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Foreign Agents: How American Lobbyists and Lawmakers Threaten Democracy Around the World
A stunning investigation and indictment of the United States' foreign lobbying industry and the threat it poses to democracy.
For years, one group of Americans has worked as foot-soldiers for the most authoritarian regimes around the planet. In the process, they've not only entrenched dictatorships and spread kleptocratic networks, but they've secretly guided U.S. policy without the rest of America even being aware. And now, they've begun turning their sights on American democracy itself.
These Americans are known as foreign lobbyists, and they've spent years ushering dictatorships directly into the halls of Washington, all while laundering the reputations of the most heinous, repressive regimes in the process. These foreign lobbyists include figures like Ivy Lee, the inventor of the public relations industry - a man who whitewashed Mussolini, opened doors to the Soviets, and advised the Nazis on how to sway American audiences. They include people like Paul Manafort, who invented lobbying as we know it - and who then took his talents to autocrats from Ukraine to the Philippines, and then back to the White House. And they now include an increasing number of Americans in law firms and consultancies, among PR specialists and former lawmakers, and even within think tanks and universities.
All of these industries, and all of these Americans, have transformed into proxies for dictators and strongmen wherever they can be found. And for years, they've escaped scrutiny.
In Foreign Agents , Casey Michel shines a light on these foreign lobbyists, and all the damage and devastation they have caused in Washington and elsewhere. From Moscow to Beijing, from far-right nationalists to far-left communists, from anti-American autocrats to pro-Western authoritarians, these foreign lobbyists have helped any illiberal, anti-democratic government they can find. And after decades of success in installing dictator after dictator, and in tilting American policy in the process, they've now begun trying to end America's democratic experiment, once and for all.
For years, one group of Americans has worked as foot-soldiers for the most authoritarian regimes around the planet. In the process, they've not only entrenched dictatorships and spread kleptocratic networks, but they've secretly guided U.S. policy without the rest of America even being aware. And now, they've begun turning their sights on American democracy itself.
These Americans are known as foreign lobbyists, and they've spent years ushering dictatorships directly into the halls of Washington, all while laundering the reputations of the most heinous, repressive regimes in the process. These foreign lobbyists include figures like Ivy Lee, the inventor of the public relations industry - a man who whitewashed Mussolini, opened doors to the Soviets, and advised the Nazis on how to sway American audiences. They include people like Paul Manafort, who invented lobbying as we know it - and who then took his talents to autocrats from Ukraine to the Philippines, and then back to the White House. And they now include an increasing number of Americans in law firms and consultancies, among PR specialists and former lawmakers, and even within think tanks and universities.
All of these industries, and all of these Americans, have transformed into proxies for dictators and strongmen wherever they can be found. And for years, they've escaped scrutiny.
In Foreign Agents , Casey Michel shines a light on these foreign lobbyists, and all the damage and devastation they have caused in Washington and elsewhere. From Moscow to Beijing, from far-right nationalists to far-left communists, from anti-American autocrats to pro-Western authoritarians, these foreign lobbyists have helped any illiberal, anti-democratic government they can find. And after decades of success in installing dictator after dictator, and in tilting American policy in the process, they've now begun trying to end America's democratic experiment, once and for all.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published August 27, 2024
66 people are currently reading
6296 people want to read
About the author
Casey Michel
7 books97 followersCasey Michel is an author, journalist, and director of the Combating Kleptocracy Program with the Human Rights Foundation. He is the author of AMERICAN KLEPTOCRACY, named by The Economist as one of the "best books to read to understand financial crime"; described by The Atlantic as "brilliantly clear"; and called "masterful" by Financial Times.
He is also the author of FOREIGN AGENTS, which received starred reviews from both Kirkus and Publishers Weekly, and was one of the “biggest foreign-policy book releases of 2024,” according to Foreign Policy.
He is currently sanctioned by the Russian regime for his work.
His new book, UNITED STATES OF OLIGARCHY, will track the rise and reign of America's oligarchic class, and the damage done to America's democracy—as well as how America's wealthiest class has allied with dictators around the world.
UNITED STATES OF OLIGARCHY will be released in the summer of 2026. All of Michel's books are published by St. Martin's Press.
Michel's writing on offshoring, foreign lobbying, authoritarianism, and illicit wealth has appeared in The New York Times, Financial Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, Foreign Affairs, and The Washington Post, among other outlets, and he has appeared on NPR, BBC, CNN, and MSNBC, among other stations. He has also testified in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee on the links between illicit financial networks and national security.
He received his Master’s degree in Russian, Eurasian, and East European Studies from Columbia University’s Harriman Institute, and served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in northern Kazakhstan. He currently lives in New York, where he is insanely fortunate to be married to Versha Sharma.
He is also the author of FOREIGN AGENTS, which received starred reviews from both Kirkus and Publishers Weekly, and was one of the “biggest foreign-policy book releases of 2024,” according to Foreign Policy.
He is currently sanctioned by the Russian regime for his work.
His new book, UNITED STATES OF OLIGARCHY, will track the rise and reign of America's oligarchic class, and the damage done to America's democracy—as well as how America's wealthiest class has allied with dictators around the world.
UNITED STATES OF OLIGARCHY will be released in the summer of 2026. All of Michel's books are published by St. Martin's Press.
Michel's writing on offshoring, foreign lobbying, authoritarianism, and illicit wealth has appeared in The New York Times, Financial Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, Foreign Affairs, and The Washington Post, among other outlets, and he has appeared on NPR, BBC, CNN, and MSNBC, among other stations. He has also testified in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee on the links between illicit financial networks and national security.
He received his Master’s degree in Russian, Eurasian, and East European Studies from Columbia University’s Harriman Institute, and served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in northern Kazakhstan. He currently lives in New York, where he is insanely fortunate to be married to Versha Sharma.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
August 2, 2024
I received a free copy of, Foreign Agents, by Casey Michael. from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Foreign Agents, or foreign lobbyists, have way to much control and power, with the American government, and the average American citizen is unaware. This book sheds a light on foreign lobbyists and there plans to end American Democracy, once and for all. This book really riled me up. I learned a lot, I had no clue about foreign agents and their hold over our government and policies.
July 31, 2024
This audiobook was made available for me to listen to and review by Casey Michel, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley.
The narrator of this audiobook is Joseph Dwyer. The narrator for nonfiction can in some ways be more important than a narrator for fiction. Nonfiction doesn't always call for the narrator to be emotive and that runs the risk of the narration sounding like a university lecture. This avoids that sad fate. The narration is dynamic and keeps the listener interested.
I'm not as familiar with lobbying period, much lobbying by the USA to foreign nations. This is frightening and fascinating. I learned about the history and beginning of lobbying as well as the fact that its not really a tightly regulated field. Basically Americans without a conscious and sporting an agenda interfere in foreign politics in horrifyingly undemocratic ways.
The book walks us through how this works, who the major players are both historically and currently and the long term impact of this practice abroad as well as at home.
Lobbying is a morally bankrupt practice. It's very presence undermines democracy. In the US bills are written by lobbyist, not by politicians. Its a flawed and anti-democratic system. Of course much of US style so-called democracy doesn't in anyway meet the definition of actual democracy. This truly helps the reader to understand how we find ourselves in this political landscape in 2024.
Thank you to Casey Michel, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own.
The narrator of this audiobook is Joseph Dwyer. The narrator for nonfiction can in some ways be more important than a narrator for fiction. Nonfiction doesn't always call for the narrator to be emotive and that runs the risk of the narration sounding like a university lecture. This avoids that sad fate. The narration is dynamic and keeps the listener interested.
I'm not as familiar with lobbying period, much lobbying by the USA to foreign nations. This is frightening and fascinating. I learned about the history and beginning of lobbying as well as the fact that its not really a tightly regulated field. Basically Americans without a conscious and sporting an agenda interfere in foreign politics in horrifyingly undemocratic ways.
The book walks us through how this works, who the major players are both historically and currently and the long term impact of this practice abroad as well as at home.
Lobbying is a morally bankrupt practice. It's very presence undermines democracy. In the US bills are written by lobbyist, not by politicians. Its a flawed and anti-democratic system. Of course much of US style so-called democracy doesn't in anyway meet the definition of actual democracy. This truly helps the reader to understand how we find ourselves in this political landscape in 2024.
Thank you to Casey Michel, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own.
April 20, 2024
This book delves into the world of lobbyists who are not from the US. It talks about things that are done behind the scenes that we never hear about. A good read.
January 27, 2024
Synopsis (From Netgalley, the provider of the book to review)
*******************************************************
A stunning investigation and indictment of the elements in United States' foreign lobbying industry and the threat they pose to democracy.
