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Presented by Freight Rail Works: Delivered daily, Influence gives you a comprehensive rundown and analysis of all lobby hires and news on K Street. | | | | |  | | By Hailey Fuchs | | | With Daniel Lippman RUSSIAN STATE MEDIA FINDS HOME ON RUMBLE: Forced off mainstream platforms, a number of radio shows associated with Russian state-run media have found a welcome home on Rumble, the video-sharing platform favored by conservatives and the far right. — Over the past few weeks, four shows on Sputnik, a news agency and radio broadcaster controlled by the Russian state media group Rossiya Segodnya , began broadcasting on Rumble, which has become popular with the far-right and Trump-supporting crowd. Their adoption of the venue has come following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, after which platforms like Google and DirecTV booted Russian programming off their services. — The moves underscore how the far-right and self-professed open-speech sites continue to provide havens for Russian state information. But it also illustrates how limited the reach of those news sources has become in the wake of the Ukraine invasion as they face dissent from within their own ranks over the war. — Rumble reported 36 million average monthly users in the third quarter of 2021, a number massively dwarfed by YouTube. Used by the likes of Steve Bannon and — albeit infrequently — former President Donald Trump, Rumble has taken on the posture of an anti-cancel-culture YouTube. The company boasts a “mission to protect a free and open internet.” But it's become a home for far-right conspiracy theories and conservatives booted from mainstream sites. Rumble did not respond to a request for comment. — At least four Sputnik shows —“Fault Lines,” “Political Misfits,” “By Any Means Necessary” and "The Backstory" — appeared to begin posting their content on Rumble on March 14, around the time that Google moved to ban Sputnik. As of mid-March, "Fault Lines" was booted from YouTube. The show’s Twitter account told followers, “Fault Lines has been banned by Big Tech, but that won't stop us.” It included a link to its Rumble page. In what appears to be its first video on the site, one of the show’s hosts, Jamarl Thomas , explained to listeners that the programming was in need of a new home. — The Sputnik shows push criticism of mainstream Western media and government, especially around the war in Ukraine. The hosts of "Fault Lines" have questioned President Joe Biden’s description of Russian President Vladimir Putin as a “war criminal,” disparaged media coverage of the ongoing conflict and defended Russia’s decision to invade Ukraine. On the show "By Any Means Necessary" streamed on March 14, hosts claimed the U.S. was the true “aggressor,” bemoaned the “anti-Putin hysteria” and suggested the U.S., in fact, wanted Russia to invade Ukraine to sway public opinion in favor of America and the West. Good afternoon and welcome to PI. I’m your host of the newsletter for the rest of the week and excited to take the helm! Send tips to hfuchs@politico.com. And be sure to follow me on Twitter: @Hailey_Fuchs.
| | A message from Freight Rail Works: In times of recovery, America needs a transportation network that can keep goods moving, help businesses prosper and remain responsive to changing customer needs. Not only does freight rail invest $25 billion annually to provide U.S. businesses with safe, reliable service. Today’s rail shipping rates are 44% lower than in 1981, which keeps U.S. businesses competitive. See how railroads are helping America get back on track. | | | HEMP TAKES ON THE HILL: Negotiations over the next farm bill could create a conflict between Big Hemp and Big Crop, my colleagues Ximena Bustillo and Natalie Fertig report. — “The nascent hemp industry is ready to advocate for a slice of the next farm bill’s funding pie. But many fruit, vegetable and nut growers see the prospect of a new crop dipping into the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s pockets as a threat, further shrinking their share of the approximately $1 billion in specialty crop funding.” — “The 2014 farm bill defined specialty crops as ‘Fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops used for food, medicinal purposes, or aesthetic gratification.’ Those crops are eligible for grants funded through the farm bill and administered by state departments of agriculture for research, marketing and technical assistance.” — “Hemp’s interest in gaining access to the funding — which represents just a sliver of the $400 billion-plus package that Congress authorizes every five years — is setting off another farm bill lobbying war that lawmakers will have to settle while keeping the 2023 measure ‘cost neutral,’ as they’ve pledged. But hemp advocates are positioning themselves to push their case, gaining support from some ag groups despite opposition from others.” DEMS WANT SEC TO IDENTIFY FOREIGN-OWNED COMPANIES’ INFLUENCE IN ELECTIONS: In a letter that a coalition of House Democrats planned to send on Thursday, the lawmakers urged the Securities and Exchange Commission to “adopt regulations to identify foreign-owned companies that spend corporate funds to influence elections,” Roll Call’s Kate Ackley reports. — “The letter, shared first with CQ Roll Call, cites Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to underscore the urgent need for the action.” — “‘Foreign interests have spent many millions of dollars in recent U.S. elections, often through “dark money” channels, and we witnessed unprecedented foreign efforts to undermine our democracy during the 2016 election cycle,’ the letter stated. ‘Further, as Russia continues its illegal war on Ukraine and the U.S. and its allies impose sanctions on President [Vladimir] Putin and Russia’s complicit oligarchs, we cannot forget that those same oligarchs likely have millions stowed away in U.S. corporations.’”
