FreedomWorks

9/12 Taxpayer March on Washington Demonstrates Koch Network Mobilization Power

| Importance: 9/10

The 9/12 Taxpayer March on Washington represented a pivotal moment in conservative political organizing, mobilizing an estimated 60,000-75,000 protesters against the Obama administration policies. Meticulously organized by Koch-affiliated groups like FreedomWorks and Americans for Prosperity, the …

FreedomWorks Americans for Prosperity Dick Armey Brendan Steinhauser David Koch +5 more astroturf-organizing corporate-influence koch-network political-mobilization mass-demonstrations +2 more
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Tax Day Tea Party Protests Organized by Koch Network Groups

| Importance: 8/10

The first coordinated nationwide Tax Day Tea Party protests take place across the United States, organized primarily by Americans for Prosperity (AFP) and FreedomWorks - both organizations rooted in the Koch brothers’ network. These protests, while presented as grassroots citizen uprisings …

Americans for Prosperity FreedomWorks David Koch Charles Koch Brendan Steinhauser +1 more astroturf-organizing corporate-influence koch-network tax-protests political-theater +1 more
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Tax Day Tea Party Protests Organized by Koch Network Groups

| Importance: 8/10

The first coordinated nationwide Tax Day Tea Party protests take place across the United States, organized primarily by Americans for Prosperity and FreedomWorks. These protests, while presented as grassroots citizen uprisings, were strategically orchestrated by well-funded corporate advocacy groups …

Americans for Prosperity FreedomWorks David Koch Charles Koch Brendan Steinhauser +2 more astroturf-organizing corporate-influence koch-network tax-protests political-theater +2 more
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Rick Santelli CNBC Rant Triggers Immediate Koch Network Tea Party Response

| Importance: 9/10

CNBC reporter Rick Santelli delivers his “Rant Heard Round the World” from the Chicago Mercantile Exchange floor, criticizing Obama’s mortgage bailout plan and calling for a “Chicago Tea Party.” Within hours, Americans for Prosperity registers the domain …

Rick Santelli Americans for Prosperity Eric Odom FreedomWorks Phil Kerpen +1 more astroturf-organizing corporate-influence media-manipulation koch-network rapid-response
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Rick Santelli CNBC Rant Triggers Immediate Koch Network Tea Party Response

| Importance: 9/10

On February 19, 2009, CNBC reporter Rick Santelli delivered his infamous ‘Rant Heard Round the World’ from the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, criticizing Obama’s mortgage bailout plan and calling for a ‘Chicago Tea Party.’ Within hours, Koch network organizations like …

Rick Santelli David Koch Charles Koch Americans for Prosperity Eric Odom +4 more astroturf-organizing corporate-influence media-manipulation koch-network rapid-response +2 more
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Koch Network Prepares Tea Party Mobilization After Santelli Rant

| Importance: 9/10

Following Rick Santelli’s CNBC rant criticizing Obama’s mortgage bailout, the Koch brothers’ network immediately mobilized to create the Tea Party movement. Within hours, Americans for Prosperity registered TaxDayTeaParty.com, while other conservative organizations quickly …

Rick Santelli David Koch Charles Koch Eric Odom Americans for Prosperity +1 more koch-network astroturf tea-party political-manipulation americans-for-prosperity +1 more
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Koch Network Restructures: CSE Splits into FreedomWorks and Americans for Prosperity

| Importance: 9/10

Citizens for a Sound Economy (CSE), a Koch-funded lobbying organization, splits into two strategic entities. FreedomWorks emerges from a merger with Empower America, while the educational foundation transforms into Americans for Prosperity, enabling the Koch network to expand political influence …

David Koch Charles Koch Dick Armey Nancy Pfotenhauer Matt Kibbe +4 more regulatory-capture corporate-influence astroturf-organizing koch-network political-infrastructure +1 more
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Citizens for a Sound Economy Splits into FreedomWorks and Americans for Prosperity

| Importance: 8/10

Citizens for a Sound Economy (CSE), the Koch brothers-funded lobbying organization founded in 1984, officially splits into two separate entities following internal strategic disagreements. The 501(c)(4) advocacy activities continue under FreedomWorks (formed through a merger with Empower America), …

David Koch Charles Koch Dick Armey Ron Paul Tim Phillips +4 more regulatory-capture corporate-influence astroturf-organizing koch-network political-infrastructure +2 more
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