For years, one group of Americans has worked as foot-soldiers for the most authoritarian regimes around the planet. In the process, they've not only entrenched dictatorships and spread kleptocratic networks, but they've secretly guided U.S. policy without the rest of America even being aware. And now, journalist Casey Michel contends some of them have begun turning their sights on American democracy itself.
These Americans are known as foreign lobbyists, and many of them spent years ushering dictatorships directly into the halls of Washington, all while laundering the reputations of the most heinous, repressive regimes in the process. These lobbyists include figures like Ivy Lee, the inventor of the public relations industry - a man who whitewashed Mussolini, opened doors to the Soviets, and advised the Nazis on how to sway American audiences.
They include people like Paul Manafort, who invented lobbying as we know it - and who then took his talents to autocrats from Ukraine to the Philippines, and then back to the White House. And they now include an increasing number of Americans in law firms and consultancies, among PR specialists and former lawmakers, and even within think tanks and universities. Many of these lobbyists have transformed into proxies for dictators and strongmen wherever they can be found. And for years, they've escaped scrutiny.
In Foreign Agents, Casey Michel shines a light on these foreign lobbyists, and all the damage and devastation they have caused in Washington and elsewhere. From Moscow to Beijing, from far-right nationalists to far-left communists, from anti-American autocrats to pro-Western authoritarians, these foreign lobbyists have helped any illiberal, anti-democratic government they can find. And after decades of success in installing dictator after dictator, and in tilting American policy in the process, some of these lobbyists have now begun trying to end America's democratic experiment, once and for all.
I have never understood lobbyists and how they work, but I am Canadian and it is not as … BLATANTLY evident …. here. (Unless we are speaking of Doug Ford and his buddies and them getting what they want and us paying for it out of our pockets.)
This is NOT a casual read but it was fascinating to read – and it made me trust politicians even less than before. I call this a book club book – there is a lot to discuss and I can assure you that I wore down hubby telling him so much about what I was reading that he finally asked to read the book. Highly recommended to the right audience. #shortbutsweetreviews
Note: Linkedin still not linking but posted there separately.
*******************************************************
A stunning investigation and indictment of the elements in United States' foreign lobbying industry and the threat they pose to democracy.
For years, one group of Americans has worked as foot-soldiers for the most authoritarian regimes around the planet. In the process, they've not only entrenched dictatorships and spread kleptocratic networks, but they've secretly guided U.S. policy without the rest of America even being aware. And now, journalist Casey Michel contends some of them have begun turning their sights on American democracy itself.
These Americans are known as foreign lobbyists, and many of them spent years ushering dictatorships directly into the halls of Washington, all while laundering the reputations of the most heinous, repressive regimes in the process. These lobbyists include figures like Ivy Lee, the inventor of the public relations industry - a man who whitewashed Mussolini, opened doors to the Soviets, and advised the Nazis on how to sway American audiences.
They include people like Paul Manafort, who invented lobbying as we know it - and who then took his talents to autocrats from Ukraine to the Philippines, and then back to the White House. And they now include an increasing number of Americans in law firms and consultancies, among PR specialists and former lawmakers, and even within think tanks and universities. Many of these lobbyists have transformed into proxies for dictators and strongmen wherever they can be found. And for years, they've escaped scrutiny.
In Foreign Agents, Casey Michel shines a light on these foreign lobbyists, and all the damage and devastation they have caused in Washington and elsewhere. From Moscow to Beijing, from far-right nationalists to far-left communists, from anti-American autocrats to pro-Western authoritarians, these foreign lobbyists have helped any illiberal, anti-democratic government they can find. And after decades of success in installing dictator after dictator, and in tilting American policy in the process, some of these lobbyists have now begun trying to end America's democratic experiment, once and for all.
I have never understood lobbyists and how they work, but I am Canadian and it is not as … BLATANTLY evident …. here. (Unless we are speaking of Doug Ford and his buddies and them getting what they want and us paying for it out of our pockets.)
This is NOT a casual read but it was fascinating to read – and it made me trust politicians even less than before. I call this a book club book – there is a lot to discuss and I can assure you that I wore down hubby telling him so much about what I was reading that he finally asked to read the book. Highly recommended to the right audience. #shortbutsweetreviews
Note: Linkedin still not linking but posted there separately.
May 6, 2024
An essential read for anyone concerned about the health of democracy.
How did the book make me feel/think?
“Foreign Agents” by Casey Michel is a powerful and urgent call to action. Michel employs strong language and vivid imagery to underscore the issues’ gravity.
A needle is stuck into my eyes, forcing my eyes perpetually open, I can’t stop reading.
The metaphor of sticking needles in the eyes strikingly conveys the painful truths about how greedy, malevolent forces undermine democracy.
“Foreign Agents” is an alarm bell, urging readers to face these realities and act before it’s too late. The depiction of evil forces playing a deadly game underscores the critical situation and the pressing need for vigilant intervention.
“Foreign Agents” is an essential read for anyone concerned about the health of democracy and the threats posed by unbridled greed and malevolence. It challenges readers to consider their role in shaping the future and actively oppose injustice and corruption.
WRITTEN: 6 May 2024
How did the book make me feel/think?
“Foreign Agents” by Casey Michel is a powerful and urgent call to action. Michel employs strong language and vivid imagery to underscore the issues’ gravity.
A needle is stuck into my eyes, forcing my eyes perpetually open, I can’t stop reading.
The metaphor of sticking needles in the eyes strikingly conveys the painful truths about how greedy, malevolent forces undermine democracy.
“Foreign Agents” is an alarm bell, urging readers to face these realities and act before it’s too late. The depiction of evil forces playing a deadly game underscores the critical situation and the pressing need for vigilant intervention.
“Foreign Agents” is an essential read for anyone concerned about the health of democracy and the threats posed by unbridled greed and malevolence. It challenges readers to consider their role in shaping the future and actively oppose injustice and corruption.
WRITTEN: 6 May 2024
May 19, 2024
This review is based on an advance reader copy.
Casey Michel's book focuses on an extremely important topic, corruption in our government, which is why it is such a shame that this book is so poorly written. I was hoping for some history of foreign lobbying in the US along with an in-depth look into foreign lobbying influences in our government but what I got was Michel's undisguised vehemence for Trump with an in-depth look at Manafort's corruption, and just enough information on other people to attempt to deny that this book is about Trump. Now don't get me wrong. I agree 100% that Trump is corrupt and I dislike the man, but I get enough of this day in and day out I was hoping for a broader look at the issue here. As Michel points out in his book, foreign lobbying influence is a bipartisan problem so personally, I feel more criticism of the Biden administration as the current (and almost certainly next) administration would be more interesting and useful. Let's learn more about the danger that is still present.
But Michel doesn't do that. A few lines even sound like Biden election propaganda. After admitting that the Trump administration did actually take steps to investigate foreign donations to universities and think tanks, Michel then asserts that Biden took a firmer stance on foreign lobbying threats than any major candidate in American history. His proof for this? A campaign promise from Biden saying he would ban it. Was any action taken since this promise? No. In fact, as Michel admits, the Biden administration rolled back the progress the Trump administration had made into improving transparency. Where then is the justification for this assertion? Michel, then does admit that Hunter was paid millions by Burisma despite knowing nothing about the gas industry with a note that says there was no evidence that it affected his father's policies. There was little hard evidence in this book for anything...just a lot of assertions, but here is where the note is. The note also says it backfired on the Russian-backed Ukranian oligarchs because Biden called for an investigation into Burisma. As evidence for this, Michel cites his own article, which in itself is bad form. That's like me creating a Wikipedia page and then referencing it as proof. He does this constantly throughout the book though, citing his own articles. Here, his own article doesn't even back up his assertion. All it says is that Biden, along with a whole slew of other countries, called for the removal of the corrupt Ukranian prosecutor. Replacing him did mean there is a better chance Burisma will be investigated, but still...
I'm so sick of people who claim to have a bipartisan desire to clean up the government but then when it is their own party they get a pass. If we want to actually make a difference we need to be willing and unafraid to call out and clean up corruption when we see it, regardless of if it is our own party or not. Personally, I do not doubt that Trump is corrupt, but I feel like Biden too often gets a pass just because he is better than Trump.
Anyway, on to my specific gripes with this book: As I mentioned before, Michel frequently cites his own articles. There are constant teasers along the lines of "as we will see later" or "more on this later". Drove me crazy. It is full of metaphors and assurances that things are bad instead of actually giving hard evidence and concrete examples. The examples of corruption he did give beyond Manafort are few and cherry-picked. I had hoped for a broader look at the issue to understand how widespread this problem really is in our government.
