Embedded Files
How Congress, Corporations, and Wall Street
Are Writing Our Future
They smile for the cameras, write checks behind closed doors, and sell your rights to the highest bidder.
They smile for the cameras, write checks behind closed doors, and sell your rights to the highest bidder.
This is not a conspiracy theory. This is how the United States government functions, and malfunctions at the intersection of Congress, corporate lobbying, and Wall Street greed. And every time they pass a bill that sounds too shiny to be true (yes, I’m looking at you, “Big Beautiful Bill”), it’s usually because it is.
This is not a conspiracy theory. This is how the United States government functions, and malfunctions at the intersection of Congress, corporate lobbying, and Wall Street greed. And every time they pass a bill that sounds too shiny to be true (yes, I’m looking at you, “Big Beautiful Bill”), it’s usually because it is.
Let’s break it down.
Let’s break it down.
1. The Power Players: Congress and Lobbyists
1. The Power Players: Congress and Lobbyists
Lobbying isn’t just legal, it’s one of the most lucrative investments corporations can make.
Lobbying isn’t just legal, it’s one of the most lucrative investments corporations can make.
Insurance companies, pharmaceutical giants, oil titans, and mega-corporations, they all have entire departments or hire firms to wine, dine, and influence our lawmakers.
Insurance companies, pharmaceutical giants, oil titans, and mega-corporations, they all have entire departments or hire firms to wine, dine, and influence our lawmakers.
Want to know why insulin prices stay sky high? Why Medicare is under constant threat of cuts? Why environmental protections are gutted in the middle of a climate crisis?
Want to know why insulin prices stay sky high? Why Medicare is under constant threat of cuts? Why environmental protections are gutted in the middle of a climate crisis?
Follow the money.
Follow the money.
According to OpenSecrets, corporate lobbying expenditures hit nearly $4 billion in 2023. That’s not charity. That’s pay-to-play politics.
According to OpenSecrets, corporate lobbying expenditures hit nearly $4 billion in 2023. That’s not charity. That’s pay-to-play politics.
2. The Wall Street Connection
2. The Wall Street Connection
These corporations don’t just lobby for favorable policy. They bank on it.
These corporations don’t just lobby for favorable policy. They bank on it.
When a bill hits the floor, investors start whispering. When regulations are slashed, stocks spike. It’s all part of a game where access equals advantage and profit.
When a bill hits the floor, investors start whispering. When regulations are slashed, stocks spike. It’s all part of a game where access equals advantage and profit.
In healthcare, it looks like this:
In healthcare, it looks like this:
- Privatize care.
- Slash safety nets.
- Watch UnitedHealth, Cigna, Pfizer, and others rack up record-breaking stock prices.
Meanwhile, Americans are paying more and getting less.
Meanwhile, Americans are paying more and getting less.
3. The “Big Beautiful” Bait and Switch
3. The “Big Beautiful” Bait and Switch
Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill wasn’t about improving healthcare. It was about diverting public funds into private hands:
Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill wasn’t about improving healthcare. It was about diverting public funds into private hands:
- Cuts to Medicaid under the guise of “budget responsibility”
- Expanding high-deductible private plans that benefit insurers
- Removing federal protections while claiming to increase “freedom of choice”
But let’s call it what it is: a shell game.
But let’s call it what it is: a shell game.
It moved taxpayer dollars away from accessible public programs and straight into the coffers of billion-dollar corporations.
It moved taxpayer dollars away from accessible public programs and straight into the coffers of billion-dollar corporations.
4. The Real Cost: The People & Our Environment
4. The Real Cost: The People & Our Environment
This isn't isolated.
This isn't isolated.
- Environmental protections are bargained away for oil leases and campaign donations.
- The economy is a rigged game where the wealthy win, and the rest of us are left to pick up the pieces.
- And the people? We’re losing access to services we depend on just to survive.
And behind it all is the same dance: policy for profit.
And behind it all is the same dance: policy for profit.
This isn’t theoretical. The cost is human. Families are losing access to the most basic supports, not just Medicaid, but nutrition programs, and disability services that once made survival possible.
This isn’t theoretical. The cost is human. Families are losing access to the most basic supports, not just Medicaid, but nutrition programs, and disability services that once made survival possible.
