced that it was suspending contributions to all 147 Republicans who tried to overturn the election results:
You Might Also Like
Microsoft confesses April Windows update breaks some VPN connections [Thu May 2 2024]
Thursday, May 2, 2024
Hi The Register Subscriber | Log in The Register {* Daily Headlines *} 2 May 2024 VPN_tunnel Microsoft confesses April Windows update breaks some VPN connections Connection failures reported following
Revenue diversification is (sometimes) overrated
Thursday, May 2, 2024
PLUS: You can't copy and paste a media business model ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
DoorDash reports record quarterly revenue of $2.5B, rips Seattle over minimum wage law
Wednesday, May 1, 2024
Breaking News from GeekWire GeekWire.com | View in browser BREAKING NEWS DoorDash dedicated two paragraphs of its first quarter earnings report and several minutes on a call with analysts to voice
Tents and nervous (can't relax)
Wednesday, May 1, 2024
College campuses remain on edge after a clash in LA and hundreds of arrests around the country. ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
Behind the Barricades at Columbia’s Hamilton Hall Takeover
Wednesday, May 1, 2024
Columns and commentary on news, politics, business, and technology from the Intelligencer team. Intelligencer clash on campus Behind the Barricades at Columbia's Hamilton Hall Takeover Columbia
GeekWire Mid-Week Update
Wednesday, May 1, 2024
Read the top tech stories so far this week from GeekWire GeekWire Mid-Week Update Top stories so far this week Prudential to shut down Assurance, the insurance tech startup it acquired for $2.35B in
April’s most popular picks
Wednesday, May 1, 2024
<3 ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
Thursday Briefing: Police deployed at U.S. campuses
Wednesday, May 1, 2024
Also, China's surging electric car market and a new Netflix series from India. View in browser|nytimes.com Ad Morning Briefing: Asia Pacific Edition May 2, 2024 Author Headshot By Amelia Nierenberg
Left To Our Own Devices
Wednesday, May 1, 2024
School Bans Phones, Big Plan on Campus ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
Prudential shutting down Assurance IQ, the Seattle-area startup it acquired for $2.35B
Wednesday, May 1, 2024
Inside the Binance founder's sentencing | LinkedIn launches games ADVERTISEMENT GeekWire SPONSOR MESSAGE: Washington state's second-largest city is the hub of an ambitious regional tech