Personally, I was incredibly disappointed with this book. Michel did mention Ben Freeman's book "The Foreign Policy Auction" which sounds like it is the deep dive into data I was hoping this book would be. Hopefully that one won't disappoint.
Casey Michel's book focuses on an extremely important topic, corruption in our government, which is why it is such a shame that this book is so poorly written. I was hoping for some history of foreign lobbying in the US along with an in-depth look into foreign lobbying influences in our government but what I got was Michel's undisguised vehemence for Trump with an in-depth look at Manafort's corruption, and just enough information on other people to attempt to deny that this book is about Trump. Now don't get me wrong. I agree 100% that Trump is corrupt and I dislike the man, but I get enough of this day in and day out I was hoping for a broader look at the issue here. As Michel points out in his book, foreign lobbying influence is a bipartisan problem so personally, I feel more criticism of the Biden administration as the current (and almost certainly next) administration would be more interesting and useful. Let's learn more about the danger that is still present.
But Michel doesn't do that. A few lines even sound like Biden election propaganda. After admitting that the Trump administration did actually take steps to investigate foreign donations to universities and think tanks, Michel then asserts that Biden took a firmer stance on foreign lobbying threats than any major candidate in American history. His proof for this? A campaign promise from Biden saying he would ban it. Was any action taken since this promise? No. In fact, as Michel admits, the Biden administration rolled back the progress the Trump administration had made into improving transparency. Where then is the justification for this assertion? Michel, then does admit that Hunter was paid millions by Burisma despite knowing nothing about the gas industry with a note that says there was no evidence that it affected his father's policies. There was little hard evidence in this book for anything...just a lot of assertions, but here is where the note is. The note also says it backfired on the Russian-backed Ukranian oligarchs because Biden called for an investigation into Burisma. As evidence for this, Michel cites his own article, which in itself is bad form. That's like me creating a Wikipedia page and then referencing it as proof. He does this constantly throughout the book though, citing his own articles. Here, his own article doesn't even back up his assertion. All it says is that Biden, along with a whole slew of other countries, called for the removal of the corrupt Ukranian prosecutor. Replacing him did mean there is a better chance Burisma will be investigated, but still...
I'm so sick of people who claim to have a bipartisan desire to clean up the government but then when it is their own party they get a pass. If we want to actually make a difference we need to be willing and unafraid to call out and clean up corruption when we see it, regardless of if it is our own party or not. Personally, I do not doubt that Trump is corrupt, but I feel like Biden too often gets a pass just because he is better than Trump.
Anyway, on to my specific gripes with this book: As I mentioned before, Michel frequently cites his own articles. There are constant teasers along the lines of "as we will see later" or "more on this later". Drove me crazy. It is full of metaphors and assurances that things are bad instead of actually giving hard evidence and concrete examples. The examples of corruption he did give beyond Manafort are few and cherry-picked. I had hoped for a broader look at the issue to understand how widespread this problem really is in our government.
Personally, I was incredibly disappointed with this book. Michel did mention Ben Freeman's book "The Foreign Policy Auction" which sounds like it is the deep dive into data I was hoping this book would be. Hopefully that one won't disappoint.
April 18, 2025
We literally live in the Hunger Games Capitol, it's so embarrassing
February 14, 2024
I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
Who are your voted-in or appointed governmental agents, officers, and representatives truly working for, and who is paying them? Who pays them, and for what purposes after they leave those offices and positions? Moreover, who in the United States is helping them get votes, is swaying public opinion, and who is paying them?
The answers found in the pages of Foreign Agents is surprising. Not only the answer to “who”, but how far this extends and the amount of money is absolutely astounding. It goes well beyond anything we hear in the news cycle. It has also been going on far longer than almost anyone realizes – before the lifetimes of anyone reading this.
Who are your voted-in or appointed governmental agents, officers, and representatives truly working for, and who is paying them? Who pays them, and for what purposes after they leave those offices and positions? Moreover, who in the United States is helping them get votes, is swaying public opinion, and who is paying them?
The answers found in the pages of Foreign Agents is surprising. Not only the answer to “who”, but how far this extends and the amount of money is absolutely astounding. It goes well beyond anything we hear in the news cycle. It has also been going on far longer than almost anyone realizes – before the lifetimes of anyone reading this.
May 17, 2024
I received this book as part of a Goodreads giveaway.
I enjoyed this book, it provided an window into a area that I both knew little about and never considered. The book starts off with the history of modern lobbying with Lee working for the Fascists in Italy, the Nazi’s (through intermediaries) and the Soviets. The bulk of the book examines current state of affairs investigating lobbying completed by individuals, law firms, think tanks, and universities.
I would recommend this book to anyone interested in current events and would rate it 5 out of 5.
I enjoyed this book, it provided an window into a area that I both knew little about and never considered. The book starts off with the history of modern lobbying with Lee working for the Fascists in Italy, the Nazi’s (through intermediaries) and the Soviets. The bulk of the book examines current state of affairs investigating lobbying completed by individuals, law firms, think tanks, and universities.
I would recommend this book to anyone interested in current events and would rate it 5 out of 5.
August 13, 2025
Foreign Agents by Casey Michel examines the intricate networks of foreign lobbying in the United States. Through his lens, Michel portrays a landscape where foreign agents influence political decisions, often operating without adequate oversight. For any person who has at the very least, watched the mainstream media (never the highest choice) they know how much lobbyists control US politician decision making. This book did not inform us of anything new.
Michels Key Points
1. All Lobbyists are Bad:
Michel's narrative suggests that the practice of lobbying, especially foreign lobbying, inherently corrupts democratic processes. He paints a broad picture of lobbyists as malevolent actors, regardless of their affiliations or intentions. Michel cheers as lobbyist’s suffer of old age and debilitating conditions, while encouraging the unjust trials held against them. American’s still have the right to a fair trial and are innocent until proven guilty. The author seems to ignore this basic fact.
Michel disregards the positive attributes of lobbyists for instance, advocating for veterans, improving the lives persons with disabilities, and educating the public about human trafficking.
2. More Legislation is always Better
A significant portion of the book critiques the lax enforcement of existing foreign lobbying laws.
According to Michel, this negligence has allowed foreign agents to influence the American political system unchecked. Why not just enforce existing laws?
3. Foreign Agents in the Trump Administration:
The book asserts that President Trump's administration was filled with foreign agents, implying a direct threat to national sovereignty and democracy (even though we are the US is a democratic republic). Most of whom were thrown into prison and unfairly sentenced. Michel equates them with Benedict Arnold.
The book appears to be targeted towards readers who are haters of President Trump’s administration, as well as those who are concerned about foreign influence in American politics. It may resonate more with individuals holding left-leaning views, and those whom the author thinks advocates for stricter lobbying regulations. In fact, if you are a communist, not judging, this book may be for you.
Personally, I found "Foreign Agents" to be highly biased. Michel’s portrayal of lobbyists is overwhelmingly negative, failing to acknowledge the nuances and complexities of political lobbying. Additionally, the book seems designed to weaponize public opinion against President Trump, rather than providing a balanced examination of the issue. This one-sided perspective detracts from the credibility of the argument.
While Foreign Agents raises important questions about foreign influence in American politics, its heavily biased tone and lack of balanced analysis make it a polarizing read. Readers seeking an objective exploration of foreign lobbying may find themselves disappointed. For those already critical of the President Trump administration and foreign lobbying practices, the book may reinforce existing beliefs but offer little in terms of new insights.
Overall, it is important to approach this book with a critical eye and consider alternative perspectives before drawing conclusions. As with any piece of literature, it is vital to engage in thoughtful discourse and seek out multiple viewpoints to form a well-rounded understanding of the topic at hand. Only then can we truly evaluate the impact of foreign agents on our democratic republic and work towards creating effective solutions for protecting our nation's sovereignty.
Thank you to Netgalley and MacMillan Audio for providing me with a free audible version in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed in the above review are my own because contrary to the Michel’s views, I am a United States citizen and have the right to free speech.
Michels Key Points
1. All Lobbyists are Bad:
Michel's narrative suggests that the practice of lobbying, especially foreign lobbying, inherently corrupts democratic processes. He paints a broad picture of lobbyists as malevolent actors, regardless of their affiliations or intentions. Michel cheers as lobbyist’s suffer of old age and debilitating conditions, while encouraging the unjust trials held against them. American’s still have the right to a fair trial and are innocent until proven guilty. The author seems to ignore this basic fact.
