Definers PR

<font face="Times New Roman" size="4">main format problem no lnx</font><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">=</font></div><div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large">Every expert I know believes that the Cambridge Analytica breach was just the tip of the iceberg: my investigation found evidence that other huge ‘friend databases’ were similarly extracted from Facebook and weaponised for political use</span><span style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">. Last year I co-founded the Freedom From Facebook campaign calling for Zuckerberg’s near-monopoly control of social messaging data to be broken up; we were immediately targeted with disinformation by&nbsp;</span><b><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Facebook’s own negative PR firm,</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 204, 102);">&nbsp;Definers Public Affairs.</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Definers is run by notorious Republican ‘opposition researchers’ from the political action committee America Rising, which even hosted a joint Christmas party with Cambridge Analytica in 2015.</span></b></span></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">=</font></div></div><div><p style="margin: 0px 0px 25px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 27px; padding: 0px; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat; font-weight: bolder;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="background-color: rgb(250, 248, 245);">Power The Future Works With The Same Public Relations Firm That That</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">&nbsp;Had To Drop A No-Bid Contract With The EPA After Its Ties To A Controversial Group That Harassed EPA Staff</span></font></span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 25px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 27px; padding: 0px; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="background-color: rgb(250, 248, 245);"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat; font-weight: bolder;">Power The Future’s Website Uses A Web Domain Registered By Defitecn Public Affairs.&nbsp;</span>“In other examples, environmental causes have been attacked by astroturf websites, linked to&nbsp;</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">Definers Public Affairs</span><span style="background-color: rgb(250, 248, 245);">&nbsp;by common Google analytics codes. The They Cap You Pay website attacked proposed cap and trade (climate change-related) legislation in Oregon.&nbsp; Meanwhile, the Power the Future website – which again shares the same tracking code and was also registered using a Definers email address – claims that ‘We are the voice of energy workers pushing back on radical green groups and the ideologues who fund them.’” [Global Witness,&nbsp;</span><a href="https://www.globalwitness.org/en/blog/behind-trumps-border-wall-political-operatives-a-controversial-pr-firm-and-an-alleged-fake-news-site/" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: 600; outline: none; background-color: rgb(250, 248, 245); box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat; touch-action: manipulation; transition: all 0.35s ease 0s;"><span class="te" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0px -0.225em; padding: 0px 0.15em; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat; position: relative; display: inline-block; z-index: 9;">06/11/19</span></a><span style="background-color: rgb(250, 248, 245);">]</span></font></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 25px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 27px; padding: 0px; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="background-color: rgb(250, 248, 245);">Definers Public Affairs Had To Drop Its No-Bid EPA Contract After Its Ties To A</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">&nbsp;Republican Group That Sought To Identify EPA Staff Critical Of Donald Trump.</span></span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">&nbsp;“</span><span style="background-color: rgb(250, 248, 245);">A consulting firm has pulled out of a federal contract to provide media monitoring services to the Environmental Protection Agency after it was disclosed that a lawyer among its top executives had been investigating agency employees critical of the Trump administration. Joe Pounder, the president of Definers Public Affairs, said in a statement on Twitter that his company’s $120,000 contract with the E.P.A., which it was awarded this month, had become a ‘distraction.’ The contract came under scrutiny because of the company’s links to<b>&nbsp;America Rising, a Virginia-based corporation and Republican political operation</b>&nbsp;with several offshoots that have investigated E.P.A. officials.&nbsp;</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">One lawyer on the company’s staff, Allan Blutstein, sent a series of Freedom of Information Act requests to the E.P.A. asking for email correspondence by employees who had been publicly critical of the Trump administration’s management of the agency.<b>[FREEEEEEEDDDDOOOOOMMMMM!]&nbsp;</b></span><span style="background-color: rgb(250, 248, 245);">[…] But agency employees — particularly those who had been targeted by America Rising after they raised questions about the management of Mr. Trump’s E.P.A. — said they were fearful the new contract might translate into increased surveillance of agency staff.” [</span><i style="background-color: rgb(250, 248, 245); box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat;">New York Times</i><span style="background-color: rgb(250, 248, 245);">,&nbsp;</span><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/19/climate/epa-definers-public-affairs-contract.html" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: 600; outline: none; background-color: rgb(250, 248, 245); box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat; touch-action: manipulation; transition: all 0.35s ease 0s;"><span class="te" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0px -0.225em; padding: 0px 0.15em; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat; position: relative; display: inline-block; z-index: 9;">12/19/17</span></a><span style="background-color: rgb(250, 248, 245);">]</span></font></p></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"></font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><a href="https://www.desmogblog.com/america-rising-llc-pac-america-rising-squared-definers-public-affairs">https://www.desmogblog.com/america-rising-llc-pac-america-rising-squared-definers-public-affairs</a></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><h1 style="line-height: 1.2em; margin-top: 0.75em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">America&nbsp;Rising</font></h1><ul style="margin: 1.5em 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 30px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><li><a href="https://www.desmogblog.com/america-rising-llc-pac-america-rising-squared-definers-public-affairs#America%20Rising%20and%20Affiliated%20Entities" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-weight: 700;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000">America Rising and Affiliated&nbsp;Entities</font></span></a></li><li><a href="https://www.desmogblog.com/america-rising-llc-pac-america-rising-squared-definers-public-affairs#Background%20on%20America%20Rising" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-weight: 700;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000">Background on America Rising</font></span></a><ul style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 30px;"><li><a href="https://www.desmogblog.com/america-rising-llc-pac-america-rising-squared-definers-public-affairs#Hiding%20Donors%20and%20Running%20Attack%20Ads" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000">Hiding Donors and Running Attack Ads: The Various Corporate Entities of America&nbsp;Rising</font></a></li><li><a href="https://www.desmogblog.com/america-rising-llc-pac-america-rising-squared-definers-public-affairs#America%20Rising%20Advanced%20Research%20Staff" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000">America Rising Advanced Research&nbsp;(aka,&nbsp;America Rising Squared, aka&nbsp;<span class="caps" style="">AR2</span>)</font></a></li><li><a href="https://www.desmogblog.com/america-rising-llc-pac-america-rising-squared-definers-public-affairs#Definers%20Public%20Affairs%20Staff" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000">Definers, the corporation-serving,&nbsp;for-profit venture of America&nbsp;Rising</font></a></li></ul></li><li><a href="https://www.desmogblog.com/america-rising-llc-pac-america-rising-squared-definers-public-affairs#America%20Rising%20Tactics" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-weight: 700;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000">America Rising in&nbsp;Action</font></span></a></li><li><a href="https://www.desmogblog.com/america-rising-llc-pac-america-rising-squared-definers-public-affairs#Who%C2%A0Funds%20America%20Rising?" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-weight: 700;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000">Who&nbsp;Funds America&nbsp;Rising?</font></span></a></li><li><a href="https://www.desmogblog.com/america-rising-llc-pac-america-rising-squared-definers-public-affairs#Network%20Map%20of%20the%20America%20Rising%20Family" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-weight: 700;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000">Network Map of the America Rising&nbsp;Family</font></span></a></li><li><a href="https://www.desmogblog.com/america-rising-llc-pac-america-rising-squared-definers-public-affairs#Actions" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-weight: 700;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000">Actions</font></span></a></li><li><a href="https://www.desmogblog.com/america-rising-llc-pac-america-rising-squared-definers-public-affairs#Staff%20of%20America%20Rising's%20Entities" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-weight: 700;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000">Staff of America Rising's Entities</font></span></a><ul style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 30px;"><li><a href="https://www.desmogblog.com/america-rising-llc-pac-america-rising-squared-definers-public-affairs#America%20Rising%20LLC" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000">America Rising&nbsp;<span class="caps" style="">LLC</span></font></a></li><li><a href="https://www.desmogblog.com/america-rising-llc-pac-america-rising-squared-definers-public-affairs#America%20Rising%20PAC%20Staff" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000">America Rising&nbsp;<span class="caps" style="">PAC</span>&nbsp;Staff</font></a></li><li><a href="https://www.desmogblog.com/america-rising-llc-pac-america-rising-squared-definers-public-affairs#America%20Rising%20Advanced%20Research%20Staff" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000">America Rising Advanced Research&nbsp;Staff</font></a></li><li><a href="https://www.desmogblog.com/america-rising-llc-pac-america-rising-squared-definers-public-affairs#Definers%20Public%20Affairs%20Staff" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000">Definers Public Affairs&nbsp;Staff</font></a></li></ul></li><li><a href="https://www.desmogblog.com/america-rising-llc-pac-america-rising-squared-definers-public-affairs#Resources" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-weight: 700;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000">Resources</font></span></a></li></ul><h2 style="line-height: 2em; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">America Rising and Affiliated Entities<a id="America Rising and Affiliated Entities" name="America Rising and Affiliated Entities" style="" /></font></h2><ul style="margin: 1.5em 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 30px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><li><a id="America Rising and Affiliated Entities" name="America Rising and Affiliated Entities" style=""><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-weight: 700;">America Rising&nbsp;<span class="caps" style="">LLC</span></span>: The original for-profit opposition research&nbsp;company.&nbsp;</font></a></li><li><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a id="America Rising and Affiliated Entities" name="America Rising and Affiliated Entities" style=""><span style="font-weight: 700;" /></a><a href="https://www.americarisingpac.org/" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none;">America Rising&nbsp;<span class="caps" style="">PAC</span></a>: The political action&nbsp;committee.</font></li><li><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-weight: 700;"><a href="http://www.arsquared.org/" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none;">America Rising Squared</a></span>&nbsp;(aka, America Rising Advanced Research; aka,&nbsp;<span class="caps" style="">AR2</span>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<span class="caps" style="">AR</span><span style="line-height: 0; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; top: -0.5em;">2</span>): The&nbsp;nonprofit&nbsp;501(c)4.&nbsp;</font></li><li><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-weight: 700;"><a href="http://corenews.org/" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none;">Core News</a></span>: A media platform&nbsp;published by America Rising&nbsp;Squared.</font></li><li><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-weight: 700;"><a href="http://www.definersdc.com/" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none;">Definers Public Affairs</a></span>: A public affairs agency launched by America Rising&nbsp;founders.&nbsp;&nbsp;</font></li></ul><h2 style="line-height: 2em; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Background on America Rising<a id="Background on America Rising" name="Background on America Rising" style="" /></font></h2><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><a id="Background on America Rising" name="Background on America Rising" style=""><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" /></a><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a id="Background on America Rising" name="Background on America Rising" style="">America Rising&nbsp;<span class="caps" style="">LLC</span>&nbsp;and&nbsp;</a><a href="https://www.americarisingpac.org/" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none;">America Rising&nbsp;<span class="caps" style="">PAC</span></a>&nbsp;were&nbsp;<a href="http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/gop-dirt-diggers-dog-clinton/article/2563108" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none;">founded in Spring of 2013</a>,&nbsp;in response to perceived Democratic superiority in the field of opposition research.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.desmogblog.com/america-rising-llc-pac-america-rising-squared-definers-public-affairs#s1" style="text-decoration-line: none;">[1]</a>&nbsp;The related but distinct corporate entities are both commonly referred to as America Rising, and the entities are often confused. Most popular mentions in the media and public refer to the activities of the&nbsp;<span class="caps" style="">PAC</span>. As&nbsp;<a href="http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/03/21/romney-campaign-chief-to-lead-new-gop-research-group/" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span class="caps" style="">CNN</span>&nbsp;described when the enterprises first launched</a>:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.desmogblog.com/america-rising-llc-pac-america-rising-squared-definers-public-affairs#s2" style="text-decoration-line: none;">[2]</a></font></font></p><blockquote style="margin: 1.5em 30px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><p style="margin: 1em 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">As a super&nbsp;<span class="caps" style="">PAC</span>, [America Rising]&nbsp;will focus on digital campaigns and placing negative stories about Democrats in the news media. It does not plan to run television&nbsp;ads.</font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">A separate wing of the group will incorporate as a limited liability company (<span class="caps" style="">LLC</span>), which can coordinate directly with campaigns and political committees by sharing video and resources. [To avoid making illegal in-kind corporate contributions, the&nbsp;<span class="caps" style="">LLC</span>&nbsp;needs to charge for access to the videos and&nbsp;resources.]</font></font></p></blockquote><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The America Rising joint enterprise was&nbsp;founded as an opposition research shop&nbsp;described by the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/political-operatives-find-demand-for-their-skills-in-business-world-1462136874" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none;">Wall Street Journal</a>&nbsp;as “the unofficial research arm of the Republican Party.”&nbsp;<a href="https://www.desmogblog.com/america-rising-llc-pac-america-rising-squared-definers-public-affairs#s3" style="text-decoration-line: none;">[3]</a>&nbsp;America Rising&nbsp;<span class="caps" style="">PAC</span>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.americarisingpac.org/about/" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none;">describes itself</a>&nbsp;as “an organization on the right for the sole purpose of exposing the truth about Democrats through video tracking, research, and communications,” and spends its time attacking democrats, progressives and environmentalists.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.desmogblog.com/america-rising-llc-pac-america-rising-squared-definers-public-affairs#s4" style="text-decoration-line: none;">[4]</a></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">America Rising co-founder&nbsp;<span style="font-weight: 700;">Matt Rhoades</span>&nbsp;previously worked for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.desmogblog.com/dci-group" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span class="caps" style="">DCI</span>&nbsp;Group</a>&nbsp;and was Mitt Romney's campaign manager for the Republican nominee's&nbsp;failed 2012 presidential bid. America Rising's other co-founder&nbsp;<span style="font-weight: 700;">Joe Pounder</span>&nbsp;is a long-time Republican strategist and opposition researcher, and a former research director at the Republican National Committee. Pounder resigned from America Rising to work on Marco Rubio's campaign for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination. After Rubio suspended his campaign, Pounder returned to the America Rising family as president of Definers Public Affairs. (More on Definers&nbsp;below.)