“Bought and Paid For: Lobbyists Steal Your Freedom”

Summary

The video claims that corporate lobbying dominates U.S. lawmaking, with $4.44 billion spent on lobbying in 2024 and approximately 11,500 registered lobbyists in Washington. It states that pharmaceutical companies spent nearly $387 million in 2024 and $4.7 billion from 1999 to 2018, and cites specific examples including Bayer lobbying for liability protections in Missouri, Iowa, and Idaho, and over 6,000 lobbyists working on tax policy in 2024.

Topic

System & Policy · also covers: Healthcare & Medical Debt, Housing Crisis, Cost of Living

States referenced

• Missouri: Bayer lobbied to pass laws shielding the company from Roundup cancer liability.
• Iowa: Bayer lobbied to pass laws shielding the company from Roundup cancer liability.
• Idaho: Bayer lobbied to pass laws shielding the company from Roundup cancer liability.

Laws & ordinances mentioned

• Federal — Medicare negotiation ban on drug prices

  Prohibited Medicare from negotiating lower prescription drug prices until recently

  Impact: Kept U.S. drug prices higher, including insulin at $300 per vial

• Federal — Protect IP Act (PIPA)

  A proposed bill to restrict online piracy that died after a tech industry-backed public campaign

  Impact: Cited as an example of corporate self-interest shaping legislative outcomes through public mobilization

• Missouri, Iowa, Idaho — State liability shield laws for Bayer/Roundup

  Limits or blocks lawsuits from farmers, consumers, and cancer victims over Roundup exposure

  Impact: Reduces legal recourse for individuals harmed by the product

Figures cited

• $4.44 billion — lobbying spending in 2024
• 11,500 — number of lobbyists in Washington
• 20 lobbyists for every single US senator — ratio of lobbyists to senators
• nearly $387 million — pharmaceutical lobbying spending in 2024
• $4.7 billion — pharmaceutical lobbying spending from 1999 to 2018
• over 6,000 — lobbyists who worked on tax policy in 2024
• over 85% — share of tax policy lobbyists representing corporations rather than citizens
• $300 a vial — insulin price in the United States
• $30 — insulin price in Canada

Pain points addressed

• I can't afford my medications even though I work hard

• I feel like my vote doesn't change anything

• Small businesses like mine can't compete with corporations that pay no taxes

• I don't trust that politicians are working for people like me

• I worry my Social Security and Medicare will be cut to protect corporate profits