Michel disregards the positive attributes of lobbyists for instance, advocating for veterans, improving the lives persons with disabilities, and educating the public about human trafficking.
2. More Legislation is always Better
A significant portion of the book critiques the lax enforcement of existing foreign lobbying laws.
According to Michel, this negligence has allowed foreign agents to influence the American political system unchecked. Why not just enforce existing laws?
3. Foreign Agents in the Trump Administration:
The book asserts that President Trump's administration was filled with foreign agents, implying a direct threat to national sovereignty and democracy (even though we are the US is a democratic republic). Most of whom were thrown into prison and unfairly sentenced. Michel equates them with Benedict Arnold.
The book appears to be targeted towards readers who are haters of President Trump’s administration, as well as those who are concerned about foreign influence in American politics. It may resonate more with individuals holding left-leaning views, and those whom the author thinks advocates for stricter lobbying regulations. In fact, if you are a communist, not judging, this book may be for you.
Personally, I found "Foreign Agents" to be highly biased. Michel’s portrayal of lobbyists is overwhelmingly negative, failing to acknowledge the nuances and complexities of political lobbying. Additionally, the book seems designed to weaponize public opinion against President Trump, rather than providing a balanced examination of the issue. This one-sided perspective detracts from the credibility of the argument.
While Foreign Agents raises important questions about foreign influence in American politics, its heavily biased tone and lack of balanced analysis make it a polarizing read. Readers seeking an objective exploration of foreign lobbying may find themselves disappointed. For those already critical of the President Trump administration and foreign lobbying practices, the book may reinforce existing beliefs but offer little in terms of new insights.
Overall, it is important to approach this book with a critical eye and consider alternative perspectives before drawing conclusions. As with any piece of literature, it is vital to engage in thoughtful discourse and seek out multiple viewpoints to form a well-rounded understanding of the topic at hand. Only then can we truly evaluate the impact of foreign agents on our democratic republic and work towards creating effective solutions for protecting our nation's sovereignty.
Thank you to Netgalley and MacMillan Audio for providing me with a free audible version in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed in the above review are my own because contrary to the Michel’s views, I am a United States citizen and have the right to free speech.
July 6, 2025
Three stars strictly for the importance and timeliness of the subject matter, but two stars would be a stretch for literary effectiveness. Michel never came across a run-on sentence or subordinate clause he didn't like. That shortcoming is compounded by his annoying habit of repeating the same word every time he strings two or three clumsy subordinate clauses together to make an obvious point. Despite his thanking the editor for "shepherding this book from messy, muddled vision into the polished final draft,"Michel's narrative is rambling and repetitive. The topic deserves an author who can weave a more cogent story.
May 24, 2024
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: Aug. 27, 2024
“Foreign Agents: How American Lobbyists and Lawmakers Threaten Democracy Around the World”, by non-fiction writer and journalist Casey Michel is just what the title predicts- an investigative look at political lobbying and how foreign governments have been able to infiltrate the White House using manipulative methods.
In other words? The government (American and otherwise) are corrupt, immoral and manipulative, and has been since its inception. Are you surprised? Yeah, neither was I. Michel’s work starts off strong, as he discusses how the public relations career came to be by talking about Ivy Lee, who was a trailblazer in the field, and the work he initially did with influential people like the Rockefeller’s. This part of the novel was informative and interesting, even for a non-American.
As mentioned, I don’t live in the United States and although Canada is no shining example of how politicians should operate (far from it), I tend to not pay much attention to politics in my own country, let alone any other one. So perhaps it is this fatal flaw that contributed to the rest of Michel’s story simply dropping my interest.
The remainder of the novel was about the corruption of Paul Manafort and his influence on Donald Trump’s campaign, which I am not denying occurred (even those of us in the Great White North heard, and heard, and heard some more about this hot-button issue) I wasn’t really interested in this when it was actually happening, let alone many years later.
“Foreign Agents” is a good read for those with a strong love of (American) political history, but for the rest of us, it really just reiterates what we already know, or provides us with information we didn’t want or ask for.
Expected publication date: Aug. 27, 2024
“Foreign Agents: How American Lobbyists and Lawmakers Threaten Democracy Around the World”, by non-fiction writer and journalist Casey Michel is just what the title predicts- an investigative look at political lobbying and how foreign governments have been able to infiltrate the White House using manipulative methods.
In other words? The government (American and otherwise) are corrupt, immoral and manipulative, and has been since its inception. Are you surprised? Yeah, neither was I. Michel’s work starts off strong, as he discusses how the public relations career came to be by talking about Ivy Lee, who was a trailblazer in the field, and the work he initially did with influential people like the Rockefeller’s. This part of the novel was informative and interesting, even for a non-American.
As mentioned, I don’t live in the United States and although Canada is no shining example of how politicians should operate (far from it), I tend to not pay much attention to politics in my own country, let alone any other one. So perhaps it is this fatal flaw that contributed to the rest of Michel’s story simply dropping my interest.
The remainder of the novel was about the corruption of Paul Manafort and his influence on Donald Trump’s campaign, which I am not denying occurred (even those of us in the Great White North heard, and heard, and heard some more about this hot-button issue) I wasn’t really interested in this when it was actually happening, let alone many years later.
“Foreign Agents” is a good read for those with a strong love of (American) political history, but for the rest of us, it really just reiterates what we already know, or provides us with information we didn’t want or ask for.
October 28, 2024
This is a great book comprehensively examines the pernicious effects of foreign lobbying in the US. Starting from the "Father of Public Relations" Ivy Lee, who whitewashed Stalin and Hitler and was responsible for the US recognizing russia in 1933 at the height of the genocidal Holodomor in Ukraine, to Paul Manafort. I thought I knew everything about the odious Manafort, who played a despicable role in advancing russia's influence in Ukraine, bringing Yanukovych to power and polarizing Ukrainians, but there were many vile facts here that surprised me. This well-written, well-researched (and non-partisan) book is definitely worth reading and pondering.
October 16, 2024
I really enjoyed this book! His writing is really compelling and he obviously really loves America. I’m not gonna lie, I was hoping it would focus more on how America has influenced other governments, but I do think the calling out of individuals made for a better story. Would recommend to folks interested in some more fucked up things that go on within our government and representatives.
August 22, 2024
Foreign agents, how American lobbyist and lawmakers threaten democracy around the world by Casey Michelle. This author has written some really great books on white collar crime but I do believe foreign agents is his best yet. From the duplicitous Mr. Lee, in the 1930s to the unscrupulous Manafordd in 2017. it never ceases to amaze me the things people will give away from money including their countries safety and freedom. With the dress rehearsals for lobbying, starting as long ago is Washington’s second term it has definitely reached such a vast momentum it is now a household word and an occupation college students are educating their self to become. In most cases in my opinion lobbyist are no better than Spin Doctors and yet they have affected almost every president anyone alive can remember. They take money and will be the beggar for any cause irregardless of the effects even if it means American freedom and involving their self in such treasonous activities as in the case with Trump and most of his cabinet. This isn’t a full compendium, as it only deals with a few evil doers but it is well researched comprehensively told and also interesting. Mr. Casey has quickly proven himself to be a legitimate contender in the political nonfiction novel and this is just another example of that. What a great job in an interesting book. #NetGalley, #MichelleCasey, #ForeignAgents,
August 1, 2024
I listened to an advanced copy of the audiobook
Review of the audiobook : 5 stars
The narrator did a fantastic job, all of the information is clear and there are breaks between each sections and each chapter so you can easily pause to reflect on what you've just learned and not feel overwhelmed by the amount of information
Truly a must read, especially in this political moment
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to read this book
Review of the audiobook : 5 stars
The narrator did a fantastic job, all of the information is clear and there are breaks between each sections and each chapter so you can easily pause to reflect on what you've just learned and not feel overwhelmed by the amount of information
Truly a must read, especially in this political moment
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to read this book
February 4, 2025
The writing style got old by the end of the book and it felt a bit repetitive, but it was well-researched from what I could tell and I learned a lot about the various ways foreign countries influence American policy through unscrupulous Americans willing to sell out their right to petition. Crazy how top law firms, universities, think-tanks, and non-profits accept money from foreign dictatorships. This is a huge issue.
March 22, 2025
I really wanted to like this a lot more than I did. The topic is interesting, I just hated the writing style. It’s so dry, yet also snarky to the point of coming across as unprofessional and it reads way too much like a dissertation that the author turned into a book after graduation.
Read
September 4, 2024Great second book by Casey Michel, and awesome narration by Joe Dwyer!
