The Wolves of K Street: The Secret History of How Big Money Took Over Big Government

by Brody Mullins, Luke Mullins

Two veteran investigative journalists trace the rise of the modern lobbying industry through the three dynasties—one Republican, two Democratic—that have enabled corporate interests to infiltrate American politics and undermine our democracy.

On K Street, a few blocks from the White House, you’ll find the offices of the most powerful men in Washington. In the 1970s, the city’s center of gravity began to shift away from elected officials in big marble buildings to a handful of savvy, handsomely paid operators who didn’t answer to any fixed constituency.

The cigar-chomping son of a powerful Congressman, an illustrious political fixer with a weakness for modern art, a Watergate-era dirty trickster, the city’s favorite cocktail party host…these were the sorts of men who now ran Washington. Over four decades, they’d chart new ways to turn their clients’ cash into political leverage, abandoning favor-trading in smoke-filled rooms for increasingly sophisticated tactics like “shadow lobbying,” where underground campaigns sparked seemingly organic public outcries to pressure lawmakers into taking actions that would ultimately benefit corporate interests rather than the common good. With billions of dollars at play, these lobbying dynasties enshrined in Washington a pro-business consensus that would guide the country’s political leaders—Democrats and Republicans alike—allowing companies to flourish even as ordinary Americans buckled under the weight of stagnant wages, astronomical drug prices, unsafe home loans, and digital monopolies. A good lobbyist could kill even a piece of legislation supported by the president, both houses of Congress, and a majority of Americans.

Yet, nothing lasts forever. Amidst a populist backlash to the soaring inequality these lobbyists helped usher in, Washington’s pro-business alliance suddenly began to unravel. And while new ways for corporations to control the federal government would emerge, the men who’d once built K Street found themselves under legal scrutiny and on the verge of financial collapse. One had his namesake firm ripped away by his own colleagues. Another watched his business shut down altogether. One went to prison. And one was found dead behind the 18th green of an exclusive golf club, with a bottle of $1,500 wine at his feet and a bullet in his head.

A dazzling and infuriating portrait of fifty years of corporate influence in Washington, The Wolves of K Street is a masterpiece of narrative nonfiction—irresistibly dramatic, spectacularly timely, explosive in its revelations, and absolutely impossible to put down.

Genres: Politics, History, Nonfiction, Economics, Business, Audiobook, American History

624 pages, Hardcover

Published May 7, 2024

Reviews

[Ali · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was disturbing, and it is only scratching the surface of lobbying world in DC. Wolves of K Street are as despicable as “The Wolf of Wall Street”. What is more appalling is I live in the same geography with few of the eight influence peddlers Mullins bros track in here although they seem to be living in a parallel universe. While I’m taking the metro to DC one of these could not fit his two Porches to the driveway or his large luxury yacht to the marina while sipping wine or whiskey from multiple thousand dollar bottles. I couldn’t care less if they weren’t messing with builtin checks and balances in the democratic system. Their sheer greed is ruining lives of millions while they’re milking both sides say on healthcare or energy or environmental policy; just good old boys cutting deals in private golf clubs. Where does the good democracy go if few greedy lawyers can swing significant public policies nothing but just for a few more dollars…

[Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great history of influence peddling. The characters in this book are out of this world yet real people we all know from the news. This book is informative and entertaining. In depth reporting at the highest level.

A fantastic listen. I found myself volunteering to run errands just to listen in the car.

[Lizzie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5. I’d say this would be on the Intro to Poli Com syllabus but I fear some gw students would read this as a how-to… certainly very well researched but adding to the long list of books that wish they were Dark Money.

[Piper · Rating 3 out of 5]

I FINISHED A BOOK! gossipy and a fun read, but not particularly revelatory if you have a brain and eyes

[Csparrenberger · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read 196 pages of this book and could go no further. I was mired down in totally uninteresting detail. Approximately eight major players were mentioned in this book over and over and over and it would’ve really been helpful to have had some pictures of these people to help to humanize them. Therefore, one star.

[Jordan Dickinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very informative and fun to read book. Provided a great history of some of the biggest players in lobbying and are still relevant today. The writing is interesting and keeps you engaged. I would have preferred not to have some of the commentary from the writers and rather let the facts speak for themselves. This is a must read for anyone who wants to go into politics and learn from some of the brightest minds in the field about how to be successful.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exceptionally well researched and detailed account of how lobbying has evolved throughout the years

[Grace Kessler · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredibly compelling investigation of the outsized influence of lobbying in government. Truly an engaging read!

[Christy Matthews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really fantastic look into lobbying in DC and it's evolution and corruption over time. Well written and managed to stay non-political and objective on what might be the most political topic of all time. The book was well researched and is engaging and page turning.

[Linda Fink · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great, but disturbing book.

[Sean Mason · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book, easy to read, and interesting. Not sure it needed to make a point/conclusion.

[Kelster S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this history of lobbying. If you know DC politics and the legal community, this is a page-turner.

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting topic but bogged down by uninteresting details

[Keshav · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well paced, good narrative structuring, and genuinely interesting. Relatedly, a Paul Manafort movie is beginning to seem inevitable.

