Am continental gp

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</div><div><div>mma 2 23</div><div>
</div><div>cNN’s State of the Union and host Dana Bash held a Sunday roundtable discussion about the East Palestine, Ohio, train derailment featuring CNN political commentator David Urban, who said that “there's plenty of blame to go around on this” and pivoted to criticizing the Biden administration. CNN never disclosed or asked Urban about his  work for Norfolk Southern, which paid him and his then-lobbying firm over a million dollars. Urban <a href="https://www.politico.com/newsletters/politico-influence/2022/04/06/bgr-snaps-up-urban-00023505" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 102); box-sizing: border-box; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">was</a> until 2020 the president of the lobbying firm American Continental Group, where he <a href="https://lda.senate.gov/filings/public/filing/search/?registrant=&registrant_country=&registrant_ppb_country=&client=Norfolk&client_state=&client_country=&client_ppb_country=&lobbyist=Urban%2C+David&lobbyist_covered_position=&lobbyist_conviction_disclosure=&lobbyist_conviction_date_range_from=&lobbyist_conviction_date_range_to=&report_period=&report_year=&report_dt_posted_from=&report_dt_posted_to=&report_amount_reported_min=&report_amount_reported_max=&report_filing_uuid=&report_house_doc_id=&report_issue_area_description=&affiliated_organization=&affiliated_organization_country=&foreign_entity=&foreign_entity_country=&foreign_entity_ppb_country=&foreign_entity_ownership_percentage_min=&foreign_entity_ownership_percentage_max=&search=search" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 102); box-sizing: border-box; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">lobbied</a> for Norfolk Southern <a href="https://lda.senate.gov/filings/public/filing/6bff61ce-f866-4b4a-86cf-906c8537c7ae/print/" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 102); box-sizing: border-box; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">on</a> “transportation issues related to railways” starting in 2009, according to federal disclosure forms. He and his firm <a href="https://projects.propublica.org/represent/lobbying/r/300927961" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 102); box-sizing: border-box; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">collected</a> at least $1,140,000, according to a calculation of federal data by ProPublica. The Republican commentator is now the <a href="https://bgrdc.com/team-member-post/david-j-urban/" style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; box-sizing: border-box; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">managing director</a> for BGR Group, a <a href="https://about.bgov.com/top-lobbying-firms/" style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; box-sizing: border-box; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">leading</a> lobbying firm that presents countless conflicts of interest for his on-air work. In its most recent lobbying quarter, BGR has continued to <a href="https://lda.senate.gov/filings/public/filing/search/?registrant=BGR&registrant_country=&registrant_ppb_country=&client=&client_state=&client_country=&client_ppb_country=&lobbyist=&lobbyist_covered_position=&lobbyist_conviction_disclosure=&lobbyist_conviction_date_range_from=&lobbyist_conviction_date_range_to=&report_period=&report_year=&report_dt_posted_from=&report_dt_posted_to=&report_amount_reported_min=&report_amount_reported_max=&report_filing_uuid=&report_house_doc_id=&report_issue_area=TRA&report_issue_area_description=&affiliated_organization=&affiliated_organization_country=&foreign_entity=&foreign_entity_country=&foreign_entity_ppb_country=&foreign_entity_ownership_percentage_min=&foreign_entity_ownership_percentage_max=&search=search" style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; box-sizing: border-box; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">lobby</a> on transportation issues. Its website also <a href="https://bgrdc.com/government-affairs/commerce-infrastructure/" style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; box-sizing: border-box; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">states</a>: “Our clients in the aviation, automotive, rail, shipping and mass transit industries rely on BGR to educate political leaders about how vital these industries are to domestic and international commerce.” Urban also played a <a href="https://www.thedailybeast.com/david-urban-why-is-cnn-paying-a-trump-campaign-adviser" style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; box-sizing: border-box; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">key</a> <a href="https://ballotpedia.org/David_Urban" style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; box-sizing: border-box; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">role</a> in the election of former President Donald Trump, who <a href="https://www.mediamatters.org/fox-news/study-30-cable-coverage-trumps-visit-east-palestine-cited-his-role-deregulating-rail" style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; box-sizing: border-box; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">weakened</a> safety regulations in the rail industry. He appeared on the February 26 <a href="https://transcripts.cnn.com/show/sotu/date/2023-02-26/segment/01" style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; box-sizing: border-box; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">edition</a> of CNN’s State of the Union, where he participated in a panel discussion about East Palestine. CNN identified him on screen as a CNN political commentator and former Trump campaign adviser. During the segment, Bash <a href="https://www.mediamatters.org/media/4001168" style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; box-sizing: border-box; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">said</a> that the Trump administration rolled back regulations, to which Urban replied: “There's plenty of blame to go around on this, on these kind -- when these kinds of things happen. But what's important is what we do moving forward, right, to take care of the people in these towns and communities.” He then went on to criticize the Biden administration for allegedly “sloughing off” the crisis. CNN and Bash didn’t disclose Urban’s work for Norfolk Southern and BGR’s connections to the