February 24, 2025
I thought this was going to be a better book. It seemed poorly edited, redundant and skipped a lot of info. Pretty seriously skewed left. I was hoping for balance and instead it was an anti-Trump rant. It did offer a little hope at the end of a way out of the corruption problem. Three bills, all still stuck in Committee since 2022 will prob never see the light of day. It's be interesting to get his take on what Trump is doing now.
February 8, 2025
I received this book as a Goodreads giveaway. I’m glad I did, as it was really eye-opening. I knew nothing about foreign lobbying, and definitely not how extensive it is in the US. It’s probably similar in other countries. The level of corruption and greed is staggering and that it’s terrible that nothing is being done to stop it.
January 8, 2025
I do think that there is a lot of really great information present and the author has clearly done their best to gather information from pre-2010 which they describe as challenging. I do think the author struggled with objectivity and that is something that really turned me off especially from someone who claims to be a journalist. Additionally, the author occasionally relies on conjecture in a way that does not read as an opinion, which again turned me off. Good information and an interesting thought piece, but would recommend with a caveat of utilizing critical thinking throughout (which I suppose should always be the case).
March 24, 2024
I received an advanced copy via NetGalley in exchange for an opportunity to review the book. Opinions below are my own.
This is a good book and I'm tempted to give this book five stars to help its sales because its content is an important and well-documented reminder of the threats faced to democracy and rule of law in the United States during and immediately following the 2016 election, as well as the genesis of the current war in the Ukraine and associated misinformation campaign, all of which have implications for the 2024 election. A better subtitle for the book is probably "The Rise and Fall of Paul Manafort, and the Danger Posed by Foreign Lobbying." One criticism of the book (and current subtitle) is that it does not examine the foreign lobbying that the United States' own government does abroad. My main criticism is that it is largely about the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) but he never details the actual language of the Act, its state penalties, fines, and statute of limitation. Describing it in detail would have made it less muddy given the inconsistent prosecution fo the FARA and the author's criticisms. I kept asking "What exactly can the DOJ do under the law? What would have been the maximum penalties?" The author could have spared a couple pages up front to set up the rest of the book.
The book grew out of a graduate thesis by the author, "studying how post-Soviet dictatorships manipulate Western audiences," during the run-up to the 2016 election. Michel shares a greater history of foreign governments' lobbying in the United States which I found informative. The grandest example being Russia's "bankrolling" of former U.S. senator Robert J. Walker in 1868 to lobby to complete the negotiated purchase of Alaska from Russia, which had been previously been dead in public opinion as "Seward's folly." Undisclosed payments to Walker resulted in anonymous newspaper articles and eventual persuasion of Congress to seal the deal. Afterwards, rumors and evidence of congressional bribery by a Russian national-- including a conversation between Secretary of State Seward and President Johnson-- were investigated by congress, but no convictions were made and the purchase was already history. There were no laws requiring someone like a former senator to disclose he was now a paid agent by a foreign government to influence U.S. policy.
The book details the events in World War II that led to the passage of the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA)of 1938, namely the investigation by congress of Ivy Lee, the godfather of modern public relations--spinning public travesties in American media for his high-paying patrons, as well as weaponizing lobbying for foreign adversaries-- in his case, the USSR (just prior to Stalin's purge), Fascist Italy, and Nazi Germany. Lee was the direct precursor to Manafort and Michel writes of the similar trajectories and ignominious end of both characters.
FARA was amended after Pearl Harbor, and again in 1966 as it gained importance during the Cold War. The author mentions "a range of convictions" under FARA in the 1960s but frustratingly does not detail these to help the reader understand how effective or ineffective it may have been. Congress and the Department of Justice had a difficult time not explicitly targeting U.S. citizen lobbyists-- who have a constitutional right to petition their government -- and trying to differentiate them from "propagandists" who were explicitly repeating lies of foreign governments on behalf of "foreign principals." The 1966 amendment increased disclosure requirements for those engaged in "political activities," basically lobbying, on behalf of foreign entities. Academics and scientists weren't included, a glaring omission that Michel notes would come back to haunt the law as universities accept millions of dollars from foreign governments via various offshore entities. But enforcement of FARA has always been weak at best, there was never a strong cop on the beat asking questions and keeping records. The lax enforcement over decades created an environment where foreign lobbyists like Manafort scoffed at the disclosure requirements. (It was not until 1999 that we learned from Russian archives that sitting U.S. Congressman Samuel Dicktein was on the Soviet payroll from 1940 to the 1950s.)
Michel notes congress' well-meaning attempt at strengthening enforcement via the 1995 Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA) and amended FARA in an effort to increase transparency amid the rapidly growing lobbying industry that was attracting more and more former U.S. officials into its sphere. But the LDA didn't require details about meetings or the specifics of the work, and Congress made it so lobbyists for foreign companies-- instead of governments explicitly-- could file under the LDA instead of FARA. Congress apparently didn't contemplate that some foreign companies operating in the U.S. weren't solely profit-focused investors and may instead be proxies for foreign governments. (It is ironic because Ivy Lee himself was lobbying for one of the Nazi's collaborating corporations and not the Reich itself.) The number of registrations under FARA fell by two-thirds (loc. 2506).
The author shows the troubling implications as think tanks and universities are increasingly the recipients of foreign funds and have become agents of PR, money laundering, or worse by undemocratic governments. The Clinton Foundation was another egregious example as donations ebbed and flowed based on Hillary Clinton's proximity to real power. (The author notes that the Obama Foundation refuses foreign donations.) Similarly, by 2017 three quarters of Donald Trump's real estate sales were going to anonymous buyers and many foreign regimes spent lavishly at Trump's D.C. hotel (as uncovered after Trump left office and by investigations within some of those countries). Manafort's long history shilling for dictators like Ferdinand Marcos and Mobutu Seko are detailed as is his long history in Ukraine making millions from Yanukovych's pilfering and laundering of state funds. The court documents, Mueller Report, and Senate Intelligence Committee investigation are all sourced along with a great investigative piece from The Atlantic. But fewer people remember Bob Dole as a foreign agent; Michel reminds us that when he ended his life a multimillionaire and water-carrier for the UAE, the Congo, Krgyzstan, and a sanctioned Russian oligarch.
Michel notes all of the people connected to the Trump White House who were prosecuted under FARA, some of whom -- like Manafort-- were convicted and later pardoned of their heinous crimes, others like Steve Wynn-- an agent of the Chinese Communist Party-- who got off due to statute of limitations or juries not buying that they should have known better. "Trump's campaign chief; his foreign policy and economic advisor; his national security advisor; his CIA Director; his personal lawyer; and both the lead and deputy finance chiefs of the Republican National Committee...his deputy campaign manager, (and) his inauguration committee fundraiser" all had undisclosed links to foreign lobbying campaigns that resulted in prosecution (loc. 4553). That is a timely reminder for 2024.
The author ends his book that noting that while Manafort's pardon and Congress' lack of action to strengthen the laws (drafting a couple bipartisan bills that have gone nowhere) have likely emboldened despotic or undemocratic regimes to continue their lobbying activities, ultimately, it's "American firms...officials...nonprofits...consultants...and the American lobbyists helping dictators and tyrants around the globe" that are the real threat (loc. 5346). Our Founding Fathers created a republic that relies on men of good character to make it work. Time and again, the ideals of the republic have been undermined by unscrupulous characters who are willing to sell their principles to a foreign power.
Four stars.
This is a good book and I'm tempted to give this book five stars to help its sales because its content is an important and well-documented reminder of the threats faced to democracy and rule of law in the United States during and immediately following the 2016 election, as well as the genesis of the current war in the Ukraine and associated misinformation campaign, all of which have implications for the 2024 election. A better subtitle for the book is probably "The Rise and Fall of Paul Manafort, and the Danger Posed by Foreign Lobbying." One criticism of the book (and current subtitle) is that it does not examine the foreign lobbying that the United States' own government does abroad. My main criticism is that it is largely about the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) but he never details the actual language of the Act, its state penalties, fines, and statute of limitation. Describing it in detail would have made it less muddy given the inconsistent prosecution fo the FARA and the author's criticisms. I kept asking "What exactly can the DOJ do under the law? What would have been the maximum penalties?" The author could have spared a couple pages up front to set up the rest of the book.