&nbsp;</font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">In early 2014, America Rising&nbsp;<span class="caps" style="">PAC</span>'s website AmericaRisingPAC.org&nbsp;<a href="http://www.politico.com/blogs/media/2014/02/america-rising-pac-relaunches-as-news-site-183542" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none;">relaunched as a “news site,”</a>&nbsp;in order to easily publish and spread attack videos and blog posts about opposition targets.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.desmogblog.com/america-rising-llc-pac-america-rising-squared-definers-public-affairs#s5" style="text-decoration-line: none;">[5]</a></font></font></p><h3 style="line-height: 1.28205em; margin-top: 1.28205em; margin-bottom: 1.28205em; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Hiding Donors and Running Attack Ads: The Various Corporate Entities of America Rising<a id="Hiding Donors and Running Attack Ads" name="Hiding Donors and Running Attack Ads" style="" /></font></font></h3><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a id="Hiding Donors and Running Attack Ads" name="Hiding Donors and Running Attack Ads" style=""><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" /></a><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a id="Hiding Donors and Running Attack Ads" name="Hiding Donors and Running Attack Ads" style="">The various entities under the&nbsp;America Rising umbrella give the enterprise a flexible structure that can serve different purposes. The&nbsp;<span class="caps" style="">PAC</span>&nbsp;can purchase research from the&nbsp;<span class="caps" style="">LLC</span>&nbsp;and can sell or disseminate it to other organizations. The 501(c)4 nonprofit,&nbsp;<span class="caps" style="">AR2</span>,&nbsp;doesn't have&nbsp;to declare its donors. (More on&nbsp;<span class="caps" style="">AR2</span>&nbsp;below.) All told, America Rising&nbsp;had a budget of $8 million for the 2014 elections and is seeking to&nbsp;</a><a href="http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/election/article24783463.html" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none;">nearly double this</a>.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.desmogblog.com/america-rising-llc-pac-america-rising-squared-definers-public-affairs#s6" style="text-decoration-line: none;">[6]</a></font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The organization&nbsp;<a href="http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/gop-dirt-diggers-dog-clinton/article/2563108" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none;">reportedly</a>&nbsp;has more than 100 staff, including a large number of “trackers” who follow the group’s targets around the country and record their actions. Presumptive Democrat presidential nominee&nbsp;Hillary Clinton is the group's biggest target, but&nbsp;America Rising also undertakes a wide range of opposition research on Democrats and progressives, including prominent environmentalists, before disseminating it to other right-wing organizations and on social&nbsp;media.</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">America Rising is located in the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/breaking_ground/2013/11/conservative-research-group-america.html" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none;">same building</a>&nbsp;as&nbsp;<a href="http://www.definersdc.com/" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none;">Definers</a>, a public affairs agency “launched by” America Rising, which hosts many former&nbsp;<span class="caps" style="">AR</span>&nbsp;staff and which undertakes similar research work for&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/political-operatives-find-demand-for-their-skills-in-business-world-1462136874" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none;">corporate clients</a>, and which has&nbsp;<a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/expends/vendor.php?year=2016&vendor=Definers+Corp" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none;">received money</a>from America Rising.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.desmogblog.com/america-rising-llc-pac-america-rising-squared-definers-public-affairs#s7" style="text-decoration-line: none;">[7]</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.desmogblog.com/america-rising-llc-pac-america-rising-squared-definers-public-affairs#s8" style="text-decoration-line: none;">[8]</a></font></font></font></p><h3 style="line-height: 1.28205em; margin-top: 1.28205em; margin-bottom: 1.28205em; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">America Rising Advanced Research&nbsp;(aka,&nbsp;America Rising Squared, aka&nbsp;<span class="caps" style="">AR2</span>)<a id="America Rising Advanced Research" name="America Rising Advanced Research" style="" /></font></font></font></h3><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a id="America Rising Advanced Research" name="America Rising Advanced Research" style=""><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" /></a><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="http://www.arsquared.org/" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none;">America Rising Advanced Research</a>&nbsp;(aka, America Rising Squared, aka,&nbsp;<span class="caps" style="">AR2</span>), the nonprofit 501(c)4 arm of the family, was launched publicly in July 2015, although it appears in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/expends/vendor.php?year=2014&vendor=Ar2+Inc" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span class="caps" style="">FEC</span>&nbsp;filings</a>&nbsp;as early as February 2014.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.desmogblog.com/america-rising-llc-pac-america-rising-squared-definers-public-affairs#s9" style="text-decoration-line: none;">[9]</a></font></font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">As a nonprofit 501(c)4,&nbsp;<span class="caps" style="">AR2</span>&nbsp;doesn't have to disclose&nbsp;its donors, like the parent&nbsp;<span class="caps" style="">PAC</span>&nbsp;does. The nonprofit is limited from running political attack ads, but can publish videos and news and advertise about issues themselves.&nbsp;<a href="http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/america-rising-launches-nonprofit-affiliate/article/2568199" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none;">The Washington Examiner explains</a>:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.desmogblog.com/america-rising-llc-pac-america-rising-squared-definers-public-affairs#s10" style="text-decoration-line: none;">[10]</a></font></font></font></p><blockquote style="margin: 1.5em 30px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><p style="margin: 1em 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The issues-based 501(c)4 won't be able to run ads directly attacking political foes the way America Rising does. But the group is permitted to spend roughly half of what it raises on political persuasion, and can run critical spots urging someone like Clinton, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, to take positions on particular&nbsp;issues.</font></font></font></p></blockquote><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">America Rising Advanced Research&nbsp;has launched an aggressive social media campaign against leading figures in the&nbsp;<span class="caps" style="">US</span>environmental movement, including creating the website&nbsp;<a href="http://corenews.org/" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none;">Core News</a>&nbsp;which features attacks on prominent climate policy advocates including Bill McKibben, Tom Steyer and Leonardo&nbsp;DiCaprio.</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/america-rising-squared-brian-rogers_us_5727a97de4b0f309baf18848" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none;">Brian Rogers</a>, the executive director of America Rising Advanced Research, was briefly&nbsp;the research director for Al Gore’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.climaterealityproject.org/" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none;">Alliance for Climate Protection</a>, where he worked on a campaign “to pass comprehensive energy and climate change legislation.”&nbsp;Rogers was also a longtime&nbsp;senior adviser to Republican Senator John McCain and held key roles in McCain's run for the&nbsp;<span class="caps" style="">US</span>&nbsp;presidency in 2008.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.desmogblog.com/america-rising-llc-pac-america-rising-squared-definers-public-affairs#s11" style="text-decoration-line: none;">[11]</a></font></font></font></p><h3 style="line-height: 1.28205em; margin-top: 1.28205em; margin-bottom: 1.28205em; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Definers, the corporation-serving,&nbsp;for-profit venture of America Rising<a id="Definers, the corporation-serving" name="Definers, the corporation-serving" style="" /></font></font></font></h3><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a id="Definers, the corporation-serving" name="Definers, the corporation-serving" style=""><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" /></a><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a id="Definers, the corporation-serving" name="Definers, the corporation-serving" style="">In 2015, America Rising founders Matt Rhoades and Joe Ponder&nbsp;launched Definers Public Affairs as a communications agency for corporate clients.&nbsp;</a><a href="http://www.definersdc.com/#!Welcome-To-Definers/xg28x/577be6af0cf2a27045ee82a8" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none;">Pounder describes</a>:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.desmogblog.com/america-rising-llc-pac-america-rising-squared-definers-public-affairs#s12" style="text-decoration-line: none;">[12]</a></font></font></font></font></p><blockquote style="margin: 1.5em 30px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><p style="margin: 1em 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The formation of Definers actually began with the founding of America Rising&nbsp;<span class="caps" style="">LLC</span>&nbsp;by Matt Rhoades and myself in 2013. I’ve known Rhoades since 2004 when I was his intern at Bush-Cheney ’04. We’ve worked together on and off for the next decade. After 2012 when he was the campaign manager for Mitt Romney and I was the research director at the Republican National Committee, we decided to start America Rising to focus on opposition research, rapid response communications, and video tracking for political&nbsp;clients.</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">As we built America Rising into a 60-person operation with employees across the country, we were actually turning away corporate clients so we could focus exclusively on our political mission. In 2015, we changed that and formed&nbsp;Definers.&nbsp;</font></font></font></p></blockquote><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Today, Definers Public Affairs&nbsp;shares the politically-linked leadership of America Rising and several staff members with other&nbsp;<span class="caps" style="">AR</span>&nbsp;entities.&nbsp;For example,&nbsp;America Rising Advanced Research executive director Brian&nbsp;Rogers is&nbsp;also a&nbsp;<a href="http://www.definerscorporation.com/#!brian-rogers/ddq57" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none;">Senior Vice President at Definers</a>. Definers Public Affairs is also located in the same Arlington, Virginia office&nbsp;building as America Rising&nbsp;<span class="caps" style="">LLC</span>.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.desmogblog.com/america-rising-llc-pac-america-rising-squared-definers-public-affairs#s13" style="text-decoration-line: none;">[13]</a></font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">According to the Center for&nbsp;Responsive&nbsp;Politics' OpenSecrets.org database,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/expends/vendor.php?year=2016&vendor=Definers+Corp" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none;">two groups reported payments to Definers during the 2016 election cycle</a>:&nbsp;Marco Rubio for President made five&nbsp;payments totalling $52,200;&nbsp;America Rising&nbsp;<span class="caps" style="">PAC</span>&nbsp;made 6 payments totaling $42,500. The first of these payments was on 06-08-2015.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.desmogblog.com/america-rising-llc-pac-america-rising-squared-definers-public-affairs#s8" style="text-decoration-line: none;">[8]</a></font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">In June, 2016, Definers&nbsp;<a href="https://www.recode.net/2017/6/7/15746928/republicans-political-opposition-tech-silicon-valley-trump" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none;">expanded its reach to Silicone Valley</a>&nbsp;in Oakland, working with former Jeb Bush communications director Tim Miller.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.desmogblog.com/america-rising-llc-pac-america-rising-squared-definers-public-affairs#s36" style="text-decoration-line: none;">[36]</a></font></font></font></p><blockquote style="margin: 1.5em 30px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><p style="margin: 1em 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“Silicon Valley is a natural target for their so-called 'oppo'&nbsp;efforts,”&nbsp;<em>Recode</em>&nbsp;reported. In in interview, Miller told&nbsp;<em>Recode</em>, that the “spotlight that is on their industry,” meaning more investment is needed to ensure&nbsp;“you have positive content pushed out about your company and negative content that’s being pushed out about your competitor, or regulator, or activist groups or activist investors, that are challenging you.”&nbsp;<a href="https://www.desmogblog.com/america-rising-llc-pac-america-rising-squared-definers-public-affairs#s36" style="text-decoration-line: none;">[36]</a></font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="dquo" style="margin-left: 0px;">“</span>There might be some companies that are more willing to engage in that,” Miller said, but “increasingly, as [Silicon Valley] companies mature, I think they may recognize the need to do that.”&nbsp;<a href="https://www.desmogblog.com/america-rising-llc-pac-america-rising-squared-definers-public-affairs#s36" style="text-decoration-line: none;">[36]</a></font></font></font></p></blockquote><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">In December, 2017, it was revealed that the Environmental Protection Agency had contracted Definers to provide “news analysis and brief service” to the&nbsp;<span class="caps" style=""><span class="caps" style="">EPA</span></span>.&nbsp;<a href="http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2017/12/the-epa-hired-a-major-republican-opposition-research-firm-to-track-press-activity/" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none;">According to&nbsp;<em>Mother Jones</em></a>, the $120,000 contract include use of&nbsp; the&nbsp;<a href="https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/3d6ea3_39967c97020043f58795c3bbf924f3bf.pdf" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none;">Definers War Room</a>&nbsp;console that helps clients track media coverage and the output of&nbsp;opponents. [<a href="https://www.desmogblog.com/america-rising-llc-pac-america-rising-squared-definers-public-affairs#s39" style="text-decoration-line: none;">39</a>]</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2017/12/19/epa-to-end-controversial-contract-with-conservative-media-monitoring-firm/?utm_term=.c2781f53c685" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><em>The Washington Post</em>&nbsp;reported&nbsp;</a>that the contract was cancelled almost immediately ,after criticism from Capitol Hill and with questions surrounding political work by Definers. While the&nbsp;<span class="caps" style="">EPA</span>&nbsp;defended the contract, America Rising president Joe Pounder separately&nbsp;said the decision was mutual and that the firm would not be offering services to government agencies. [<a href="https://www.desmogblog.com/america-rising-llc-pac-america-rising-squared-definers-public-affairs#s41" style="text-decoration-line: none;">41]</a></font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">In November 2017, it was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dentons.com/en/whats-different-about-dentons/connecting-you-to-talented-lawyers-around-the-globe/news/2017/november/dentons-announces-strategic-alliance-to-create-3d-global-affairs" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none;">announced that Definers had joined law firm Denton’s</a>&nbsp;to launch a global research firm called 3D&nbsp;Global&nbsp;Affairs.</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Among the services offered at 3D Global Affairs would be “governmental relations and lobbying support to shape the environment” and “communications and rapid response professionals to direct&nbsp; the narrative.”&nbsp;<a href="https://www.desmogblog.com/america-rising-llc-pac-america-rising-squared-definers-public-affairs#s40" style="text-decoration-line: none;">[40]</a></font></font></font></p><h2 style="line-height: 2em; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">America Rising Tactics<a id="America Rising Tactics" name="America Rising Tactics" style="" /></font></font></font></h2><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a id="America Rising Tactics" name="America Rising Tactics" style=""><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" /></a><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a id="America Rising Tactics" name="America Rising Tactics" style="">America Rising and&nbsp;<span class="caps" style="">AR2</span>&nbsp;send&nbsp;“trackers”&nbsp;–&nbsp;staff members with video cameras tasked with recording their targets –&nbsp;to follow top tier Democratic candidates on the campaign trails and&nbsp;key environmentalists and other opposition research targets. At the Conservative Political Action Conference (<span class="caps" style="">CPAC</span>)&nbsp;Activism Boot Camp, America Rising hosted a&nbsp;</a><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2015/02/27/today-in-politics-105/#post-mb-5" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none;">seminar</a>&nbsp;titled “We’re Watching You: How to Video Track 24/7.”