[Jimmy FitzPatrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I have read this year. Explains the current state of affairs in dc with the pace of a novel. Could not recommend enough

[Sarah Lackey · Rating 5 out of 5]

If there was ever a fear that I was going to hell, let it be known that there is a long list of power hungry men that are going there first. Lobbying (and influence-peddling, as the authors call it) is pervasive and inevitable regardless of party or belief. Definitely worth reading if you want to become a bit more informed on how a single industry quietly shapes our laws and government, or just on US policymaking in general (for context, I didn’t know what PAC stood for prior to starting this book).

[Jacques McFadden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Should be mandatory DC reading

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

we think we know…we don’t.

Everyone says that Washington is run by big business, but until you read this book it is hard to truly grasp how much of not only Washington but all of this country is bought and paid for by big businesses. To be better informed is to hopefully allow us to better think for ourselves. Certainly worth a read.

[Phillip Gauronskas · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very interesting book I decided to pick up at random while visiting the book store. Normally, I am not into non-fiction, especially not of the political variety, but the title immediately stood out to me because I have long suspected the current US government is a corporate puppet that largely exists to impose and enforce legislation which benefits the extremely wealthy at the expense of everyone else. If that sort of thing is your cup of tea, I would highly recommend this book, especially since it has only been out for a few months now, and is particularly relevant to the current situation in Washington. Brody and Luke Mullins have done very extensive and exhaustive work and compiled over 70 years of US lobbying history into an easy to digest, enjoyable read, even for non-political people like me. That said, definitely give this book a look if you want to learn how the US federal government came to be the way it currently is.

[Jacob · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had some fascinating stories but was way too long. It talks about the rise of lobbying in the second half of the twentieth century, focusing on key figures like Podesta, Boggs, and Manafort. There were some interesting changes that took place during this time, including the shift from lobbyists appealing directly to lawmakers through backroom deals to lobbyists attempting to change public opinion on issues, influencing lawmakers via increased pressure from constituents. It’s not exactly news that business leaders and Congressional representatives coordinate with one another, but seeing the extent of it was still surprising. The lobbyists work with some certain foreign governments also caught my eye.

All of that said, I think this book should have been shorter. I lost steam towards the end as the stories began to blend together and share common themes. This was the main reason why I’d say the book was not great but still enjoyable.

[Cameron Luther · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tells the story of how the modern US lobbying industry arose, following key players, including Trump allies familiar to readers of the Mueller report, Tommy Hale Boggs, and Tommy Podesta. The book documents how businesses decided to take a more aggressive stance towards affecting legislation in the 1970s, with the lobbying industry serving to implement these ambitions. Lobbyists then worked to undercut regulations from the New Deal through the consumer protection drive of the 70s and then undercut every piece of legislation since. You can start to see how the status quo of a pro-business Democratic and Republican party emerged from this landscape. The lobbyists chosen all follow the money until they spend their reputational capital or try to swallow too much, which adds a fun morality play argument. We need more limits on corporate money in politics. What do corporations have to add to our conversations, and what should they stay silent on.

[Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did it take me almost 3 months to read it? Yes. Was it worth it? Absolutely. No one knows how to spin a story like Brody and Luke, and you'd be hard pressed to find other reporters who know lobbying and influence better than they do. It's colorful, entertaining and I savored every page until the perfect final paragraph.

"The unwinding of the pro-business consensus won't doom Washington lobbyists. It will simply force them to innovate once again: develop new alliances, tools, and tactics to advance their agenda in a changing capital city. It will also, of course, require new people. A new set of power brokers and lobbying dynasties to define a new era. New fortunes to be made, new rules to be broken. New stories to be told."

[A.C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want to understand why everything is terrible in American politics, you must read this book. Every miserable thing you loath about this system tracks back to the terrible way that lobbying has infiltrated and poisoned every level of our government from voters (you're complicit if you don't actually research candidates and issues) to the politicians and the media that (doesn't) hold them to account. An infuriating, essential read if there ever was one.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books of the year. A must read for anyone in politics or the DC sphere! It was fun, intriguing, made me angry, and put me on to a ton of bad people that still work in DC today! This book does a great job of tying overarching political themes/historical events to the development of lobbying and money in politics and how it’s ruining our democracy.

[Chris Leach · Rating 5 out of 5]

outstanding, insightful and informative

I was delighted and impressed with the ease and flow and objectivity of this story. Once started this book is at the top of the “can’t put it down scale”.

[Ava · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thrilling, fast-paced epic detailing the 3 dynasties that created modern lobbying...and how they all fell from grace lol it's called karma

[[they're still rich though, so flawed karma]]

[Ceil · Rating 5 out of 5]

The rise of K Street corruption (roughly 1970 - 1997), is a depressing tour of the late 20th century. Well done, highly relevant to today's corruption. You'll want to take a shower.

[David Dayen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent account of how lobbying took over Washington, and adapted to any change in government.

[Vinny Badolato · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great and detailed view of the yucky side of DC lobbying.

[Cedric Jacob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read and really illustrates the point very well.