The Wolves of K Street

The Secret History of How Big Money Took Over Big Government

By: Brody Mullins, Luke Mullins

Narrated by: Jacques Roy

Length: 19 hrs and 54 mins

Publisher's summary

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.

In the 1970s, Washington’s center of power 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 an influential 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 sort 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, such as “shadow lobbying,” where underground campaigns sparked seemingly organic public outcries to pressure lawmakers into taking actions that would ultimately benefit corporate interests rather than ordinary citizens. 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. A good lobbyist could ghostwrite a bill or even secretly kill a piece of legislation supported by the president, both houses of Congress, and a majority of Americans.

Yet nothing lasts forever. Amid a populist backlash to the soaring inequality these influence peddlers helped usher in, DC’s pro-business alliance suddenly began to fray. And while the lobbying establishment would continue to invent new ways to influence Washington, the men who’d built K Street would soon find themselves under legal scrutiny, on the verge of financial collapse, or worse. One would turn up dead behind the eighteenth green of an exclusive golf club, with a $1,500 bottle of wine at his feet and a bullet his head.

©2024 Brody Mullins and Luke Mullins (P)2024 Simon & Schuster Audio

Critic reviews

“A fast-paced deep dive into a world of greed and ambition, inhabited by a uniquely fascinating group of wheelers and dealers. The Wolves of K Street is a history of not only how money and power have influenced American politics, but how the work of lobbyists touches the lives of every American.”—Kate Andersen Brower, New York Times bestselling author of The Residence

“This is nothing less than the definitive history of how corporate lobbyists took over Washington. The Mullins brothers have brought us the story of how Washington really works—and for whom.”—Jonathan Martin, New York Times bestselling coauthor of This Will Not Pass

“However nefarious you think the lobbying industry is in Washington, Brody and Luke Mullins have news: It’s worse. Not even during the Roaring Twenties and the Gilded Age did corporate American wield so much influence. In their deeply reported, compelling new book, the Mullins brothers track how that happened, and the disastrous consequences.”—Susan Page, New York Times bestselling author of The Matriarch

The interconnectedness of corruption in & around DC.

A must read! This book details the frightening level of influence on policy by a select & surprisingly few individuals. It details how these individuals not only shaped policy but have even influenced, to a large degree, how many/most Americans see our country. And the authors bring receipts. At 60 years old, I had considered myself politically astute. After listening to this book, I realize I’ve been naive & blind to how our country works. And, let me qualify that by saying, in the past, I have worked on the fringes of corporate advocacy so I, more than the average person, have “been in the room” (albeit, VERY low level). This is one of those books that opens your eyes & changes how you see the world. But, like Socrates’ “Allegory of the Cave”, be careful what you wish for. It’s often painful to stare directly into the light.

True Story

The level of research seems very good to tell a story most people saw but never realized.

My Extreme Cynicism Was Insufficient

This is a superb accounting of the loathsome story of what makes Washington work. Could have used an editor but so be it.

understand political evolution through lobbying

This is a fantastic work that walks you through how big money and politics went on to represent big business and leave voters behind. The clout these companies bludgeoned even well meaning legislators with is unprecedented. nothing mattered but the win... and still doesn't.

Very valuable book, well researched and written

This book is quite valuable, a bitter pill but needed eye opener to the immense corruption of our political system, the melding of both democratic and republicans parties to become lackies of big pharma etc. The book is very well written and instead of just piling on facts you get to know the characters involved and it’s mind blowing.

Very well researched

Fantastic investigative journalism, tells the full picture of lobbying in the US and the impact it has on the country and globe.

the sad end to many that lived only for moneyi like

I like how they put the story together of real persons and weaved them into a moral tale

It is depressing.

Nothing to say. Nothing to smile about. Nothing about it to recommend to friends. Just depressing.

Follow the money

I like the even presentation of both parties wolves that care less about the little guy and only themselves. Very disturbing but it is always about power and money, one cannot have one without the other.

Amazing encapsulation of lobbying history

Loved the detail that didn’t feel overwhelming if names and places. Well written and enjoyable listen