railroad industry. And Bash didn’t challenge him on whether any of the “blame” should go to Norfolk Southern or about his own work for the company. Norfolk Southern, specifically, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/transportation/2023/02/18/norfolk-southern-derailment-ohio-train-safety/" style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; box-sizing: border-box; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">lobbied</a> <a href="https://abc6onyourside.com/news/local/norfolk-southern-plied-ohio-politicians-with-campaign-cash-extensive-lobbying-mike-dewine-richard-cordray-railroads-train-puco-dave-yost-east-palestine-alan-shaw-ntsb" style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; box-sizing: border-box; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">against</a> safety regulations. CNN has continued to employ Urban despite a dizzying array of ethical problems. For example:<ul dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; clear: both; list-style: none; padding: 0px;"><li role="presentation" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em; padding-left: 2.4rem; position: relative;">Urban <a href="https://www.mediamatters.org/cnn/cnn-doesnt-tell-viewers-its-analyst-who-urged-military-strike-against-iran-lobbyist-defense" style="box-sizing: border-box; background: transparent; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">urged</a> a military strike against Iran without any disclosure that he worked for defense contractors. </li><li role="presentation" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em; padding-left: 2.4rem; position: relative;">Urban <a href="https://www.mediamatters.org/cnn/broken-record-cnns-david-urban-touts-defense-secretary-doesnt-disclose-financial-conflicts" style="box-sizing: border-box; background: transparent; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">praised</a> then-Defense Secretary Mark Esper without the network disclosing that he personally lobbied the Defense Department on behalf of defense contractors. </li><li role="presentation" style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em; padding-left: 2.4rem; position: relative;">Urban <a href="https://www.mediamatters.org/cnn/cnn-commentator-attacks-green-policies-while-his-firm-collects-hundreds-thousands-fossil-fuel" style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; box-sizing: border-box; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">repeatedly attacked</a> environmental protections without disclosing he lobbied for fossil fuel-related clients including Norfolk Southern, which transports coal. </li><li role="presentation" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em; padding-left: 2.4rem; position: relative;">Urban <a href="https://www.mediamatters.org/cnn/cnns-ethics-mess-employee-again-used-network-job-promote-his-lobbying-clients-cause" style="box-sizing: border-box; background: transparent; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">repeatedly</a> <a href="https://www.mediamatters.org/cnn/cnn-employee-used-network-push-trump-trade-agreement-days-after-registering-lobby-it" style="box-sizing: border-box; background: transparent; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">pushed</a> <a href="https://www.mediamatters.org/cnn/cnn-and-jake-tapper-fail-disclose-employees-major-lobbying-conflict-interest" style="box-sizing: border-box; background: transparent; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">for</a> the passage of a trade agreement on-air after he was hired to lobby for it. The network didn’t disclose the conflict of interest. </li><li role="presentation" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em; padding-left: 2.4rem; position: relative;">Urban <a href="https://www.mediamatters.org/cnn/pro-trump-cnn-commentator-used-network-push-lobbying-client-without-disclosure-viewers" style="box-sizing: border-box; background: transparent; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">touted</a> a lobbying client’s opposition to a tax bill without any disclosure that they paid him.</li></ul>=</div></div><div>===</div><div>
</div><div>http://www.nndb.com/company/124/000163632/<div>
</div><div>American Continental Group is a professional advocacy firm specializing in providing strategic counsel, skillful government relations and public affairs services. Since 1994, our firm has enabled major corporations, associations and not-for profit organizations to take an active role in shaping public policies affecting their business or organization."Official Website:
<a href="http://www.acgrep.com/">http://www.acgrep.com/</a>Industry:
<a href="http://www.nndb.com/lists/690/000124318/">Business Services</a>Corporate headquarters:
<a href="http://www.nndb.com/geo/761/000069554/" class="proflink" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-decoration: none;">Washington, DC</a>EXECUTIVES<table border="1" class="sortable" id="sort_company"><tbody><tr class=" even"><th><a href="http://www.nndb.com/company/124/000163632/#" class="sortheader" style="color: black; display: block;">Name</a></th><th><a href="http://www.nndb.com/company/124/000163632/#" class="sortheader" style="color: black; display: block;">Occupation</a></th><th><a href="http://www.nndb.com/company/124/000163632/#" class="sortheader" style="color: black; display: block;">Birth</a></th><th><a href="http://www.nndb.com/company/124/000163632/#" class="sortheader" style="color: black; display: block;">Death</a></th><th><a href="http://www.nndb.com/company/124/000163632/#" class="sortheader" style="color: black; display: block;">Known for</a></th></tr><tr class=" odd"><td><a href="http://www.nndb.com/people/304/000118947/">David A. Metzner</a></td><td><center>Lobbyist</center></td><td align="right"><tt>?</tt></td><td align="right"><tt> </tt></td><td>Lobbyist, American Continental Group</td></tr><tr class=" even"><td><a href="http://www.nndb.com/people/122/000163630/">Shawn H. Smeallie</a></td><td><center>Government</center></td><td align="right"><tt>c. 1959</tt></td><td align="right"><tt> </tt></td><td>Lobbyist, American Continental Group</td></tr><tr class=" odd"><td><a href="http://www.nndb.com/people/060/000118703/">Peter Terpeluk, Jr.</a></td><td><center>Diplomat</center></td><td align="right"><tt>18-Feb-1948</tt></td><td align="right"><tt>23-Aug-2011</tt></td><td>US Ambassador to Luxembourg, 2002-05</td></tr></tbody></table></div></div>