&nbsp;<a href="https://www.desmogblog.com/america-rising-llc-pac-america-rising-squared-definers-public-affairs#s14" style="text-decoration-line: none;">[14]</a></font></font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><img alt="" src="https://www.desmogblog.com/sites/beta.desmogblog.com/files/Image%20%5B4%5D.png" style="border: 0px; max-width: 100%; height: 200px; width: 200px; float: right;" /></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">America Rising&nbsp;<span class="caps" style="">LLC</span>&nbsp;runs a website called&nbsp;<a href="http://www.americarisingimages.com/" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none;">AmericaRisingImages.com</a>, from which they sell photos that have been taken at the hundreds of campaign events attended by the trackers.&nbsp;<a href="http://www.americarisingimages.com/Site-Content/ABOUT-US/n-BZm2pD" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none;">America Rising&nbsp;<span class="caps" style="">LLC</span>&nbsp;describes</a>:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.desmogblog.com/america-rising-llc-pac-america-rising-squared-definers-public-affairs#s15" style="text-decoration-line: none;">[15]</a></font></font></font></p><blockquote style="margin: 1.5em 30px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><p style="margin: 1em 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">We have no control over the lighting at the events we film, often have less than cooperative subjects, and make no claim to being professional photographers. We offer them to you as a cost-competitive alternative to meet your digital and direct mail&nbsp;needs.</font></font></font></p></blockquote><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The Ameria Rising Advanced Research (<span class="caps" style="">AR2</span>) runs a website called&nbsp;<a href="http://corenews.org/" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none;">Core News</a>, which&nbsp;features attacks on prominent environmentalists including Tom Steyer, Bill McKibben and Leonardo DiCaprio, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.buzzfeed.com/danvergano/core-news-news?bffbnews&utm_term=4ldqpho#4ldqpho" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none;">was described by Buzzfeed</a>&nbsp;as a “secretly funded propaganda site … [that] is publishing stories attacking environmentalists, scientists, and politicians who warn about climate change.”&nbsp;Stories range from “aggressively opinionated, to sort-of true, to demonstrably false,”&nbsp;according to Buzzfeed.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.desmogblog.com/america-rising-llc-pac-america-rising-squared-definers-public-affairs#s16" style="text-decoration-line: none;">[16]</a></font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">America Rising has attacked Democrats who opposed the Keystone&nbsp;<span class="caps" style="">XL</span>&nbsp;pipeline, and has a particular focus on billionaire environmental activist Tom Steyer, hosting articles titled “Steyer Watch”&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160725060004/http://www.arsquared.org/campaign-cash-for-bad-energy-policy/" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none;">criticizing</a>&nbsp;Steyer for spending more than $65 million on his super&nbsp;<span class="caps" style="">PAC</span>&nbsp;races in the 2014 election.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.desmogblog.com/america-rising-llc-pac-america-rising-squared-definers-public-affairs#s17" style="text-decoration-line: none;">[17]</a></font></font></font></p><h2 style="line-height: 2em; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Who&nbsp;Funds America Rising?<a id="Who&nbsp;Funds America Rising?" name="Who&nbsp;Funds America Rising?" style="" /></font></font></font></h2><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a id="Who&nbsp;Funds America Rising?" name="Who&nbsp;Funds America Rising?" style=""><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Donations to America Rising Advanced Research (aka, America Rising Squared) are not&nbsp;declared, as it is incorporated as&nbsp;a&nbsp;nonprofit&nbsp;501(c)4.</font></a></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a id="Who&nbsp;Funds America Rising?" name="Who&nbsp;Funds America Rising?" style="">While America Rising&nbsp;<span class="caps" style="">LLC</span>&nbsp;is a business that can sell its services with no disclosures necessary,&nbsp;</a><a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/pacgave2.php?cycle=2016&cmte=C00542902" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none;">OpenSecrets.org</a>&nbsp;reported the Republican&nbsp;National&nbsp;Committee spent at least $183,900 on America Rising in the 2016 election cycle, with an additional $45,000 from the National Republican Congressional Committee.<a href="https://www.desmogblog.com/america-rising-llc-pac-america-rising-squared-definers-public-affairs#s32" style="text-decoration-line: none;">&nbsp;[32]</a></font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">OpenSecrets also broke down known individual&nbsp;<a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/pacgave2.php?cycle=2016&cmte=C00542902" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none;">payments</a>&nbsp;to the America Rising&nbsp;<span class="caps" style="">PAC</span>&nbsp;for the&nbsp;2016 election cycle:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.desmogblog.com/america-rising-llc-pac-america-rising-squared-definers-public-affairs#s23" style="text-decoration-line: none;">[23]</a></font></font></font></p><table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; margin-top: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1.5em;" open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px" width="width"><tbody><tr><td><span style="font-weight: 700;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Donor</font></span></td><td style="width: 74px;"><span style="font-weight: 700;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Total</font></span></td></tr><tr><td><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Paul Singer</font></td><td style="width: 74px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">$250,000</font></td></tr><tr><td><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Miguel Fernandez</font></td><td style="width: 74px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">$100,000</font></td></tr><tr><td><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Ronald Weiser</font></td><td style="width: 74px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">$50,000</font></td></tr><tr><td><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">End Spending Action Fund</font></td><td style="width: 74px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">$50,000</font></td></tr><tr><td><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Michael Vlock</font></td><td style="width: 74px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">$50,000</font></td></tr><tr><td><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Keller Investment Properties</font></td><td style="width: 74px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">$25,000</font></td></tr><tr><td><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Harol Brierley</font></td><td style="width: 74px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">$25,000</font></td></tr><tr><td><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="caps" style="">JJ</span>&nbsp;Matthews</font></td><td style="width: 74px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">$25,000</font></td></tr><tr><td><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="caps" style="">LE</span>&nbsp;Simmons</font></td><td style="width: 74px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">$25,000</font></td></tr><tr><td><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="caps" style="">CBI</span>&nbsp;Ventures&nbsp;<span class="caps" style="">LLC</span></font></td><td style="width: 74px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">$15,000</font></td></tr><tr><td><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Roger Enrico</font></td><td style="width: 74px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">$15,000</font></td></tr><tr><td><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Allen&nbsp;<span class="amp">&</span>&nbsp;Kelli Questrom</font></td><td style="width: 74px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">$15,000</font></td></tr><tr><td><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Brian France</font></td><td style="width: 74px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">$15,000</font></td></tr><tr><td><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Edward Schutter</font></td><td style="width: 74px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">$10,000</font></td></tr><tr><td><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Allen&nbsp;<span class="amp">&</span>&nbsp;Kelli Questrom</font></td><td style="width: 74px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">$10,000</font></td></tr><tr><td><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Gregory Ciongoli</font></td><td style="width: 74px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">$10,000</font></td></tr><tr><td><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Scott Sperling</font></td><td style="width: 74px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">$10,000</font></td></tr><tr><td><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="caps" style="">SJZ</span>,&nbsp;<span class="caps" style="">LLC</span></font></td><td style="width: 74px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">$10,000</font></td></tr><tr><td><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Keller Investment Properties</font></td><td style="width: 74px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">$10,000</font></td></tr><tr><td><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Keller Investment Properties</font></td><td style="width: 74px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">$10,000</font></td></tr><tr><td><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">William Kunkler</font></td><td style="width: 74px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">$10,000</font></td></tr><tr><td><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Paul Dickson</font></td><td style="width: 74px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">$5,472</font></td></tr><tr><td><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Jerry Langer</font></td><td style="width: 74px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">$5,000</font></td></tr><tr><td><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Andrew Puzder</font></td><td style="width: 74px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">$5,000</font></td></tr><tr><td><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Andrew Puzder</font></td><td style="width: 74px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">$5,000</font></td></tr><tr><td><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Jonathan Bullen</font></td><td style="width: 74px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">$5,000</font></td></tr><tr><td><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Louis Chiavacci</font></td><td style="width: 74px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">$5,000</font></td></tr><tr><td><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">James Tozer</font></td><td style="width: 74px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">$5,000</font></td></tr><tr><td><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Walter Schlaepfer</font></td><td style="width: 74px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">$5,000</font></td></tr><tr><td><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Scott Keller</font></td><td style="width: 74px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">$3,442</font></td></tr><tr><td><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="caps" style="">LE</span>&nbsp;Simmons</font></td><td style="width: 74px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">$2,102</font></td></tr><tr><td><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="caps" style="">LE</span>&nbsp;Simmons</font></td><td style="width: 74px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">$2,101</font></td></tr><tr><td><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Peter Huizenga</font></td><td style="width: 74px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">$2,000</font></td></tr><tr><td><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Robert Beyer</font></td><td style="width: 74px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">$1,000</font></td></tr><tr><td><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Michaelon Wright</font></td><td style="width: 74px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">$1,000</font></td></tr><tr><td><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="caps" style="">EPAY</span>&nbsp;Business Solutions</font></td><td style="width: 74px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">$854</font></td></tr><tr><td><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Robert Davis</font></td><td style="width: 74px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">$500</font></td></tr><tr><td><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Allan Blutstein</font></td><td style="width: 74px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">$250</font></td></tr></tbody></table><h2 style="line-height: 2em; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Network Map of the America Rising Family<a id="Network Map of the America Rising Family" name="Network Map of the America Rising Family" style="" /></font></font></font></h2><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px" /><div style="font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px" padding="padding"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="http://littlesis.org/maps/1576-america-rising" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000">view this map on LittleSis</font></a></font></font></div><h2 style="line-height: 2em; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Actions<a id="Actions" name="Actions" style="" /></font></font></font></h2><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a id="Actions" name="Actions" style=""><span style="font-weight: 700;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">June&nbsp;2017</font></span></a></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a id="Actions" name="Actions" style="">America Rising (<span class="caps" style="">AR</span>&nbsp;Squared) wrote</a><a href="https://www.scribd.com/document/350735554/The-Human-Environmental-Costs-Of-Clean-Energy" rel="nofollow" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none;">&nbsp;a white paper&nbsp;</a>that was&nbsp;<a href="https://dailycaller.com/2017/06/09/report-green-energy-products-produced-under-worst-environmental-rights-violations/" rel="nofollow" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none;">picked up by&nbsp;<em>The Daily Caller</em>&nbsp;</a>as evidence that “the materials required to build electric vehicles and solar panels are produced under some of the most worst environmental and labor conditions on Earth.”&nbsp;<a href="https://www.desmogblog.com/america-rising-llc-pac-america-rising-squared-definers-public-affairs#s34" style="text-decoration-line: none;">[34]</a></font></font></font></p><blockquote style="margin: 1.5em 30px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><p style="margin: 1em 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="dquo" style="margin-left: 0px;">“</span>The inconvenient truth is that these ‘clean’ sources of energy are produced under the worst of labor and environmental rights violations,” the report, titled&nbsp;<a href="https://www.scribd.com/document/350735554/The-Human-Environmental-Costs-Of-Clean-Energy" rel="nofollow" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none;">“The Human&nbsp;<span class="amp">&</span>&nbsp;Environmental Costs of 'Clean Energy'</a>“&nbsp;claims.<a href="https://www.desmogblog.com/america-rising-llc-pac-america-rising-squared-definers-public-affairs#s35" style="text-decoration-line: none;">[35]</a></font></font></font></p></blockquote><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-weight: 700;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">April&nbsp;2017</font></span></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">America Rising&nbsp;<span class="caps" style="">PAC</span>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.politico.com/states/massachusetts/story/2017/04/conservative-pac-training-firepower-on-warren-111273" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none;">said that it would target Sen. Elizabeth Warren</a>&nbsp;with a strategy that includes opposition research, video tracking,&nbsp;Freedom of Information Act and public records requests, and communications to&nbsp;“make Warren’s life difficult” during her 2018 Senate reelection campaign. This was according to a memo obtained by&nbsp;<em>Politico</em>&nbsp;outlining the group's efforts.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.desmogblog.com/america-rising-llc-pac-america-rising-squared-definers-public-affairs#s37" style="text-decoration-line: none;">[37]</a></font></font></font></p><blockquote style="margin: 1.5em 30px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><p style="margin: 1em 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="dquo" style="margin-left: 0px;">“</span>We view book launch as the soft launch of her presidential campaign. We’ll do the same to her as we did with Hillary Clinton in 2014,” said America Rising executive director Colin Reed.