| | | | SUBSCRIBE TO NATIONAL SECURITY DAILY : Keep up with the latest critical developments from Ukraine and across Europe in our daily newsletter, National Security Daily. The Russian invasion of Ukraine could disrupt the established world order and result in a refugee crisis, increased cyberattacks, rising energy costs and additional disruption to global supply chains. Go inside the top national security and foreign-policymaking shops for insight on the global threats faced by the U.S. and its allies and what actions world leaders are taking to address them. Subscribe today. | | | | | VELA TO AKIN GUMP: Rep. Filemón Vela (D-Texas) will resign from Congress for a position at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, Punchbowl News’ Heather Caygle reports. — Vela, who has been in Congress since 2013, had already announced he would not seek reelection in 2022. He is expected to resign in the coming weeks. FIRST IN PI: Christy Gamble joins Forbes Tate Partners as senior vice president, where she will lead the firm’s Research and Policy Analysis Department. Gamble was formerly director of research, policy and practice at HUED , a startup connecting patients of color with culturally competent health and medical professionals. CORRECTION: Wednesday’s version of Influence incorrectly stated a signatory to a letter opposing the inclusion of the “Eliminating Global Market Distortions to Protect American Jobs Act of 2021” in the Bipartisan Innovation Act. It was the National Foreign Trade Council.
| | | — Elizabeth Craddock, a former partner with Jones Walker, has joined Holland & Knight. She was also formerly vice president of government affairs for the International Association of Drilling Contractors. — Chris Krepich has joined Nahigian Strategies as director of communications for health care. He most recently worked as communications director for Rep. Brad Wenstrup and the GOP Doctors Caucus, and he is an alum of former Reps. Jim Sensenbrenner, Keith Rothfus and Sean Duffy. — Alex Butcher-Nesbitt is joining NBC as a senior comms manager focused on “Meet the Press.” He previously led the media relations team at Proof Strategies. — Sherise Bright is joining the Human Rights Campaign as senior VP of comms and marketing. She previously was chief comms officer at Lambda Legal. — Shawn Gaylord is joining the Raben Group as a principal. He currently is executive director of the Congressional LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus.
| | | | A message from Freight Rail Works:   | | | | | | None.
| | | American Freedom Trust (Super PAC)
IL-13 Republican Nominee Fund 2022 (PAC)
Real Democrats of Virginia (Super PAC)
Defend Justice America (PAC)
Vermonters for a Democratic Majority (Super PAC)
| | | | DON’T MISS POLITICO’S INAUGURAL HEALTH CARE SUMMIT ON 3/31: Join POLITICO for a discussion with health care providers, policymakers, federal regulators, patient representatives, and industry leaders to better understand the latest policy and industry solutions in place as we enter year three of the pandemic. Panelists will discuss the latest proposals to overcome long-standing health care challenges in the U.S., such as expanding access to care, affordability, and prescription drug prices. REGISTER HERE. | | | | | | | New Lobbying Registrations | | Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP: Nexgen Power Systems
Mr. H.R. Bert Pena: Margo Rx LLC (Dba Richard'S Pharmacy)
City Of Dillingham: City Of Dillingham
A1.9 Strategies LLC: O'Brien, Gentry, & Scott Obo X-Bow Launch Systems
Cassidy & Associates, Inc.: Vision Products, LLC
Cassidy & Associates, Inc.: Nimitz Group, LLC
K&L Gates, LLP: Pacific Defense Strategies, Inc.
Cassidy & Associates, Inc.: Wilson City, LLC
Cassidy & Associates, Inc.: Chainanalysis, Inc
Cassidy & Associates, Inc.: Phenom Resources Corp.
Strategies 360: Taloma Partners (On Behalf Of Buildstrong Education)
The Majority Group, LLC: Croptrak (Cogent3D, Inc)
Crowell & Moring International, LLC: Springer Nature Limited
Brody Group L.L.C. Public Affairs: Qarbon Aerospace
Carpi & Clay, Inc: Santa Cruz County Flood Control And Water Conservation District, Zone No. 7
Cohen & Gresser LLP: Americans For Financial Reform
Capitol Decisions, Inc.: Van Scoyoc Associates (Upfield US Inc.)
Van Scoyoc Associates: Eckerd College
Forbes-Tate: Kenneth B. Morgan Pc On Behalf Of Kwell Laboratories
The Majority Group, LLC: Nationstar Mortgage
The Majority Group, LLC: Mid America Mortgage
The Majority Group, LLC: Chelan Fruit Growers Cooperative
The Majority Group, LLC: International Farming (Ifc)
Keefe Singiser Partners, Fka Keefe Strategies LLC: Demos, A Network For Ideas And Actions
Welsh Rose, LLC: Bluestone Strategies (On Behalf Of America'S Health Insurance Plans)
Bridge Public Affairs, LLC: Novonix Anode Materials LLC
Van Scoyoc Associates: Nozomi Networks
The Mckeon Group, Inc.: Harmonia Holdingd Group LLC
The Mckeon Group, Inc.: Santa Clarita Community College (College Of The Canyons)
Invariant LLC: Egan-Jones Ratings Company
Invariant LLC: Skyryse, Inc.
Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP Dba Taft Advisors LLC Fka (Taft, Stettinius & Hollister, LLP): Harrison, Temblador, Hungerford, & Guernsey On Behalf Of D&D Landholdings
Blank Rome Government Relations: Shreveport Area Transit System (Sportran)
The Mcmanus Group: Adagio Therapeutics
Williams And Jensen, Pllc: Huvepharma
The Mcmanus Group: Avadel Pharmaceuticals
| | New Lobbying Terminations | | BGR Government Affairs: Disposerx, Inc.
BGR Government Affairs: Amarin Pharm Inc.
Kent Caperton Consulting: Public Strategies Washington On Behalf Of Rev
Tremont Strategies Group LLC: Avadel Pharmaceuticals Plc
Adaptive Biotechnologies: Adaptive Biotechnologies
| | A message from Freight Rail Works: Alleviating an extraordinary supply chain crisis requires an extraordinary transportation network—like America’s freight railroads. The dedicated employees of America’s freight railroads are working 24/7 to find powerful solutions to maximize efficiency and reliability. Learn more about how railroads are creating an unbreakable link between manufacturers, retailers and other critical rail customers. | | | | | | | Follow us | | | | |  |