And still, behind every cut, deregulation, or executive order is a pattern of personal profit and political gain.
And still, behind every cut, deregulation, or executive order is a pattern of personal profit and political gain.
Trump’s Financial Entanglements
Trump’s Financial Entanglements
Despite handing over day-to-day management of the Trump Organization to his sons, Trump retained ownership and the ability to profit from business deals influenced by federal policy.
Despite handing over day-to-day management of the Trump Organization to his sons, Trump retained ownership and the ability to profit from business deals influenced by federal policy.
- Trump properties received over $38 million from political entities between 2008 and 2024.
That’s not just bad optics. That’s a direct conflict of interest.
That’s not just bad optics. That’s a direct conflict of interest.
Policy Favors with Corporate Kickbacks
Policy Favors with Corporate Kickbacks
In 2025, Trump signed an executive order to align U.S. drug prices with the lowest international rates, a move marketed as pro-consumer.
In 2025, Trump signed an executive order to align U.S. drug prices with the lowest international rates, a move marketed as pro-consumer.
But what happened?
But what happened?
- Medicare negotiations were delayed, giving drug companies more time to profit.
- Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) the middlemen pharma hates, were targeted for reform.
So while Americans waited for real savings, corporations cashed in.
So while Americans waited for real savings, corporations cashed in.
THIS is the cost of corruption.
THIS is the cost of corruption.
Not just polluted air and higher premiums but kids going hungry, caregivers burning out, and working families left in the dust.
Not just polluted air and higher premiums but kids going hungry, caregivers burning out, and working families left in the dust.
5. The Medicaid Myth: Let’s Set the Record Straight
5. The Medicaid Myth: Let’s Set the Record Straight
Forcing Americans off Medicaid and into the private insurance market doesn't lower drug costs.
Forcing Americans off Medicaid and into the private insurance market doesn't lower drug costs.
What it does do is:
What it does do is:
- Increase out-of-pocket expenses
- Limit access to care
- Funnel billions in public funding to private corporations
It’s marketed as “efficiency” or “choice,” but it’s just another sleight of hand, taking from the people to enrich the elite.
It’s marketed as “efficiency” or “choice,” but it’s just another sleight of hand, taking from the people to enrich the elite.
Trump, Pfizer, Merck, UnitedHealth, and similar moguls benefit in three ways:
Trump, Pfizer, Merck, UnitedHealth, and similar moguls benefit in three ways:
- Privatization → More customers for private insurers → More premiums, less oversight
- Policy Favors → Deregulation, weakened price caps, and boosted leverage over pharmacy benefit managers
- Corporate Hospitality → Cozy relationships where public influence is exchanged for private gain (including bookings at Trump-owned resorts)
6. What Actually Lowers Drug Costs?
6. What Actually Lowers Drug Costs?
Let’s talk solutions:
Let’s talk solutions:
- International reference pricing (aka “most-favored-nation” pricing)
- Letting Medicare negotiate drug prices
- Tight regulation of price gouging and monopoly practices
- Breaking up the PBM–insurance–pharma trinity
- Full transparency in drug development costs and profit margins
7. So What Can We Do?
7. So What Can We Do?
- Name it. Speak the truth even when it’s uncomfortable.
- Share this post. Let people know what’s really happening.
- Call your representatives. Ask them where they stand. Follow the money.
- Vote local. Vote often. Vote informed.
- Support independent media and grassroots movements. They are our watchdogs.
We don’t need another performance. We need accountability.
We don’t need another performance. We need accountability.
This isn’t just about politics. It’s about people. It's about the kids who won’t get therapy when Medicaid is gutted. The parents skipping meds to feed their families. The planet we’re handing to our children scorched and sold.
This isn’t just about politics. It’s about people. It's about the kids who won’t get therapy when Medicaid is gutted. The parents skipping meds to feed their families. The planet we’re handing to our children scorched and sold.
We are not collateral damage.
We are not collateral damage.
We are the voice they don’t want to hear, but we’re getting louder.
We are the voice they don’t want to hear, but we’re getting louder.
Roar louder. Stay angry. Stay informed. And don't stop showing up.
Roar louder. Stay angry. Stay informed. And don't stop showing up.
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