&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.desmogblog.com/america-rising-llc-pac-america-rising-squared-definers-public-affairs#s37" style="text-decoration-line: none;">[37]</a></font></font></font></p></blockquote><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The memo said that America Rising's goal was to&nbsp;“to damage her 2020 prospects.” While the emphasis was on Warren, others were also targeted by America Rising's efforts and include&nbsp;Gov. Andrew Cuomo,&nbsp;Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand,&nbsp;Sens. Cory Booker (D-<span class="caps" style="">N.J.</span>), Kamala Harris (D-Calif.),&nbsp;and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.desmogblog.com/america-rising-llc-pac-america-rising-squared-definers-public-affairs#s37" style="text-decoration-line: none;">[37]</a></font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2017/09/18/trump-team-guns-for-2020-rivals-242781" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><em>Politico</em>&nbsp;reported in September 2017&nbsp;</a>that America Rising was coordinating with the pro-Trump America First Policies, the political nonprofit behind the America First Action super&nbsp;<span class="caps" style="">PAC</span>.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.desmogblog.com/america-rising-llc-pac-america-rising-squared-definers-public-affairs#s38" style="text-decoration-line: none;">[38]</a></font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-weight: 700;">May 2016</span><a id="Grill" name="Grill" style="" /></font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a id="Grill" name="Grill" style=""><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" /></a><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a id="Grill" name="Grill" style="">In May 2016,&nbsp;</a><a href="https://www.americarisingpac.org/america-rising-launches-video-tracking-app-grill/" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none;">America Rising&nbsp;<span class="caps" style="">PAC</span>&nbsp;released an app</a>&nbsp;that “arms users attending political events with adversarial questions to ask Democratic candidates.” Called “<a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwi-tPTN7YTOAhXDDj4KHXeQDZ8QFggjMAE&url=https%3A%2F%2Fitunes.apple.com%2Fus%2Fapp%2Fgrill-by-america-rising%2Fid1105056995%3Fmt%3D8&usg=AFQjCNE9ladUClIkmTk31GdPkh9vq_14oA&sig2=K7jrmdIElWUUJ7RIjkXSlA" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none;">Grill</a>,” the app also allows users to record video, which is uploaded to a private channel that can be accessed by America Rising employees, who evaluate&nbsp;and screen the footage for promotion. The app also lists candidate&nbsp;events for users based on geographical location.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.desmogblog.com/america-rising-llc-pac-america-rising-squared-definers-public-affairs#s21" style="text-decoration-line: none;">[21]</a></font></font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="dquo" style="margin-left: 0px;">“</span>Never before have attendees of political events had at their fingertips a set of pointed, incisive questions guaranteed to make news,” America Rising&nbsp;<span class="caps" style="">PAC</span>&nbsp;communications director&nbsp;<a href="https://www.buzzfeed.com/meganapper/gop-opposition-research-firm-launches-video-tracking-app-for?utm_term=.tqpbWVEM1b#.nw70nMa9b0" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none;">Jeff Bechdel told BuzzFeed News</a>.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.desmogblog.com/america-rising-llc-pac-america-rising-squared-definers-public-affairs#s22" style="text-decoration-line: none;">[22]</a></font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-weight: 700;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">March&nbsp;2016</font></span></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">America Rising Advanced Research&nbsp;has announced that the group&nbsp;will conduct in-depth research on potential Supreme Court nominees. “Rogers said the group was using around 10 researchers to search the Internet, law libraries around the country and other sources to probe the backgrounds of several possible selections to replace the late Antonin Scalia,” the Associated Press&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bigstory.ap.org/article/2215604a40a747929a569a500c0824c2/capitol-hill-buzz-tampons-pads-free-shelters" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none;">reported</a>. A later report by the Associated Press&nbsp;<a href="http://bigstory.ap.org/article/1eb9e6bfd61042ada9600ae15dc1042d/rnc-launches-campaign-oppose-obamas-supreme-court-pick" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none;">stated</a>&nbsp;the&nbsp;<span class="caps" style="">RNC</span>&nbsp;contracted with&nbsp;<span class="caps" style="">AR2</span>&nbsp;to help with research on a potential Supreme Court nominee.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.desmogblog.com/america-rising-llc-pac-america-rising-squared-definers-public-affairs#s19" style="text-decoration-line: none;">[19]</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.desmogblog.com/america-rising-llc-pac-america-rising-squared-definers-public-affairs#s20" style="text-decoration-line: none;">[20]</a></font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-weight: 700;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">February&nbsp;2016</font></span></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">America Rising Squared&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3T73DVZg824&feature=youtu.be" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none;">released an attack ad</a>&nbsp;on Democratic presidential candidates Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton which showed footage of Sanders agreeing with a statement that the greatest threat to national security is climate change while showing images of terrorists side-by-side with the melting Arctic.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.desmogblog.com/america-rising-llc-pac-america-rising-squared-definers-public-affairs#s18" style="text-decoration-line: none;">[18]</a></font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">[pix]</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">no lnx:</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">August 2015</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">AR2 launched Missouri Rising, a regional affiliate to “[promote] conservative issues and [shape] the debate in Missouri.”</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Staff of America Rising's Entities</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Note that America Rising LLC and America Rising PAC share many staff members. Staff are listed below by how staffers describe themselves on LinkedIn, or how they have been described in news articles.&nbsp;</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Matt Rhoades, Co-founder, America Rising LLC, America Rising PAC, America Rising Advanced Research, Definers Public Affairs</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Matt Rhoades</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“He founded America Rising in response to a recommendation contained in an autopsy of Romney’s failed presidential run that was ordered by the Republican National Committee. The group’s original goal was to compete with American Bridge, the Democratic opposition research group, but its focus under Mr. Rhoades has been to subject Mrs. Clinton to an ordeal similar to Mr. Romney’s.” [New York Times] - [24]</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Joe Pounder, Co-founder, America Rising LLC, America Rising PAC, America Rising Advanced Research; Co-founder and President, Definers Public Affairs</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Joe Pounder</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Twitter</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">One Republican who worked closely with Pounder credits him with revolutionizing the way the party does opposition research, ushering in an age where opposition research and rapid response are living, breathing things that move with the news cycle and social media. More importantly, a number of Republicans said, Pounder is more than a one-trick pony. He is a master of opposition research, but he also understands how best to put that information to use in other parts of a campaign, making sure that research and communications teams work in sync with each other. [National Review] - [25]</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">America Rising LLC</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Raj Shah, Co-founder, Director, and Deputy Communications Director</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Raj Shah</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Twitter</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Shah is now Research Director, GOP</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Raj Shah most recently served as Co-Founding Partner and Managing Director of America Rising LLC, where he developed the organization’s Hillary Clinton opposition research book. He previously served as a Deputy Research Director at the RNC during the 2012 presidential election cycle. A graduate of Cornell, he has also worked on Senate and presidential campaigns and served in the Office of Presidential Personnel during the administration of President George W. Bush. [GOP.com]</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Byron Koay, Managing Director, Co-founder</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Byron Koay</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Twitter&nbsp;</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Allan Blutstein, Vice President of Freedom of Information Act Operations</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Allan Blutstein</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">LinkedIn, Twitter</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Allan Blutstein has joined the firm as vice president of Freedom of Information Act operations, placing him in charge of public records requests. Blutstein, who joined the firm after working at the government accountability firm Cause of Action, is a lawyer and public records expert. He previously worked as a principal legal adviser to the FOIA staff at the Treasury Department's Office of Financial Stability, as well as in the Department of Justice's Office of Information and Privacy. [Roll Call] - [26]</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Alexandra Angel, Vice President</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Alexandra Angel</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">LinkedIn</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Angel has one of the toughest jobs on the right: Finding new oppo research on Hillary Clinton, one of the most known-commodity candidates in U.S. history. Leading a team of eight analysts, Angel directs day-to-day research and rapid response operations focused specifically on the 2016 presidential race. Before going to America Rising, Angel spent two years as an account executive at DCI Group, where she tracked federal legislation. She’s also done a couple stints at the RNC and worked as deputy operations director on Steve Poizner’s 2010 gubernatorial run in California. She’s also put her research and analytical skills to use as an instructor for the Close Up Foundation, a group that promotes civic participation. [Campaigns and Elections] - [27]</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Dan Knight, Vice President of House Research</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Dan Knight</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">LinkedIn, Twitter&nbsp;</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Dan Knight, who was a senior research analyst in the 2014 cycle, will now serve as vice president of House research for the 2016 cycle.&nbsp; [Roll Call]</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Daniel Knight is Vice President of House Research at America Rising LLC, where he manages a team of analysts engaged in research and rapid response on Democratic House candidates in the 2016 election. Prior to his work at America Rising, which he joined in 2014 as a senior research analyst, Dan worked at the National Republican Congressional Committee and at a DC-area conservative non-profit. [Red Alert Politics]</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Aaron Baer, Vice President of Tracking and Video</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Aaron Baer</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">LinkedIn</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Cooper Reves, Digital Director</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Cooper Reves</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">LinkedIn, Twitter</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Francis Brennan, Deputy War Room Director</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Francis Brennan</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">LinkedIn</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“We’re the eyes and ears,” said Francis Brennan, 25, war room director at the conservative political action committee America Rising. “We try to just pump out as many facts as we can. Everything we do is fact-based. It’s not scrutinized or opinion-based. It’s all facts. We have to prove what we are saying. We can’t just say things.” [McClatchy] - [6]</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Matt Vollenweider, Deputy Team Leader</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Matt Vollenweider</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">LinkedIn, Twitter</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Kyle Sisenstein, Deputy Senate Team Leader</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Kyle Sisenstein</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">LinkedIn, Twitter</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Domenick Cocchiara, Research Analyst</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Domenick Cocchiara</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">LinkedIn</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Rocco Cavalluzzi, Research Analyst</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Rocco Cavalluzzi</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">LinkedIn, Twitter</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Jillian Davidson, Research Analyst</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Jillian Davidson</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">LinkedIn, Twitter</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Julia Hoy, Senate Research Analyst</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Julia Hoy</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">LinkedIn, Twitter</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Carter Reese, Analyst</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Carter Reese</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">LinkedIn, Twitter</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Michael Berg, Research Analyst</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Michael Berg</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">LinkedIn, Twitter</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Ari Schaffer, Presidential Research Analyst</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Ari Schaffer</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">LinkedIn, Twitter</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Sam Montgomery, Office Manager</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Sam Montgomery</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">LinkedIn, Twitter</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Scott Sloofman, Tracker</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Scott Sloofman</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">LinkedIn, Twitter</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Ryan Powers, Research Analyst</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Ryan Powers</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">LinkedIn, Twitter</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Charles Lehman, Research Analyst</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Charles Lehman</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">LinkedIn, Google+</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Garrett Fulce, Director of Full-Time Tracking</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Garrett Fulce</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">LinkedIn</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Travis Cady</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Travis Cady</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">LinkedIn</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Kevin Brinegar, Tracker/Field Analyst</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Kevin Brinegar</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">LinkedIn</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Chris Malloy, Field Research Analyst / Tracker</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Chris Malloy</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">LinkedIn</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Tim Wigginton, Tracker/Field Researcher</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Tim Wigginton</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">LinkedIn</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Robert Rose, Tracker/Field Research Analyst</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Robert Rose</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">LinkedIn, Twitter</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Patrick Peterson, Tracker/Field Research Analyst</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Patrick Peterson</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">LinkedIn</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Grace Nowak, Field Research Analyst</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Grace Nowak</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">LinkedIn</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Nicholas Goeden, Tracker/Field Researcher</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Nicholas