Episode 17 - The Koch Brothers: The Architects of a Political Revolution

For decades, Charles and David Koch operated in the shadows, building a political machine more powerful and influential than almost any in American history. This episode uncovers the origins of the Koch brothers' crusade, beginning with their father, Fred Koch, a founding member of the far-right John Birch Society who made his early fortune building refineries for Joseph Stalin. We trace how his sons inherited both his immense wealth and his fervent anti-government, libertarian ideology.

We explore how Charles Koch, from the headquarters of his massive private company, Koch Industries, began developing a grand, multi-decade strategy to reshape American politics. The plan involved a three-pronged attack: funding intellectuals and academics to create the ideology, financing think tanks and advocacy groups to turn that ideology into policy, and funding politicians who would enact those policies into law. It was a systematic, patient, and brilliantly executed plan to move their fringe ideas into the mainstream.

This episode reveals the blueprint for the Kochs' revolution. We show how they used the profits from their oil and chemical empire to build a network designed for a single purpose: to dismantle regulations, lower corporate taxes, and fight climate science, all to benefit their bottom line. Before they were a household name, they were the quiet architects of a new political order.