The book grew out of a graduate thesis by the author, "studying how post-Soviet dictatorships manipulate Western audiences," during the run-up to the 2016 election. Michel shares a greater history of foreign governments' lobbying in the United States which I found informative. The grandest example being Russia's "bankrolling" of former U.S. senator Robert J. Walker in 1868 to lobby to complete the negotiated purchase of Alaska from Russia, which had been previously been dead in public opinion as "Seward's folly." Undisclosed payments to Walker resulted in anonymous newspaper articles and eventual persuasion of Congress to seal the deal. Afterwards, rumors and evidence of congressional bribery by a Russian national-- including a conversation between Secretary of State Seward and President Johnson-- were investigated by congress, but no convictions were made and the purchase was already history. There were no laws requiring someone like a former senator to disclose he was now a paid agent by a foreign government to influence U.S. policy.
The book details the events in World War II that led to the passage of the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA)of 1938, namely the investigation by congress of Ivy Lee, the godfather of modern public relations--spinning public travesties in American media for his high-paying patrons, as well as weaponizing lobbying for foreign adversaries-- in his case, the USSR (just prior to Stalin's purge), Fascist Italy, and Nazi Germany. Lee was the direct precursor to Manafort and Michel writes of the similar trajectories and ignominious end of both characters.
FARA was amended after Pearl Harbor, and again in 1966 as it gained importance during the Cold War. The author mentions "a range of convictions" under FARA in the 1960s but frustratingly does not detail these to help the reader understand how effective or ineffective it may have been. Congress and the Department of Justice had a difficult time not explicitly targeting U.S. citizen lobbyists-- who have a constitutional right to petition their government -- and trying to differentiate them from "propagandists" who were explicitly repeating lies of foreign governments on behalf of "foreign principals." The 1966 amendment increased disclosure requirements for those engaged in "political activities," basically lobbying, on behalf of foreign entities. Academics and scientists weren't included, a glaring omission that Michel notes would come back to haunt the law as universities accept millions of dollars from foreign governments via various offshore entities. But enforcement of FARA has always been weak at best, there was never a strong cop on the beat asking questions and keeping records. The lax enforcement over decades created an environment where foreign lobbyists like Manafort scoffed at the disclosure requirements. (It was not until 1999 that we learned from Russian archives that sitting U.S. Congressman Samuel Dicktein was on the Soviet payroll from 1940 to the 1950s.)
Michel notes congress' well-meaning attempt at strengthening enforcement via the 1995 Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA) and amended FARA in an effort to increase transparency amid the rapidly growing lobbying industry that was attracting more and more former U.S. officials into its sphere. But the LDA didn't require details about meetings or the specifics of the work, and Congress made it so lobbyists for foreign companies-- instead of governments explicitly-- could file under the LDA instead of FARA. Congress apparently didn't contemplate that some foreign companies operating in the U.S. weren't solely profit-focused investors and may instead be proxies for foreign governments. (It is ironic because Ivy Lee himself was lobbying for one of the Nazi's collaborating corporations and not the Reich itself.) The number of registrations under FARA fell by two-thirds (loc. 2506).
The author shows the troubling implications as think tanks and universities are increasingly the recipients of foreign funds and have become agents of PR, money laundering, or worse by undemocratic governments. The Clinton Foundation was another egregious example as donations ebbed and flowed based on Hillary Clinton's proximity to real power. (The author notes that the Obama Foundation refuses foreign donations.) Similarly, by 2017 three quarters of Donald Trump's real estate sales were going to anonymous buyers and many foreign regimes spent lavishly at Trump's D.C. hotel (as uncovered after Trump left office and by investigations within some of those countries). Manafort's long history shilling for dictators like Ferdinand Marcos and Mobutu Seko are detailed as is his long history in Ukraine making millions from Yanukovych's pilfering and laundering of state funds. The court documents, Mueller Report, and Senate Intelligence Committee investigation are all sourced along with a great investigative piece from The Atlantic. But fewer people remember Bob Dole as a foreign agent; Michel reminds us that when he ended his life a multimillionaire and water-carrier for the UAE, the Congo, Krgyzstan, and a sanctioned Russian oligarch.
Michel notes all of the people connected to the Trump White House who were prosecuted under FARA, some of whom -- like Manafort-- were convicted and later pardoned of their heinous crimes, others like Steve Wynn-- an agent of the Chinese Communist Party-- who got off due to statute of limitations or juries not buying that they should have known better. "Trump's campaign chief; his foreign policy and economic advisor; his national security advisor; his CIA Director; his personal lawyer; and both the lead and deputy finance chiefs of the Republican National Committee...his deputy campaign manager, (and) his inauguration committee fundraiser" all had undisclosed links to foreign lobbying campaigns that resulted in prosecution (loc. 4553). That is a timely reminder for 2024.
The author ends his book that noting that while Manafort's pardon and Congress' lack of action to strengthen the laws (drafting a couple bipartisan bills that have gone nowhere) have likely emboldened despotic or undemocratic regimes to continue their lobbying activities, ultimately, it's "American firms...officials...nonprofits...consultants...and the American lobbyists helping dictators and tyrants around the globe" that are the real threat (loc. 5346). Our Founding Fathers created a republic that relies on men of good character to make it work. Time and again, the ideals of the republic have been undermined by unscrupulous characters who are willing to sell their principles to a foreign power.
Four stars.
June 17, 2024
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, St. Martin's Press for an advance copy of this book that looks at the history of foreign lobbyists in America, the trouble, they have caused, the lives ruined and how it is only going to get worse.
To paraphrase an odd line from both a book and movie, Money means never having to say you are sorry. Though occasionally even money needs to clean itself up, put on a new pair of clothes, as close to the common person as possible, and change the image a bit. Maybe give money to a school, or be called a a true friend of freedom from a political think tank, or get some arms from the United States to deal with that pesky protest asking for food that makes noon day naps so tough to take. Thankfully there are people whose morals never ask where the money is coming from and sometimes lack the intelligence to wonder why a junior senator from a dairy state is given so much money and chances to be on tv. To facilitate these deals, are lobbyists and agents whose only prerequisite is when does the money clear, and it there are lot of it. Nothing else matters. Foreign Agents: How American Lobbyists and Lawmakers Threaten Democracy Around the World by investigative journalist Casey Michel is both an important book to understand our current state of affairs, and a depressing book as it shows that nothing is going to change, for the spigot of cash to politicians is just too much of a flood to contain. '''
Influencing politicians started almost as soon as the ink was dry on the the Constitution, though it was started with the best of intentions. William Hull of Virginia traveled to the new Capitol with a mission, and an idea. Hull wanted to see how much the Constitution allowed him as a citizen to petition lawmakers for the good of Veterans of the War of Independence. Most of the men had been promised an amount of money, but for many reasons had never received it. Hull tried, but was more stopped by the fact the new nation really was broke, and couldn't pay any of its debts. However the idea of petitioning lawmakers was born. President Grant called these men lobbyists as they waited in his favorite hotel bar, waiting to beg things from him when he stopped for a tipple. The book covers the American backing of Belgiums claims to the Congo, which caused a genocide in the Congo that many Americans do not know. Senate investigations in the 1930's showed that Nazi's were trying to influence American politics, leading to a plan to limit foreign agents, a plan that was well meaning, but underserved. More incidents are explained, the duplicity of American universities, and politicians who have risen far above what their skill set is are also discussed. And of course the previous administration, which was awash in foreign cash, and foreign election aid. One that will only get worse if he returns again.
A book that is both breathtaking at it's look at history, and depressing as Americans know very little about how their governments are for sale on almost every level. Some of the amounts that people sell themselves for are such a pittance, one is almost embarrassed, and the fact that they don't care is far more depressing. Michel knows this subject well, and never bores or wags his finger too much at us for allowing this. The writing is very good, well sourced, and remarkably similar no matter what era it takes place in. History repeats, as does corruption and stupidity. The modern day discussions are very interesting as we literally saw most of this unfold, and yet most of these people are still walking around, pardoned, and going back to the same wells for cash and ways of doing business. And nothing changes.
I recommend this book to people who want to know why protesters are being beaten on college campuses, or why our government spends more overseas than iit does in Flint cleaning the water. Much of why America is looked at sideways but a lot of people can be explained here. Our way of backing the worse people for jus about every job, as long as somehow, someway there is a few dollars in it just constantly amazes me. To quote another famous book, so it goes.