Goeden</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">LinkedIn</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Nick Bolger, War Room Analyst</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Nick Bolger</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">LinkedIn</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">America Rising PAC Staff</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Colin Reed, Executive Director</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Colin Reed</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Twitter</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“Reed brings his recent experience as Sen. Scott Brown’s 2014 campaign manager… Previously, Reed served as deputy communications director for New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, communications director for Scott Brown’s 2012 Senate race, and press secretary in Brown’s Senate office. Reed also has experience at the NRSC, and on the 2008 presidential campaigns of Gov. Mitt Romney and Sen. John McCain.” [America Rising PAC] - [28]</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Jeff Bechdel, Communications Director</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Jeff Bechdel</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">LinkedIn, Twitter</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Amelia Chassé, Press Secretary</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Amelia Chass</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">LinkedIn, Twitter</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Those who have worked alongside Chassé describe her as savvy and relentless—she “never gets outworked,” according to longtime McCain adviser Brian Jones. As vice president at Hynes Communications, Chassé manages the firm’s Washington, D.C. office and devises online strategy for many of the firm’s top clients, including American Crossroads. At the start of the 2012 cycle, Chassé helped Crossroads cultivate its relationship with online conservatives. Chassé also counts herself among the cadre of young GOP consultants pushing her party to more fully embrace the digital age. [Campaigns and Elections Magazine] - [29]</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Joe Chaudoin, Research Analyst</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Joe Chaudoin</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">LinkedIn, Twitter</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">America Rising Advanced Research Staff</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Brian Rogers, Executive Director</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Brian Rogers</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Twitter</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Brian Rogers is Executive Director of America Rising Squared (AR2). Prior to joining AR2, Rogers served as Communications Director to U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ), and previously served as Deputy Communications Director and Research Director for McCain’s 2008 presidential campaign, and held senior communications and opposition research roles on multiple statewide campaigns across the country, at the Republican National Committee and the National Republican Senatorial Committee. [ARSquared] - [30]</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“Rogers is best known as the long-time spokesman for Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.). He was also McCain’s spokesman during the senator’s 2008 presidential campaign, during which Rogers made headlines for arguing that Obama, too, lived in “a frickin’ mansion“ and was an “arugula-eating, pointy-headed professor type….But Rogers was also, for a short time, the research director for former Vice President Al Gore’sAlliance for Climate Protection. Upon taking that job in May 2009, he said he would be “working on the Repower America campaign to pass comprehensive energy and climate change legislation.” [Huffington Post] - [11]</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Jeremy Adler, Communications Director (previously, Research Analyst, America Rising LLC)</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Jeremy Adler</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">LinkedIn, Twitter</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Jeremy Adler is Communications Director of America Rising Squared (AR2). He previously served as a regional press secretary for Marco Rubio’s 2016 presidential campaign. Before that, he worked as a member of America Rising’s Senate research team and also was a part of Scott Brown’s 2014 New Hampshire Senate campaign. [ARSquared] - [30]</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Definers Public Affairs Staff</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Matt Rhoades and Joe Pounder, below described above, are respectively Founder and President of Definers.&nbsp;</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Jim Barnett, Chief Operating Officer</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Jim Barnett</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">LinkedIn</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Jim Barnett’s experience spreads presidential, statewide, local, corporate and issue campaigns. Prior to joining Definers, Barnett served as Vice President for Political Affairs for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for Legal Reform. Barnett is a veteran of Republican politics having managed Sen. John McCain’s comeback victory in the first-in-the-nation New Hampshire primary and U.S. Senator Scott Brown’s $45 million 2012 campaign. He is a past chairman of the Vermont Republican Party and served as deputy campaign manager and communications director for Governor Jim Douglas’s 2002 upset victory. [Definers] - [31]</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Brian Rogers, Senior Vice President</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Brian Rogers</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">LinkedIn, Twitter</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Tim Miller, Partner</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Tim Miller</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">LinkedIn, Twitter</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Tim Miller, former spokesman for Jeb Bush, joined Definers Public Affairs in September. Miller said the firm is going to go “more aggressively…directly after threats to our clients” and Definers will build digital platforms for the Washington fights. [33]</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Julia Cotrone, Special Assistant</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Julia Cotrone</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">LinkedIn</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Michael Chenderlin, Chief Digital Officer</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Michael Chenderlin</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">LinkedIn</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Christy Paavola, Vice President</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Christy Paavola</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Twitter</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Geoff Embler, Senior Vice President</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Geoff Embler</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">LinkedIn</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Tim Killeen, Senior Vice President</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Tim Killeen</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">LinkedIn</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Andrew Lautz, Research Associate</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Andrew Lautz</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">LinkedIn, Twitter</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Sara Pietsch, Art Director</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Sara Pietsch</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">LinkedIn</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Mike Presutti, Research Associate</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Mike Presutti</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">LinkedIn</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Will Schenkel, War Room Associate</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Will Schenkel</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">LinkedIn</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Todd Scher, Research Associate</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Todd Scher</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Jasmine Sossa, Graphic Designer</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Jasmine Sossa</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">LinkedIn</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Nick Zanetti, Research Associate</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Nick Zanetti</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">LinkedIn</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Resources</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">David M. Drucker. “GOP dirt diggers dog Clinton,” Washington Examiner, April 15, 2015. Archived July 23, 2016. Backup archive url: http://archive.is/sZkWI</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Peter Hamby. “Romney campaign chief to lead new GOP research group,” PoliticalTicker, March 21, 2013. Archived July 23, 2015. Backup archive URL: https://archive.is/fMEgo</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Patrick O'Connor. ”Political Operatives Find Demand for Their Skills in Business World,” The Wall Street Journal, May 1, 2016. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“About,” America Rising. Archived July 25, 2016. Backup archive URL: https://archive.is/QXjMc</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Dylan Byers. “America Rising PAC relaunches as news site,” Politico, February 18, 2014. Archived July 24, 2016. Backup archive url: https://archive.is/YVJUa</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Anita Kumar. “Step into war rooms planning Hillary Clinton’s defeat,” McClatchyDC, April 22, 2015. Archived July 25, 2016. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Danial J. Sernovitz. “Conservative research group America Rising lands in Rosslyn,” Washington Business Journal, November 11, 2014. Archived July 25, 2016.</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“Vendor/Recipient: Definers Corp,” OpenSecrets.org. Accessed July 24, 2016.</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“Vendor/Recipient: Ar2 Inc,” OpenSecrets.org. Accessed July 25, 2016.</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">David M. Drucker. “America Rising launches nonprofit affiliate,” Washington Examiner, July 14, 2015. Archived July 25, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/2FM1Z</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Kate Sheppard. “One-Time Gore Staffer Leads Plan To Track The ‘Environmentalist Left’,” The Huffington Post, May 2, 2016. Archived July 25, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/AlGsx</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Joe Pounder. “Welcome To Definers,” Definers Public Affairs, July 5, 2016. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“Brian Rogers: Senior Vice President,” Definers Public Affairs. Accessed July 25, 2016. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“Today in Politics,” The New York Times, February 26, 2015. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“About Us,” America Rising Images. Archived July 25, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/gMjnw</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Dan Vergano. “New Site For Climate “News” Shows The Future Of Oppo Research,” BuzzFeed News, June 7, 2016. Archived July 25, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/LkdLZ</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“Campaign Cash for Bad Energy Policy?” America Rising Squared. Archived July 25, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/wRrpU</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“The Democratic Socialist Party,” YouTube video uploaded by user America Rising Squared, February 11, 2016.</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Alan Fram. “Capitol Hill Buzz: GOP research group targets court nominees,” The Big Story, March 1, 2016. Archived July 25, 2016.</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Josh Lederman. “GOP prepares to fight Obama nominee, no matter whom he picks,” The Big Story, March 14, 2016. Archived July 25, 2016.</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“America Rising Launches Video Tracking App, 'Grill',” AmericaRisingPAC. Archived July 25, 2016. Archive.is url: https://archive.is/q0UKD</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Megan Apper. “GOP Opposition Research Firm Launches Candidate Tracking App,” BuzzFeed News. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/Ogb4f</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“America Rising PAC: Contributors, 2016 cycle,” OpenSecrets.org. Accessed July 25, 2016.</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Ashley Parker and Nick Corasaniti. “The Right Baits the Left to Turn Against Hillary Clinton,” The New York Times, May 16, 2016. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Alexis Levinson. “Oppo-Research Ace Joe Pounder Joins Rubio Campaign,” National Review, November 6, 2015. Archived July 25, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/8lISG</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Emily Cahn. “America Rising Hires Three for 2016,” Roll Call, June 4, 2015. Archived July 25, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/Ix9cB</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“2016 RISING STARS,” Campaigns & Elections, June 8, 2016. Archived July 25, 2016. Arhchive.is URL: https://archive.is/SF2fb</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“America Rising PAC Announces New Executive Director Colin Reed,” America Rising. Archived July 25, 2016. Archive.IS URL: https://archive.is/jNexd</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“2013 Rising Stars,” Campaign & Elections Magazine, June 11, 2013. Archived February 7, 2014. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“AR2 About Us,” America Rising Squared. Archived July 25, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/FX5m2</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“Jim Barnett: Chief Operating Officer,” Definers Public Affairs. Accessed July 25, 2016. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“Vendor/Recipient: America Rising,” OpenSecrets.org. Accessed July 27, 2016.</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Jake Sherman. “Former Jeb Bush spokesman Tim Miller joining Definers Public Affairs,” Politico, September 6, 2016. Archived September 9, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/dMcw3</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“Report: Green Energy Products Produced Under ‘Worst’ Environmental Rights Violations,” The Daily Caller, June 9, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/hVAz3</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“The Human & Environmental Costs of 'Clean Energy',” Scribd document uploaded by AR Squared on June 8, 2017. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Tony Romm. “Republican political operatives want to sell the dark arts of opposition research to tech companies,” Recode, June 7, 2017. Archived July 12, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/xxk3s</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Lauren Dezenski. “Conservative PAC takes aim at Warren during book tour,” Politico, April 17, 2017. Archived September 19, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/us4UY</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“Trump's team gunning for potential 2020 reelection rivals,” Politico, September 18, 2017. Archived September 19, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/lVptU</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“The EPA Hired a Major Republican Opposition Research Firm to Track Press Activity,” Mother Jones, December 15, 2017. Archived December 19, 2017. Archive.is URL: http://archive.is/lQiPC</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“Dentons announces strategic alliance to create 3D Global Affairs,” Dentons.com, November 30, 2017. Archived December 19, 2017. Archive.is URL: http://archive.is/BVqR0</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Brady Dennis. “EPA to end controversial contract with conservative ‘media monitoring’ firm,” The Washington Post, December 19, 2017. Archived December 20, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/2pcHu</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; font-family: " open="open" sans="sans" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">TAGS: america rising squareddefiners public affairsamerica risingamerica rising llcar2America Rising PACdenierorgs</font></font></font></p></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"></font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><a href="http://powerbase.info/index.php/Definers_Public_Affairs">http://powerbase.info/index.php/Definers_Public_Affairs</a></font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></font></font></div><div><div id="mw-content-text" lang="en" dir="ltr" class="mw-content-ltr" style="direction: ltr;"><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 0.5em 0px; line-height: inherit;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>Definers Public Affairs</b>&nbsp;is a US lobbying firm founded by Republican senator&nbsp;<a href="http://powerbase.info/index.php/Mitt_Romney" title="Mitt Romney" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Mitt Romney</a>’s 2012 presidential campaign manager,&nbsp;<a href="http://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Matt_Rhoades&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Matt Rhoades (page does not exist)" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Matt Rhoades</a>&nbsp;and former Republican National Committee research director&nbsp;<a href="http://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Joe_Pounder&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Joe Pounder (page does not exist)" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Joe Pounder</a>.