InfluenceWatch Podcast

Ep. 400: 2026: A Look Ahead at Who Funds That

Hello, I’m Michael Watson and this is the 400th episode of the InfluenceWatch Podcast. For us, it is a time for looking back and a time for looking forward—we will have a special announcement at the conclusion of today’s episode. Joining me to discuss their work at Capital Research Center are our director of communications and external relations and my usual co-host Sarah Lee, investigative researcher Parker Thayer, and senior research analyst Robert Stilson.Big Philanthropy “decolonizes” itselfTrump’s labor agencies get to work for independent workersSuspicious immigration NGO rakes in tax dollars in Columbus

Ep. 399: Will Wealth Tax Wreck the Economy?

You may have seen news reports that California is facing something called “outmigration,” in which residents – including some of that state’s most wealthy – are picking up and moving to greener pastures in states not dedicated to taxing them to death. California’s billionaires are most recently eyeing a ballot measure to be voted on this November that would essentially serve as a 5% excise tax for the crime of being billionaires. This has led to many of the state’s prominent entrepreneurs like Google’s Sergey Brin, Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg, and Paypal’s Peter Thiel to make their objections known with their feet and their moving trucks. But what if a federal wealth tax were imposed, like the one recently introduced by Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Ro Khanna, and there was nowhere to run? And, given how much these individuals give to philanthropy – for better or worse – what would happen to that giving if Sanders and Khanna were to succeed? Joining us to discuss is Andrew Wilford, Director of State Policy at the National Taxpayer Union Foundation, who has been writing about the possible calamities surrounding a wealth tax for many years. California Wealth Tax Proposal Achieves a New Feat in Tax Policy: Losing the State Money Before It Even Becomes LawThe Wealth Tax's Impact on Private CharitiesBernie Sanders’s Radical Wealth TaxBig Labor’s bid to kill its Golden State

Ep. 398: The Mullahs' Friends in America

As we speak—it’s February 25th as we record, so commentary on the current situation may be out of date when you hear this—a naval armada of two fleet carriers and their accompanying surface-ship escorts sits off the Middle East as American diplomats pressure the Islamic Republic of Iran to renounce its nuclear ambitions and its expansionist agenda to dominate the region. Given the brutality of the Iranian regime—estimates suggest the regime killed at least 6,000 and perhaps in excess of 30,000 Iranians who protested against it earlier this year—you would think that Americans, even those who oppose armed conflict to depose the regime, would universally acknowledge the Mullah-ocracy’s evil. But you would be wrong. Joining us today to discuss those who don’t is our colleague Robert Stilson.Iran and the anti-American leftThe Anti-American Left: CommunophilismCRC News: Congress asks CRC about foreign funding of American NGOsCommunist Party USA (CPUSA)

Ep. 397: Teachers Unions Target Target

That teachers’ unions are more interested in radical leftist political power than student achievement is increasingly recognized, and today’s guest brings two new pieces of evidence to pile on the scales. First, AFT president Randi Weingarten, the under-recognized villain of the COVID-19 pandemic, announced to a videoconference of radical-left activists that she was leveraging teachers’ pensions against Target to get the company to denounce immigration enforcement. Then, we dive deeply into Union del Barrio, a radical anti-immigration-enforcement group that may take control of Los Angeles’s teachers union. Stu Smith of the Manhattan Institute, who surfaced the Weingarten clip and recently wrote on UdB, joins us to discuss.Meet the Radicals Running to Lead the Los Angeles Teachers’ UnionMeet the radicals who ran to lead LA’s teachers union, Unión del Barrio and its offshoots.Randi Weingarten’s Fight With Target Isn’t Remotely About Education

Ep. 396: Congress Tackles Foreign Nonprofit Funding

Foreign influence in American nonprofit organizations. It’s real, it has influence on our public life, and Congress has taken note of it. Joining me to discuss the influence of foreign funding of voter registration, ballot initiatives, and the rest of the American nonprofit sector are three of Capital Research Center’s experts on the topic: Senior Research Analyst Robert Stilson, Investigative Researcher Parker Thayer, and last but not least President Scott Walter, who testified to the House Ways and Means Committee last week.(Congressional testimony) Foreign Influence in American Nonprofits: Unmasking Threats from Beijing and BeyondPeople’s Support Foundation (PSF)Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF)Hansjorg WyssThinking About Fiscal Sponsorship: The Form 990 Black HoleThinking About Fiscal Sponsorship: Potential Reforms