To paraphrase an odd line from both a book and movie, Money means never having to say you are sorry. Though occasionally even money needs to clean itself up, put on a new pair of clothes, as close to the common person as possible, and change the image a bit. Maybe give money to a school, or be called a a true friend of freedom from a political think tank, or get some arms from the United States to deal with that pesky protest asking for food that makes noon day naps so tough to take. Thankfully there are people whose morals never ask where the money is coming from and sometimes lack the intelligence to wonder why a junior senator from a dairy state is given so much money and chances to be on tv. To facilitate these deals, are lobbyists and agents whose only prerequisite is when does the money clear, and it there are lot of it. Nothing else matters. Foreign Agents: How American Lobbyists and Lawmakers Threaten Democracy Around the World by investigative journalist Casey Michel is both an important book to understand our current state of affairs, and a depressing book as it shows that nothing is going to change, for the spigot of cash to politicians is just too much of a flood to contain. '''
Influencing politicians started almost as soon as the ink was dry on the the Constitution, though it was started with the best of intentions. William Hull of Virginia traveled to the new Capitol with a mission, and an idea. Hull wanted to see how much the Constitution allowed him as a citizen to petition lawmakers for the good of Veterans of the War of Independence. Most of the men had been promised an amount of money, but for many reasons had never received it. Hull tried, but was more stopped by the fact the new nation really was broke, and couldn't pay any of its debts. However the idea of petitioning lawmakers was born. President Grant called these men lobbyists as they waited in his favorite hotel bar, waiting to beg things from him when he stopped for a tipple. The book covers the American backing of Belgiums claims to the Congo, which caused a genocide in the Congo that many Americans do not know. Senate investigations in the 1930's showed that Nazi's were trying to influence American politics, leading to a plan to limit foreign agents, a plan that was well meaning, but underserved. More incidents are explained, the duplicity of American universities, and politicians who have risen far above what their skill set is are also discussed. And of course the previous administration, which was awash in foreign cash, and foreign election aid. One that will only get worse if he returns again.
A book that is both breathtaking at it's look at history, and depressing as Americans know very little about how their governments are for sale on almost every level. Some of the amounts that people sell themselves for are such a pittance, one is almost embarrassed, and the fact that they don't care is far more depressing. Michel knows this subject well, and never bores or wags his finger too much at us for allowing this. The writing is very good, well sourced, and remarkably similar no matter what era it takes place in. History repeats, as does corruption and stupidity. The modern day discussions are very interesting as we literally saw most of this unfold, and yet most of these people are still walking around, pardoned, and going back to the same wells for cash and ways of doing business. And nothing changes.
I recommend this book to people who want to know why protesters are being beaten on college campuses, or why our government spends more overseas than iit does in Flint cleaning the water. Much of why America is looked at sideways but a lot of people can be explained here. Our way of backing the worse people for jus about every job, as long as somehow, someway there is a few dollars in it just constantly amazes me. To quote another famous book, so it goes.
September 16, 2024
A Critique of "Foreign Agents" by Casey Michaels: A Missed Opportunity for Balanced Political Insight
Casey Michaels' 'Foreign Agents' promised a deep dive into the murky waters of foreign lobbying in American politics, a topic ripe with intrigue and implications for democracy. However, as a non-American reader seeking an unbiased exploration, I found the book to be a significant letdown due to its evident selection bias.
The premise of 'Foreign Agents' is undeniably compelling: how foreign entities influence American policy through lobbyists and lawmakers. Yet, Michaels' approach seems to skew heavily towards one side of the political spectrum, focusing predominantly on Republican figures, with Donald Trump and his administration receiving the lion's share of scrutiny. This selective focus raises questions about the author's intent and the book's claim to offer a comprehensive view of foreign influence in American politics.
Michaels' narrative, while engaging, misses a crucial opportunity to present a balanced critique. The omission of significant Democratic scandals or instances of corruption, such as those involving Hillary Clinton or the economic policies under President Biden, which have had global repercussions, notably in Venezuela, feels like a deliberate exclusion. This selective memory not only undermines the book's credibility but also its utility as a resource for understanding the full spectrum of political corruption influenced by foreign entities.
The title "Foreign Agents" suggests a broad examination, yet the content largely revolves around Republican figures, which could be interpreted as either a reflection of the subjects chosen or an inherent bias. If the aim was to expose corruption, why limit the scope to one political party? The lack of analysis on the CIA's historical interventions abroad, which could provide context or comparison, further highlights this imbalance.
Moreover, the book's discussion on economic policies, like quantitative easing under Biden, which has had significant international effects, is conspicuously absent. This omission feels particularly glaring when considering the book's focus on how foreign policy and economic decisions impact global relations and domestic politics.
In conclusion, while 'Foreign Agents' by Casey Michaels is well-researched in its chosen areas, it suffers from a severe case of selection bias. For readers interested in a truly comprehensive analysis of how foreign lobbying affects American politics across the board, this book falls short. It reads more like a critique of Republican involvement in foreign lobbying rather than a balanced exploration of the topic. For those looking for an unbiased account, this book might disappoint, leaving one to seek out other sources that offer a more rounded perspective on this critical issue.
Casey Michaels' 'Foreign Agents' promised a deep dive into the murky waters of foreign lobbying in American politics, a topic ripe with intrigue and implications for democracy. However, as a non-American reader seeking an unbiased exploration, I found the book to be a significant letdown due to its evident selection bias.
The premise of 'Foreign Agents' is undeniably compelling: how foreign entities influence American policy through lobbyists and lawmakers. Yet, Michaels' approach seems to skew heavily towards one side of the political spectrum, focusing predominantly on Republican figures, with Donald Trump and his administration receiving the lion's share of scrutiny. This selective focus raises questions about the author's intent and the book's claim to offer a comprehensive view of foreign influence in American politics.
Michaels' narrative, while engaging, misses a crucial opportunity to present a balanced critique. The omission of significant Democratic scandals or instances of corruption, such as those involving Hillary Clinton or the economic policies under President Biden, which have had global repercussions, notably in Venezuela, feels like a deliberate exclusion. This selective memory not only undermines the book's credibility but also its utility as a resource for understanding the full spectrum of political corruption influenced by foreign entities.
The title "Foreign Agents" suggests a broad examination, yet the content largely revolves around Republican figures, which could be interpreted as either a reflection of the subjects chosen or an inherent bias. If the aim was to expose corruption, why limit the scope to one political party? The lack of analysis on the CIA's historical interventions abroad, which could provide context or comparison, further highlights this imbalance.
Moreover, the book's discussion on economic policies, like quantitative easing under Biden, which has had significant international effects, is conspicuously absent. This omission feels particularly glaring when considering the book's focus on how foreign policy and economic decisions impact global relations and domestic politics.
In conclusion, while 'Foreign Agents' by Casey Michaels is well-researched in its chosen areas, it suffers from a severe case of selection bias. For readers interested in a truly comprehensive analysis of how foreign lobbying affects American politics across the board, this book falls short. It reads more like a critique of Republican involvement in foreign lobbying rather than a balanced exploration of the topic. For those looking for an unbiased account, this book might disappoint, leaving one to seek out other sources that offer a more rounded perspective on this critical issue.
December 11, 2025
The author provides a detailed discussion of how lobbyists, law firms, consultants, think tanks, etc. accept payments from foreign governments and foreign leaders (especially repressive autocrats) to help “whitewash” their image and influence US policy in ways that benefit these leaders/governments. He discusses how this financing is hidden. He explains the laws, such as FARA, that are supposed to regulate lobbying activities and foreign agents and how the US government has routinely failed to enforce such laws, including underfunding and understaffing the DOJ component tasked with administering/enforcing FARA compliance. The author focuses a lot of attention on Paul Manafort, who actively assisted numerous despots, as well as the actions of President Trump and other campaign or administration officials. While much of his discussion focuses on individuals with ties to the Republican Party, especially former members of Congress who became lobbyists after leaving public office, he also discusses Democratic Party politicians and advisors who have done the same thing. And in his discussion of non-profit organizations, he addresses in some detail the Clinton Foundation and how donations from or on behalf of foreign governments increased in years when Hillary Clinton was in influential positions (such as Secretary of State) or was running for president and was considered the likely nominee or was the chosen nominee but dropped precipitously in years when Clinton was not in a position to influence policy.
For as much corrupt activity as has been associated with the Trump administrations, and Trump’s clear transactional approach to politics, including foreign policy, it is interesting that it was the Trump administration that first actually made efforts to explore how foreign governments (or individuals or groups acting on behalf of foreign governments) were using donations to universities and think tanks to manipulate public perceptions of their regimes and advance their policy objectives. Disappointingly but not surprisingly, the Biden administration undid those positive steps by neglecting to require think tanks to disclose foreign patrons and by publicly announcing it would stop looking into foreign donations to universities.
For as much corrupt activity as has been associated with the Trump administrations, and Trump’s clear transactional approach to politics, including foreign policy, it is interesting that it was the Trump administration that first actually made efforts to explore how foreign governments (or individuals or groups acting on behalf of foreign governments) were using donations to universities and think tanks to manipulate public perceptions of their regimes and advance their policy objectives. Disappointingly but not surprisingly, the Biden administration undid those positive steps by neglecting to require think tanks to disclose foreign patrons and by publicly announcing it would stop looking into foreign donations to universities.