</font></font></font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 0.5em 0px; line-height: inherit;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Pounder has been described as 'one of the most powerful people in Washington, D.C. for his ability to influence the national news cycle' and as a 'master of opposition research'.<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference" style="line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: isolate; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://powerbase.info/index.php/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_note-1" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[1]</a></sup></font></font></font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 0.5em 0px; line-height: inherit;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">It is based in Washington but also opened up in Silicon Valley in 2017 targeting the tech sector. Tim Miller of Definers said that the Valley’s biggest brands should invest more to ensure 'you have positive content pushed out about your company and negative content that’s being pushed out about your competitor, or regulator, or activist groups or activist investors, that are challenging you.'<sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference" style="line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: isolate; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://powerbase.info/index.php/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_note-2" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[2]</a></sup></font></font></font></p><div id="toc" class="toc" style="background-color: rgb(249, 249, 249); border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 7px; display: table; zoom: 1;"><div id="toctitle" style="direction: ltr; text-align: center;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><ul style="list-style-type: none; margin: 0.3em 0px; padding: 0px; list-style-image: none;"><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-1" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="http://powerbase.info/index.php/Definers_Public_Affairs#UK_expansion_in_time_for_Brexit" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><span class="tocnumber" style="display: table-cell; text-decoration: inherit; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0.5em;">1</span><span class="toctext" style="display: table-cell; text-decoration: inherit;">UK expansion in time for Brexit</span></font></a></font></font></li><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-2" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="http://powerbase.info/index.php/Definers_Public_Affairs#Law_firm_tie_up" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><span class="tocnumber" style="display: table-cell; text-decoration: inherit; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0.5em;">2</span><span class="toctext" style="display: table-cell; text-decoration: inherit;">Law firm tie up</span></font></a></font></font></li><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-3" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="http://powerbase.info/index.php/Definers_Public_Affairs#America_Rising:an.27opposition_research_factory.27" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><span class="tocnumber" style="display: table-cell; text-decoration: inherit; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0.5em;">3</span><span class="toctext" style="display: table-cell; text-decoration: inherit;">America Rising: an 'opposition research factory'</span></font></a></font></font></li><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-4" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="http://powerbase.info/index.php/Definers_Public_Affairs#Targeting_environmental_opponents" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><span class="tocnumber" style="display: table-cell; text-decoration: inherit; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0.5em;">4</span><span class="toctext" style="display: table-cell; text-decoration: inherit;">Targeting environmental opponents</span></font></a></font></font></li><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-5" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="http://powerbase.info/index.php/Definers_Public_Affairs#Clients" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><span class="tocnumber" style="display: table-cell; text-decoration: inherit; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0.5em;">5</span><span class="toctext" style="display: table-cell; text-decoration: inherit;">Clients</span></font></a></font></font></li><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-6" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="http://powerbase.info/index.php/Definers_Public_Affairs#Contact" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><span class="tocnumber" style="display: table-cell; text-decoration: inherit; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0.5em;">6</span><span class="toctext" style="display: table-cell; text-decoration: inherit;">Contact</span></font></a></font></font></li><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-7" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="http://powerbase.info/index.php/Definers_Public_Affairs#Notes" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><span class="tocnumber" style="display: table-cell; text-decoration: inherit; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0.5em;">7</span><span class="toctext" style="display: table-cell; text-decoration: inherit;">Notes</span></font></a></font></font></li></ul></div><h2 style="background: none; font-weight: normal; margin: 1em 0px 0.25em; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); line-height: 1.3;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="mw-headline" id="UK_expansion_in_time_for_Brexit"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">UK expansion in time for Brexit</font></span></font></font></h2><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 0.5em 0px; line-height: inherit;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">In July 2017 Definers announced its expansion into London, launching the firm the&nbsp;<a href="http://powerbase.info/index.php/UK_Policy_Group" title="UK Policy Group" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">UK Policy Group</a>.</font></font></font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 0.5em 0px; line-height: inherit;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The firm was established in January 2017 and was originally called 'UK Rising' (see 'America Rising' below). Its directors are&nbsp;<a href="http://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Joe_Pounder&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Joe Pounder (page does not exist)" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Joe Pounder</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="http://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Matt_Rhoades&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Matt Rhoades (page does not exist)" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Matt Rhoades</a>.</font></font></font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 0.5em 0px; line-height: inherit;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">It appointed&nbsp;<a href="http://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Andrew_Goodfellow&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Andrew Goodfellow (page does not exist)" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Andrew Goodfellow</a>, a former director of research for the Conservative Party, as its vice president.</font></font></font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 0.5em 0px; line-height: inherit;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">The&nbsp;<a href="http://powerbase.info/index.php/UK_Policy_Group" title="UK Policy Group" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">UK Policy Group</a>&nbsp;will help corporate clients with campaign-style research, media monitoring, opinion research, and communications strategy advice' according to a press release.<sup id="cite_ref-Romney_3-0" class="reference" style="line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: isolate; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://powerbase.info/index.php/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_note-Romney-3" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[3]</a></sup></font></font></font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 0.5em 0px; line-height: inherit;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">It was launched in partnership with&nbsp;<a href="http://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Trygve_Olson&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Trygve Olson (page does not exist)" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Trygve Olson</a>, of&nbsp;<a href="http://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Viking_Strategies&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Viking Strategies (page does not exist)" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Viking Strategies</a>, who counselled the&nbsp;<a href="http://powerbase.info/index.php?title=European_People%E2%80%99s_Party&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="European People’s Party (page does not exist)" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">European People’s Party</a>&nbsp;in the 2009 EU elections and worked as a consultant to the&nbsp;<a href="http://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Republican_Party&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Republican Party (page does not exist)" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Republican Party</a>&nbsp;in the U.S<sup id="cite_ref-Romney_3-1" class="reference" style="line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: isolate; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://powerbase.info/index.php/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_note-Romney-3" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[3]</a></sup></font></font></font></p><h2 style="background: none; font-weight: normal; margin: 1em 0px 0.25em; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); line-height: 1.3;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="mw-headline" id="Law_firm_tie_up"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Law firm tie up</font></span></font></font></h2><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 0.5em 0px; line-height: inherit;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Definers has linked up with US law giant&nbsp;<a href="http://powerbase.info/index.php/Dentons" title="Dentons" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Dentons</a>&nbsp;to provide a joint offering – '3D Global Affairs' – which, it says, 'allows clients to be the disruptor by combining political intelligence, legal advisors, campaign-style tactics, lobbying, governmental affairs, research, and communications into one unique offering'.<sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference" style="line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: isolate; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://powerbase.info/index.php/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_note-4" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[4]</a></sup></font></font></font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 0.5em 0px; line-height: inherit;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Services they provide promise to 'disrupt The Political, Regulatory, And Communications Environment Over The Long-Term' for clients. Its services include: 'Legal Services'; 'Government Relations And Lobbying Support'; 'Communications And Rapid Response'; 'War Room Style Media Monitoring', which monitors a wide-range of media platforms on a continuous basis; and 'Campaign Style Opposition Research', which, it says provides clients with 'dossiers on opponents, competitors and agitators'.<sup id="cite_ref-5" class="reference" style="line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: isolate; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://powerbase.info/index.php/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_note-5" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[5]</a></sup></font></font></font></p><h2 style="background: none; margin: 1em 0px 0.25em; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); line-height: 1.3;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="mw-headline" id="America_Rising:an.27opposition_research_factory.27" style=""><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="">America Rising: an 'opposition research factory'</font></span></font></font></h2><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 0.5em 0px; line-height: inherit;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Definers partners&nbsp;<a href="http://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Matt_Rhoades&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Matt Rhoades (page does not exist)" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Matt Rhoades</a>&nbsp;founded&nbsp;<a href="http://powerbase.info/index.php?title=America_Rising&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="America Rising (page does not exist)" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">America Rising</a>, a political action committee, or PAC that, according to reports in&nbsp;<i>Mother Jones</i>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<i>New York Times</i>&nbsp;'specialises in helping [Republican] party candidates and conservative groups find damaging information on political rivals'.<sup id="cite_ref-6" class="reference" style="line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: isolate; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://powerbase.info/index.php/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_note-6" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[6]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-7" class="reference" style="line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: isolate; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://powerbase.info/index.php/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_note-7" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[7]</a></sup></font></font></font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 0.5em 0px; line-height: inherit;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Definers and&nbsp;<a href="http://powerbase.info/index.php?title=America_Rising&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="America Rising (page does not exist)" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">America Rising</a>&nbsp;share several top executives. As well as Rhoades,&nbsp;<a href="http://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Joe_Pounder&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Joe Pounder (page does not exist)" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Joe Pounder</a>&nbsp;is its president and Definers vice president&nbsp;<a href="http://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Allan_L.Blutstein&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Allan L. Blutstein (page does not exist)" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Allan L. Blutstein</a>&nbsp;has also worked with&nbsp;<a href="http://powerbase.info/index.php?title=America_Rising&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="America Rising (page does not exist)" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">America Rising</a>.</font></font></font></p><h2 style="background: none; margin: 1em 0px 0.25em; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); line-height: 1.3;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="mw-headline" id="Targeting_environmental_opponents" style=""><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="">Targeting environmental opponents</font></span></font></font></h2><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 0.5em 0px; line-height: inherit;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">In December 2017, the&nbsp;<i>New York Times</i>&nbsp;reported that Definers vice president&nbsp;<a href="http://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Allan_L.Blutstein&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Allan L. Blutstein (page does not exist)" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Allan L. Blutstein</a>&nbsp;had prepared a series of Freedom of Information requests targeting employees of the US&nbsp;<a href="http://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Environmental_Protection_Agency&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Environmental Protection Agency (page does not exist)" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Environmental Protection Agency</a>(EPA) who had questioned the way the agency was being run. According to Eric Lipton's report in the&nbsp;<i>New York Times</i>:<sup id="cite_ref-8" class="reference" style="line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: isolate; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://powerbase.info/index.php/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_note-8" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[8]</a></sup></font></font></font></p><dl style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin-top: 0.2em; margin-bottom: 0.5em;"><dd style="margin-left: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-right: 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">'One Environmental Protection Agency employee spoke up at a private lunch held near the agency headquarters, saying she feared the nation might be headed toward an “environmental catastrophe.” Another staff member, from Seattle, sent a letter to Scott Pruitt, the E.P.A. administrator, raising similar concerns about the direction of the agency. A third, from Philadelphia, went to a rally where he protested against agency budget cuts.</font></font></font></dd></dl><dl style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin-top: 0.2em; margin-bottom: 0.5em;"><dd style="margin-left: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-right: 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Three different agency employees, in different jobs, from three different cities, but each encountered a similar outcome: Federal records show that within a matter of days, requests were submitted for copies of emails written by them that mentioned either Mr. Pruitt or President Trump, or any communication with Democrats in Congress that might have been critical of the agency.'</font></font></font></dd></dl><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 0.5em 0px; line-height: inherit;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The article quotes one EPA employee, whose emails were targeted after he took part in a union protest against budget cuts at the agency, who called the tactics a 'witch hunt against E.P.A. employees who are only trying to protect human health and the environment.'</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 0.5em 0px; line-height: inherit;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" style="" size="4"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Definers was then hired by the EPA to provide a 'media monitoring' service, raising further fears. <b>One EPA lawyer who helped lead a series of enforcement actions against major air polluters in the Midwest, </b>and whose emails also were requested through a Freedom of Information request, said the EPA's decision to hire Definers caused great concern. “Now that [Definers] are working for the agency, will they have access to agency computers and perhaps try to come after me in a whole bunch of different ways?... It is very scary. Very, very scary.”<sup id="cite_ref-9" class="reference" style="line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: isolate; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://powerbase.info/index.php/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_note-9" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">[9]</a></sup>&nbsp;Definers reportedly ended the contract after two senators expressed concern about the award and nature of the work.&nbsp;</span><sup id="cite_ref-10" class="reference" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: isolate; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://powerbase.info/index.php/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_note-10" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[10]</a></sup></font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 0.5em 0px; line-height: inherit;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);" size="4">According to the NYT article, Blutstein also has sought emails and other information from at least two climate scientists, <b>Katharine Hayhoe of Texas Tech</b> University and <b>Robert Kopp of Rutgers University. </b>In addition, the nonprofit arm of America Rising, known as&nbsp;<a href="http://powerbase.info/index.php?title=America_Rising_Squared&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="America Rising Squared (page does not exist)" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">America Rising Squared</a>, used “trackers” to videotape activists like Bill McKibben, founder of 350.org, and Tom Steyer, the billionaire investor and Democratic donor. Definers would not say who paid for the surveillance. Brian Rogers, executive director of America Rising Squared and a senior vice president at Definers said: 'America Rising Squared is committed to ensuring a balanced debate, and providing a conservative perspective on the issues and actors involved.'<sup id="cite_ref-11" class="reference" style="line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: isolate; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://powerbase.info/index.php/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_note-11" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">[11]</a></sup></font></font></font></p><h2 style="background: none; font-weight: normal; margin: 1em 0px 0.25em; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); line-height: 1.3;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="mw-headline" id="Clients"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Clients</font></span></font></font></h2><ul style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 0.3em 0px 0px 1.6em; padding: 0px; list-style-image: url(" data:image="data:image" svg="svg" xml="xml" c="C" fxml="Fxml" version="version" d="D" encoding="encoding" utf-8="UTF-8" f="F" e="E" a="A" csvg="Csvg" http="http" fwww.w3.org="Fwww.w3.org" f2000="F2000" fsvg="Fsvg" width="width" height="height" ccircle="Ccircle" cx="cx" cy="cy" r="r" fill="fill" xmlns="xmlns" xmlns:data="data"><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><a href="http://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Facebook&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Facebook (page does not exist)" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Facebook</a>. According to Politico,&nbsp;<a href="http://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Facebook&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Facebook (page does not exist)" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Facebook</a>&nbsp;hired Definers Public Affairs in 2017 to help it 'navigate' the investigation by US lawmakers into Russian influence in the 2016 US election that saw&nbsp;<a href="http://powerbase.info/index.php/Donald_Trump" title="Donald Trump" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;become President.<sup id="cite_ref-12" class="reference" style="line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: isolate; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://powerbase.info/index.php/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_note-12" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[12]</a></sup></font></font></font></li></ul><h2 style="background: none; font-weight: normal; margin: 1em 0px 0.25em; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); line-height: 1.3;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="mw-headline" id="Contact"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Contact</font></span></font></font></h2><ul style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 0.3em 0px 0px 1.6em; padding: 0px; list-style-image: url(" data:image="data:image" svg="svg" xml="xml" c="C" fxml="Fxml" version="version" d="D" encoding="encoding" utf-8="UTF-8" f="F" e="E" a="A" csvg="Csvg" http="http" fwww.w3.org="Fwww.w3.org" f2000="F2000" fsvg="Fsvg" width="width" height="height" ccircle="Ccircle" cx="cx" cy="cy" r="r" fill="fill" xmlns="xmlns" xmlns:data="data"><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Website: www.definersdc.com</font></font></font></li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Address: 1500 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA 22209</font></font></font></li></ul><h2 style="background: none; font-weight: normal; margin: 1em 0px 0.25em; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); line-height: 1.3;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="mw-headline" id="Notes"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Notes</font></span></font></font></h2><ol class="references" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 0.3em 0px 0px 3.2em; padding: 0px; list-style-image: none;"><li id="cite_note-1" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="mw-cite-backlink" style="user-select: none;"><a href="http://powerbase.info/index.php/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_ref-1" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;"><span class="cite-accessibility-label" style="user-select: none; top: -99999px; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px); overflow: hidden; position: absolute !important; padding: 0px !important; border: 0px !important; height: 1px !important; width: 1px !important;">Jump up</span>↑</a></span>&nbsp;<span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.definersdc.com/joe-pounder" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent) right center no-repeat, url(" data:image="data:image" svg="svg" xml="xml" c="C" fxml="Fxml" version="version" d="D" encoding="encoding" utf-8="UTF-8" standalone="standalone" no="no" f="F" e="E" csvg="Csvg" http="http" a="A" fwww.w3.org="Fwww.w3.org" f2000="F2000" fsvg="Fsvg" width="width" height="height" cpath="Cpath" fill="fill" fff="fff" stroke="stroke" m1.5="M1.5" h5.982v10.5h1.5z="h5.982V10.5H1.5z" m5.765="M5.765" h11v5.39l9.427="H11v5.39L9.427" l-1.31-1.31l5.393="l-1.31-1.31L5.393" l-2.69-2.688="l-2.69-2.688" l4.2="L4.2" z="z" m9.995="M9.995" l.022="l.022" l8.2="L8.2" l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z="l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z" padding-right="padding-right" px="px" xmlns="xmlns" xmlns:data="data">Joe Pounder profile</a>, Definers website, accessed Feb 2018</span></font></font></font></li><li id="cite_note-2" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="mw-cite-backlink" style="user-select: none;"><a href="http://powerbase.info/index.php/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_ref-2" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;"><span class="cite-accessibility-label" style="user-select: none; top: -99999px; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px); overflow: hidden; position: absolute !important; padding: 0px !important; border: 0px !important; height: 1px !important; width: 1px !important;">Jump up</span>↑</a></span>&nbsp;<span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.recode.net/2017/6/7/15746928/republicans-political-opposition-tech-silicon-valley-trump" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent) right center no-repeat, url(" data:image="data:image" svg="svg" xml="xml" c="C" fxml="Fxml" version="version" d="D" encoding="encoding" utf-8="UTF-8" standalone="standalone" no="no" f="F" e="E" csvg="Csvg" http="http" a="A" fwww.w3.org="Fwww.w3.org" f2000="F2000" fsvg="Fsvg" width="width" height="height" cpath="Cpath" fill="fill" fff="fff" stroke="stroke" m1.5="M1.5" h5.982v10.5h1.5z="h5.982V10.5H1.5z" m5.765="M5.765" h11v5.39l9.427="H11v5.39L9.427" l-1.31-1.31l5.393="l-1.31-1.31L5.393" l-2.69-2.688="l-2.69-2.688" l4.2="L4.2" z="z" m9.995="M9.995" l.022="l.022" l8.2="L8.2" l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z="l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z" padding-right="padding-right" px="px" xmlns="xmlns" xmlns:data="data">Republican political operatives want to sell the dark arts of opposition research to tech companies</a>, Recode, 7 June 2017</span></font></font></font></li><li id="cite_note-Romney-3" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><span class="mw-cite-backlink" style="user-select: none;">↑&nbsp;<sup style="line-height: 1;"><a href="http://powerbase.info/index.php/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_ref-Romney_3-0" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;"><span class="cite-accessibility-label" style="user-select: none; top: -99999px; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px); overflow: hidden; position: absolute !important; padding: 0px !important; border: 0px !important; height: 1px !important; width: 1px !important;">Jump up to:</span>3.0</a></sup>&nbsp;<sup style="line-height: 1;"><a href="http://powerbase.info/index.php/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_ref-Romney_3-1" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">3.1</a></sup></span>&nbsp;<span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.definersdc.com/single-post/2017/07/10/Politico-Breaks-Definers-Expansion-To-London" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent) right center no-repeat, url(" data:image="data:image" svg="svg" xml="xml" c="C" fxml="Fxml" version="version" d="D" encoding="encoding" utf-8="UTF-8" standalone="standalone" no="no" f="F" e="E" csvg="Csvg" http="http" a="A" fwww.w3.org="Fwww.w3.org" f2000="F2000" fsvg="Fsvg" width="width" height="height" cpath="Cpath" fill="fill" fff="fff" stroke="stroke" m1.5="M1.5" h5.982v10.5h1.5z="h5.982V10.5H1.5z" m5.765="M5.765" h11v5.39l9.427="H11v5.39L9.427" l-1.31-1.31l5.393="l-1.31-1.31L5.393" l-2.69-2.688="l-2.69-2.688" l4.2="L4.2" z="z" m9.995="M9.995" l.022="l.022" l8.2="L8.2" l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z="l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z" padding-right="padding-right" px="px" xmlns="xmlns" xmlns:data="data">Romney-linked lobbying firm to open London branch</a>, Politico, 10 July 2017</span></font></font></font></li><li id="cite_note-4" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="mw-cite-backlink" style="user-select: none;"><a href="http://powerbase.info/index.php/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_ref-4" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;"><span class="cite-accessibility-label" style="user-select: none; top: -99999px; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px); overflow: hidden; position: absolute !important; padding: 0px !important; border: 0px !important; height: 1px !important; width: 1px !important;">Jump up</span>↑</a></span>&nbsp;<span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.definersdc.com/3d-global-affairs" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent) right center no-repeat, url(" data:image="data:image" svg="svg" xml="xml" c="C" fxml="Fxml" version="version" d="D" encoding="encoding" utf-8="UTF-8" standalone="standalone" no="no" f="F" e="E" csvg="Csvg" http="http" a="A" fwww.w3.org="Fwww.w3.org" f2000="F2000" fsvg="Fsvg" width="width" height="height" cpath="Cpath" fill="fill" fff="fff" stroke="stroke" m1.5="M1.5" h5.982v10.5h1.5z="h5.982V10.5H1.5z" m5.765="M5.765" h11v5.39l9.427="H11v5.39L9.427" l-1.31-1.31l5.393="l-1.31-1.31L5.393" l-2.69-2.688="l-2.69-2.688" l4.2="L4.2" z="z" m9.995="M9.995" l.022="l.022" l8.2="L8.2" l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z="l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z" padding-right="padding-right" px="px" xmlns="xmlns" xmlns:data="data">3D Global Affairs</a>, Definers website, accessed Feb 2018</span></font></font></font></li><li id="cite_note-5" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="mw-cite-backlink" style="user-select: none;"><a href="http://powerbase.info/index.php/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_ref-5" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;"><span class="cite-accessibility-label" style="user-select: none; top: -99999px; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px); overflow: hidden; position: absolute !important; padding: 0px !important; border: 0px !important; height: 1px !important; width: 1px !important;">Jump up</span>↑</a></span>&nbsp;<span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.definersdc.com/3d-global-affairs" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent) right center no-repeat, url(" data:image="data:image" svg="svg" xml="xml" c="C" fxml="Fxml" version="version" d="D" encoding="encoding" utf-8="UTF-8" standalone="standalone" no="no" f="F" e="E" csvg="Csvg" http="http" a="A" fwww.w3.org="Fwww.w3.org" f2000="F2000" fsvg="Fsvg" width="width" height="height" cpath="Cpath" fill="fill" fff="fff" stroke="stroke" m1.5="M1.5" h5.982v10.5h1.5z="h5.982V10.5H1.5z" m5.765="M5.765" h11v5.39l9.427="H11v5.39L9.427" l-1.31-1.31l5.393="l-1.31-1.31L5.393" l-2.69-2.688="l-2.69-2.688" l4.2="L4.2" z="z" m9.995="M9.995" l.022="l.022" l8.2="L8.2" l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z="l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z" padding-right="padding-right" px="px" xmlns="xmlns" xmlns:data="data">3D Global Affairs</a>, Definers website, accessed Feb 2018</span></font></font></font></li><li id="cite_note-6" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="mw-cite-backlink" style="user-select: none;"><a href="http://powerbase.info/index.php/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_ref-6" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;"><span class="cite-accessibility-label" style="user-select: none; top: -99999px; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px); overflow: hidden; position: absolute !important; padding: 0px !important; border: 0px !important; height: 1px !important; width: 1px !important;">Jump up</span>↑</a></span>&nbsp;<span class="reference-text">Eric Lipton,&nbsp;<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://mobile.nytimes.com/2017/12/17/us/politics/epa-pruitt-media-monitoring.html" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent) right center no-repeat, url(" data:image="data:image" svg="svg" xml="xml" c="C" fxml="Fxml" version="version" d="D" encoding="encoding" utf-8="UTF-8" standalone="standalone" no="no" f="F" e="E" csvg="Csvg" http="http" a="A" fwww.w3.org="Fwww.w3.org" f2000="F2000" fsvg="Fsvg" width="width" height="height" cpath="Cpath" fill="fill" fff="fff" stroke="stroke" m1.5="M1.5" h5.982v10.5h1.5z="h5.982V10.5H1.5z" m5.765="M5.765" h11v5.39l9.427="H11v5.39L9.427" l-1.31-1.31l5.393="l-1.31-1.31L5.393" l-2.69-2.688="l-2.69-2.688" l4.2="L4.2" z="z" m9.995="M9.995" l.022="l.022" l8.2="L8.2" l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z="l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z" padding-right="padding-right" px="px" xmlns="xmlns" xmlns:data="data">E.P.A. Employees Spoke Out. Then Came Scrutiny of Their Email</a>, New York Times, 17 Dec 2017</span></font></font></font></li><li id="cite_note-7" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="mw-cite-backlink" style="user-select: none;"><a href="http://powerbase.info/index.php/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_ref-7" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;"><span class="cite-accessibility-label" style="user-select: none; top: -99999px; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px); overflow: hidden; position: absolute !important; padding: 0px !important; border: 0px !important; height: 1px !important; width: 1px !important;">Jump up</span>↑</a></span>&nbsp;<span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2017/12/the-epa-hired-a-major-republican-opposition-research-firm-to-track-press-activity/" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent) right center