February 7, 2024
In an era where foreign interference dominates headlines, journalist Casey Michel’s urgent exposé “Foreign Agents” reveals an industry threatening democracies worldwide: the legalized business of foreign lobbying. By meticulously following the money, Michel documents how foreign agents have entrenched dictatorships globally while steering American policy, and have now turned their savvy toward manipulating U.S. democracy itself.
From PR pioneer Ivy Lee sanitizing Mussolini to Paul Manafort deploying his shadowy talents from Ukraine to Trump’s inner sanctum, Michel charts how the $100 billion lobbying industry empowers authoritarians. Strikingly, numerous foreign agents once operated the governmental levers they now grease – not fringe voices but ex-Congressmen and intelligence honchos monetizing public service into private riches.
And for all the focus on Russian electoral interference, Michel exposes wider rot. As exposed cases stack up—from Qatar to Saudi Arabia to Egypt—U.S. operatives across ideologies flaunt few scruples shilling for autocrats, ethics be damned. Yet when their clandestine foreign entanglements surface, they face limited accountability. Instead, aided by polished PR firms, they simply pivot toward the next authoritarian payday while cloaking actions behind lofty NGOs. The halcyon days of bipartisan outrage toward foreign meddling now seem quaint when Americans themselves so nakedly erode democracy, whether at home or overseas, as long as the jackpot hits.
While rigorously researched, Michel’s investigation unfurls with fascinating historical nuggets chronicling foreign interference in American affairs going back centuries. Yet as once unthinkable internal threats metastasize today, “Foreign Agents” represents a chilling wake-up call.
From PR pioneer Ivy Lee sanitizing Mussolini to Paul Manafort deploying his shadowy talents from Ukraine to Trump’s inner sanctum, Michel charts how the $100 billion lobbying industry empowers authoritarians. Strikingly, numerous foreign agents once operated the governmental levers they now grease – not fringe voices but ex-Congressmen and intelligence honchos monetizing public service into private riches.
And for all the focus on Russian electoral interference, Michel exposes wider rot. As exposed cases stack up—from Qatar to Saudi Arabia to Egypt—U.S. operatives across ideologies flaunt few scruples shilling for autocrats, ethics be damned. Yet when their clandestine foreign entanglements surface, they face limited accountability. Instead, aided by polished PR firms, they simply pivot toward the next authoritarian payday while cloaking actions behind lofty NGOs. The halcyon days of bipartisan outrage toward foreign meddling now seem quaint when Americans themselves so nakedly erode democracy, whether at home or overseas, as long as the jackpot hits.
While rigorously researched, Michel’s investigation unfurls with fascinating historical nuggets chronicling foreign interference in American affairs going back centuries. Yet as once unthinkable internal threats metastasize today, “Foreign Agents” represents a chilling wake-up call.
June 7, 2024
Foreign Agent by Casey Michel
Warning! As you read this book you will become angry. It does not matter if your politics are to the Right or to the Left. It is a book about how American greed along with amoral politics creates an American world where foreign dictators and corrupt companies can buy American talent to whitewash their image with the American public and of course our elected officials.
The book begins with Ivy Lee who used his skill to clean up a Rockefeller failure where Rockefeller’s security guard shot and killed 30 miners working at one of his mines. By the time Ivy was done it was the miner’s fault. America was not big enough or had enough money for Ivy so he took his talents to Europe where he made Mussolini and the Fascists, Stalin and the Communists and finally Hitler and the Nazis look presentable to the American public.
From there he focuses on the modern-day charlatan Paul Manafort who started working with despots in Africa before transferring his “talent” to Ukraine and finally Donald Trump.
But as Mr. Michel documents it is not just individuals in the US that take this money it is also Universities and think tanks that will polish the reputations of these dictators for money.
How can they do this ? The US laws are either non-existent, weak or not policed. It is clear why the laws are weak or do not exist as too many of the congressmen are either already accepting money from the lobbyists or hope to leave congress for more lucrative pastures after leaving office.
The book is well written, fair and has over 800 footnotes. As I started, this book will not be a read that leaves you seeing a brighter future ahead for America.
Warning! As you read this book you will become angry. It does not matter if your politics are to the Right or to the Left. It is a book about how American greed along with amoral politics creates an American world where foreign dictators and corrupt companies can buy American talent to whitewash their image with the American public and of course our elected officials.
The book begins with Ivy Lee who used his skill to clean up a Rockefeller failure where Rockefeller’s security guard shot and killed 30 miners working at one of his mines. By the time Ivy was done it was the miner’s fault. America was not big enough or had enough money for Ivy so he took his talents to Europe where he made Mussolini and the Fascists, Stalin and the Communists and finally Hitler and the Nazis look presentable to the American public.
From there he focuses on the modern-day charlatan Paul Manafort who started working with despots in Africa before transferring his “talent” to Ukraine and finally Donald Trump.
But as Mr. Michel documents it is not just individuals in the US that take this money it is also Universities and think tanks that will polish the reputations of these dictators for money.
How can they do this ? The US laws are either non-existent, weak or not policed. It is clear why the laws are weak or do not exist as too many of the congressmen are either already accepting money from the lobbyists or hope to leave congress for more lucrative pastures after leaving office.
The book is well written, fair and has over 800 footnotes. As I started, this book will not be a read that leaves you seeing a brighter future ahead for America.
September 30, 2024
For years, American companies have lobbied Congress to benefit their clients, most notably the oil and gas industry, banking, insurance, big pharma, and a multitude of others. It's an accepted part of America. But what happens when foreign governments and their kleptocratic networks work to curry favor with Congress and guide our own foreign policy. In this expose, Michel chronicles the who, what, where, and how autocracies around the world use American lobbyists to burnish their image with the help of American institutions. It is seamy, reprehensible, morally bankrupt, and shameless, but technically legal. Beginning back in the 30's it was Ivy Lee who represented Mussolini and Hitler to make their cause more palatable to the American public. Today, Paul Manafort (before being brought to justice and subsequently pardoned by Trump) is a leading practitioner that has ushered numerous despots into the halls of Washington to guide US foreign policy. This burgeoning lobbying industry now includes high class law firms, consultancies, PR agencies, non-profits, think tanks, former Congressmen, former generals and even Harvard University. Profits over patriotism. Recently, Senator Bob Menendez of New Jersey was convicted of corruption and conspiracy in a case where he supplied secret information to Egypt. And he chaired the committee on Foreign Relations. Sheesh! To stop this insanity, The SHAME (Stop Helping Adversaries Manipulate Everything Act of 2022 is a good start. Not surprisingly, it did not pass.
September 30, 2024
Not for the faint hearted as this is a dark look into what goes into the sausage of US lawmaking, elections and policies, both in the US and abroad. The author does a solid job of following the money and providing a historical framework for why enforcement has been so awful and what can potentially be done to change.
I wish he had more material regarding how the 'message'that's disseminate via MSM is manipulated. With quotes like "making sure it's only the regime's message that gets heard - and the regime's preferred image that gets seen." A salient and critical point that the author fails to ever elaborate on. Unfortunately the author's association and reliance on The Financial Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, etc likely restricted them from providing valuable analysis and examples of exactly how the lobbying agencies control the message by influencing these critical outlets. Mr Michel only alludes to "American Journalists" bring paid to travel and write about resource regime's.
Granted he takes the NYT's David Sanger to account for his biased coverage (weird that he singles him out) and occasionally alludes to other media failings. Unfortunately he generally gives them and himself by default a pass. Granted the book is not specifically about media disinformation, I just feel that since it's influence on the populace is quite potent it would have been with a but more detailing, perhaps even a chapter.
I wish he had more material regarding how the 'message'that's disseminate via MSM is manipulated. With quotes like "making sure it's only the regime's message that gets heard - and the regime's preferred image that gets seen." A salient and critical point that the author fails to ever elaborate on. Unfortunately the author's association and reliance on The Financial Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, etc likely restricted them from providing valuable analysis and examples of exactly how the lobbying agencies control the message by influencing these critical outlets. Mr Michel only alludes to "American Journalists" bring paid to travel and write about resource regime's.
Granted he takes the NYT's David Sanger to account for his biased coverage (weird that he singles him out) and occasionally alludes to other media failings. Unfortunately he generally gives them and himself by default a pass. Granted the book is not specifically about media disinformation, I just feel that since it's influence on the populace is quite potent it would have been with a but more detailing, perhaps even a chapter.
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