no-repeat, url(" data:image="data:image" svg="svg" xml="xml" c="C" fxml="Fxml" version="version" d="D" encoding="encoding" utf-8="UTF-8" standalone="standalone" no="no" f="F" e="E" csvg="Csvg" http="http" a="A" fwww.w3.org="Fwww.w3.org" f2000="F2000" fsvg="Fsvg" width="width" height="height" cpath="Cpath" fill="fill" fff="fff" stroke="stroke" m1.5="M1.5" h5.982v10.5h1.5z="h5.982V10.5H1.5z" m5.765="M5.765" h11v5.39l9.427="H11v5.39L9.427" l-1.31-1.31l5.393="l-1.31-1.31L5.393" l-2.69-2.688="l-2.69-2.688" l4.2="L4.2" z="z" m9.995="M9.995" l.022="l.022" l8.2="L8.2" l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z="l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z" padding-right="padding-right" px="px" xmlns="xmlns" xmlns:data="data">The EPA Hired a Major Republican Opposition Research Firm to Track Press Activity</a>,&nbsp;<i>Mother Jones</i>, 15 Dec 2017</span></font></font></font></li><li id="cite_note-8" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="mw-cite-backlink" style="user-select: none;"><a href="http://powerbase.info/index.php/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_ref-8" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;"><span class="cite-accessibility-label" style="user-select: none; top: -99999px; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px); overflow: hidden; position: absolute !important; padding: 0px !important; border: 0px !important; height: 1px !important; width: 1px !important;">Jump up</span>↑</a></span>&nbsp;<span class="reference-text">Eric Lipton,&nbsp;<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://mobile.nytimes.com/2017/12/17/us/politics/epa-pruitt-media-monitoring.html" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent) right center no-repeat, url(" data:image="data:image" svg="svg" xml="xml" c="C" fxml="Fxml" version="version" d="D" encoding="encoding" utf-8="UTF-8" standalone="standalone" no="no" f="F" e="E" csvg="Csvg" http="http" a="A" fwww.w3.org="Fwww.w3.org" f2000="F2000" fsvg="Fsvg" width="width" height="height" cpath="Cpath" fill="fill" fff="fff" stroke="stroke" m1.5="M1.5" h5.982v10.5h1.5z="h5.982V10.5H1.5z" m5.765="M5.765" h11v5.39l9.427="H11v5.39L9.427" l-1.31-1.31l5.393="l-1.31-1.31L5.393" l-2.69-2.688="l-2.69-2.688" l4.2="L4.2" z="z" m9.995="M9.995" l.022="l.022" l8.2="L8.2" l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z="l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z" padding-right="padding-right" px="px" xmlns="xmlns" xmlns:data="data">E.P.A. Employees Spoke Out. Then Came Scrutiny of Their Email</a>, New York Times, 17 Dec 2017</span></font></font></font></li><li id="cite_note-9" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="mw-cite-backlink" style="user-select: none;"><a href="http://powerbase.info/index.php/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_ref-9" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;"><span class="cite-accessibility-label" style="user-select: none; top: -99999px; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px); overflow: hidden; position: absolute !important; padding: 0px !important; border: 0px !important; height: 1px !important; width: 1px !important;">Jump up</span>↑</a></span>&nbsp;<span class="reference-text">Eric Lipton,&nbsp;<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://mobile.nytimes.com/2017/12/17/us/politics/epa-pruitt-media-monitoring.html" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent) right center no-repeat, url(" data:image="data:image" svg="svg" xml="xml" c="C" fxml="Fxml" version="version" d="D" encoding="encoding" utf-8="UTF-8" standalone="standalone" no="no" f="F" e="E" csvg="Csvg" http="http" a="A" fwww.w3.org="Fwww.w3.org" f2000="F2000" fsvg="Fsvg" width="width" height="height" cpath="Cpath" fill="fill" fff="fff" stroke="stroke" m1.5="M1.5" h5.982v10.5h1.5z="h5.982V10.5H1.5z" m5.765="M5.765" h11v5.39l9.427="H11v5.39L9.427" l-1.31-1.31l5.393="l-1.31-1.31L5.393" l-2.69-2.688="l-2.69-2.688" l4.2="L4.2" z="z" m9.995="M9.995" l.022="l.022" l8.2="L8.2" l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z="l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z" padding-right="padding-right" px="px" xmlns="xmlns" xmlns:data="data">E.P.A. Employees Spoke Out. Then Came Scrutiny of Their Email</a>,&nbsp;<i>New York Times</i>, 17 Dec 2017</span></font></font></font></li><li id="cite_note-10" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="mw-cite-backlink" style="user-select: none;"><a href="http://powerbase.info/index.php/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_ref-10" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;"><span class="cite-accessibility-label" style="user-select: none; top: -99999px; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px); overflow: hidden; position: absolute !important; padding: 0px !important; border: 0px !important; height: 1px !important; width: 1px !important;">Jump up</span>↑</a></span>&nbsp;<span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.prweek.com/article/1453316/report-epa-definers-cut-ties-contract-comes-scrutiny#1o63A8J7TGz4TAzw.99" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent) right center no-repeat, url(" data:image="data:image" svg="svg" xml="xml" c="C" fxml="Fxml" version="version" d="D" encoding="encoding" utf-8="UTF-8" standalone="standalone" no="no" f="F" e="E" csvg="Csvg" http="http" a="A" fwww.w3.org="Fwww.w3.org" f2000="F2000" fsvg="Fsvg" width="width" height="height" cpath="Cpath" fill="fill" fff="fff" stroke="stroke" m1.5="M1.5" h5.982v10.5h1.5z="h5.982V10.5H1.5z" m5.765="M5.765" h11v5.39l9.427="H11v5.39L9.427" l-1.31-1.31l5.393="l-1.31-1.31L5.393" l-2.69-2.688="l-2.69-2.688" l4.2="L4.2" z="z" m9.995="M9.995" l.022="l.022" l8.2="L8.2" l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z="l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z" padding-right="padding-right" px="px" xmlns="xmlns" xmlns:data="data">Definers Cuts ties</a>, PR Week, 20 Dec 2017</span></font></font></font></li><li id="cite_note-11" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="mw-cite-backlink" style="user-select: none;"><a href="http://powerbase.info/index.php/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_ref-11" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;"><span class="cite-accessibility-label" style="user-select: none; top: -99999px; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px); overflow: hidden; position: absolute !important; padding: 0px !important; border: 0px !important; height: 1px !important; width: 1px !important;">Jump up</span>↑</a></span>&nbsp;<span class="reference-text">Eric Lipton,&nbsp;<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://mobile.nytimes.com/2017/12/17/us/politics/epa-pruitt-media-monitoring.html" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent) right center no-repeat, url(" data:image="data:image" svg="svg" xml="xml" c="C" fxml="Fxml" version="version" d="D" encoding="encoding" utf-8="UTF-8" standalone="standalone" no="no" f="F" e="E" csvg="Csvg" http="http" a="A" fwww.w3.org="Fwww.w3.org" f2000="F2000" fsvg="Fsvg" width="width" height="height" cpath="Cpath" fill="fill" fff="fff" stroke="stroke" m1.5="M1.5" h5.982v10.5h1.5z="h5.982V10.5H1.5z" m5.765="M5.765" h11v5.39l9.427="H11v5.39L9.427" l-1.31-1.31l5.393="l-1.31-1.31L5.393" l-2.69-2.688="l-2.69-2.688" l4.2="L4.2" z="z" m9.995="M9.995" l.022="l.022" l8.2="L8.2" l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z="l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z" padding-right="padding-right" px="px" xmlns="xmlns" xmlns:data="data">E.P.A. Employees Spoke Out. Then Came Scrutiny of Their Email</a>, New York Times, 17 Dec 2017</span></font></font></font></li><li id="cite_note-12" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="mw-cite-backlink" style="user-select: none;"><a href="http://powerbase.info/index.php/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_ref-12" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;"><span class="cite-accessibility-label" style="user-select: none; top: -99999px; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px); overflow: hidden; position: absolute !important; padding: 0px !important; border: 0px !important; height: 1px !important; width: 1px !important;">Jump up</span>↑</a></span>&nbsp;<span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.politico.eu/article/facebook-russia-struggles-to-contain-narrative/" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent) right center no-repeat, url(" data:image="data:image" svg="svg" xml="xml" c="C" fxml="Fxml" version="version" d="D" encoding="encoding" utf-8="UTF-8" standalone="standalone" no="no" f="F" e="E" csvg="Csvg" http="http" a="A" fwww.w3.org="Fwww.w3.org" f2000="F2000" fsvg="Fsvg" width="width" height="height" cpath="Cpath" fill="fill" fff="fff" stroke="stroke" m1.5="M1.5" h5.982v10.5h1.5z="h5.982V10.5H1.5z" m5.765="M5.765" h11v5.39l9.427="H11v5.39L9.427" l-1.31-1.31l5.393="l-1.31-1.31L5.393" l-2.69-2.688="l-2.69-2.688" l4.2="L4.2" z="z" m9.995="M9.995" l.022="l.022" l8.2="L8.2" l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z="l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z" padding-right="padding-right" px="px" xmlns="xmlns" xmlns:data="data">Facebook struggles to contain Russia narrative</a>, Politico, 29 October 2017</span></font></font></font></li></ol></div><div id="catlinks" class="catlinks" data-mw="interface" style="border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); 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</div><div><b>Allan Blutstein</b></div><div>Attorney</div><div>
</div><div>Washington D.C. Metro AreaLaw Practice</div><div>Current<span style="white-space:pre"> </span></div><div>America Rising, FOIA Advisor (web site)</div><div>Previous<span style="white-space:pre"> </span></div><div><b>Cause of Action Institute</b>, U.S. Department of the Treasury, U.S. Department of Justice</div><div>Education<span style="white-space:pre"> </span></div><div>Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Yeshiva University</div><div>Recommendations<span style="white-space:pre"> </span>1 person has recommended Allan Blutstein</div><div>199</div><div>connections</div><div>View Allan Blutstein’s full profile. It's free!</div><div>Your colleagues, classmates, and 500 million other professionals are on LinkedIn.</div><div>View Allan’s Full Profile</div><div>Allan Blutstein’s Activity</div><div>Allan Blutstein liked this</div><div>
</div><div>'Inconsistent' Federal Regulations Put Innovative Cancer...</div><div>Federal Trade Commission (FTC) officials issued “new, confusing and burdensome” data security...</div><div>Summary</div><div>Specialties: Litigation, administrative law, Freedom of Information Act, Privacy Act</div><div>
</div><div>Experience</div><div><b>America Rising</b></div><div><b>Vice President, FOIA Operations</b></div><div>America Rising</div><div>May 2015 – Present&nbsp; 3 years 7 months</div><div>Arlington, Virginia</div><div>FOIA Advisor (web site)</div><div>Founder</div><div>FOIA Advisor (web site)</div><div>March 2015 – Present&nbsp; 3 years 9 months</div><div>Washington, D.C.</div><div>Free online resource for Freedom of Information Act practitioners. See foiaadvisor.com.</div><div>
</div><div>Cause of Action Institute</div><div>Managing Counsel</div><div>Cause of Action Institute</div><div>2013 – 2015&nbsp; 2 years</div><div>Washington, D.C.</div><div>
</div><div>U.S. Department of the Treasury</div><div>Supervisory Attorney-Advisor</div><div>U.S. Department of the Treasury</div><div>2009 – 2013&nbsp; 4 years</div><div>Washington, D.C.</div><div>Office of Financial Stability (aka <b>Troubled Asset Relief Program)</b></div><div>
</div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">U.S. Department of Justice</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Attorney-Advisor</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">U.S. Department of Justice</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">2004 – 2009&nbsp; 5 years</span></div><div>Washington, D.C.</div><div>Office of Information and Privacy</div><div>
</div><div>New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene</div><div>Assistant General Counsel</div><div>New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene</div><div>2001 – 2004&nbsp; 3 years</div><div>New York, NY</div><div>Social Security Administration</div><div>Assistant Regional Counsel</div><div>Social Security Administration</div><div>1998 – 2001&nbsp; 3 years</div><div>New York, NY</div><div>Education</div><div>Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Yeshiva University</div><div>Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Yeshiva University</div><div>JD, magna cum laude</div><div>1994 – 1997</div><div>Research assistant for Profs. Lester Brickman & Malvina Halberstam</div><div>
</div><div>Activities and Societies: Order of the Coif</div><div>
</div><div>Skills & Endorsements</div><div>Join LinkedIn to see Allan’s skills, endorsements, and full profile</div><div>Join now</div><div>Organizations</div><div>American Society of Access Professionals</div><div>Federalist Society</div><div>Recommendations</div><div>A preview of what LinkedIn members have to say about Allan:</div><div>
</div><div>If a crisp and thorough legal opinion is what you need, look no further than Allan. His is among the sharpest legal minds I know.</div><div>See more</div><div>Sign up to see who recommended Allan</div><div>Groups</div><div>Cardozo - D.C. Alumni</div><div>Cardozo - D.C. Alumni</div><div>U.S. Department of Justice (Unofficial)</div><div>U.S. Department of Justice (Unofficial)</div><div>Freedom of Information Specialists - FOIA Specialists</div><div>Freedom of Information Specialists - FOIA Specialists</div><div>Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law</div><div>Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law</div><div>America Rising Past & Present</div><div>America Rising Past & Present</div><div>
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</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4" /><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">BRIAN ROGERS</font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></div><div>SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT</div><div>Brian Rogers brings a wealth of communications and research experience in high-stakes political campaigns and government. He previously served as Communications Director to U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ), Deputy Communications Director and Research Director on McCain’s 2008 presidential campaign, and held senior roles on campaigns across the country and at the RNC. Rogers currently serves as Executive Director of America Rising Squared, a conservative 501(c)(4) nonprofit engaged in the public policy debate. Rogers is a dedicated Philadelphia sports fan.</div><div>---</div><div><div>
</div><div>SERVICES</div><div>CONSOLE</div><div>OUR TEAM</div><div>CAREERS</div><div>CONTACT</div><div>BLOG</div><div>WHO WE ARE</div><div>The team at Definers Public Affairs is comprised of leading communications, political and research professionals. Founded by former Romney-Ryan 2012 campaign manager Matt Rhoades and former RNC Research Director Joe Pounder, Definers helps corporations, trade associations, political campaigns and issue-based clients run smarter campaigns using cutting-edge research and communications strategies and tactics.</div><div>
</div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">&nbsp;Matt Rhoades</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">MATT RHOADES</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">FOUNDER AND CEO</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">&nbsp;Joe Pounder</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">JOE POUNDER</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">PRESIDENT</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">&nbsp;Scott Cotter</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">SCOTT COTTER</span></div><div>CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER</div><div>&nbsp;Alexandra Angel</div><div>ALEXANDRA ANGEL</div><div>SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT</div><div>&nbsp;Eva Bandola</div><div>EVA BANDOLA</div><div><b>DIRECTOR</b></div><div><b>&nbsp;Allan Blutstein</b></div><div>ALLAN BLUTSTEIN</div><div>SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT</div><div>&nbsp;Ben Brown</div><div>BEN BROWN</div><div>CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER</div><div>&nbsp;Julia Cotrone</div><div>JULIA COTRONE</div><div>SPECIAL ASSISTANT</div><div>&nbsp;Denys Emmert</div><div>DENYS EMMERT</div><div>ASSOCIATE</div><div>&nbsp;Elijah Fabrega</div><div>ELIJAH FABREGA</div><div>ASSOCIATE</div><div>&nbsp;Kendyll Ferrall</div><div>KENDYLL FERRALL</div><div>ASSOCIATE</div><div>&nbsp;John Fowler</div><div>JOHN FOWLER</div><div>FULL-STACK DEVELOPER</div><div>&nbsp;Erica Guyton</div><div>ERICA GUYTON</div><div>HR DIRECTOR</div><div>&nbsp;Casey Harper</div><div>CASEY HARPER</div><div>DIRECTOR</div><div>&nbsp;Christian Hertenstein</div><div>CHRISTIAN HERTENSTEIN</div><div>VICE PRESIDENT</div><div>&nbsp;Tim Killeen</div><div><b>TIM KILLEEN</b></div><div><b>SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT</b></div><div>&nbsp;Oliver Logan</div><div>OLIVER LOGAN</div><div>DIRECTOR OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY</div><div>&nbsp;Hannah Loiacono</div><div>HANNAH LOIACONO</div><div>SENIOR ASSOCIATE</div><div>&nbsp;Scott Longenhagen</div><div>SCOTT LONGENHAGEN</div><div>ASSOCIATE</div><div>&nbsp;Andrew Muchnick</div><div>ANDREW MUCHNICK</div><div>ASSOCIATE</div><div>&nbsp;Tom Mulkeen</div><div>TOM MULKEEN</div><div>SENIOR ASSOCIATE</div><div>&nbsp;Katie Oneil</div><div>KATIE ONEIL</div><div>DIGITAL CONTENT DIRECTOR</div><div>&nbsp;Christy Paavola</div><div>CHRISTY PAAVOLA</div><div>SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT</div><div>&nbsp;Sara Pietsch</div><div>SARA PIETSCH</div><div>ART DIRECTOR</div><div>&nbsp;Sarah Pompei</div><div>SARAH POMPEI</div><div>SENIOR ADVISOR</div><div>&nbsp;Colin Reed</div><div>COLIN REED</div><div>SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT</div><div>&nbsp;Wesley Roberts</div><div>WESLEY ROBERTS</div><div>SENIOR FULL-STACK ENGINEER</div><div>&nbsp;Brian Rogers</div><div>BRIAN ROGERS</div><div>SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT</div><div>&nbsp;Joey Rose</div><div>JOEY ROSE</div><div>GRAPHIC DESIGNER</div><div>&nbsp;Will Schenkel</div><div>WILL SCHENKEL</div><div>WAR ROOM DIRECTOR</div><div>&nbsp;Nick Silverman</div><div>NICK SILVERMAN</div><div>ASSOCIATE</div><div>&nbsp;Will Southworth</div><div>WILL SOUTHWORTH</div><div>ASSOCIATE</div><div>&nbsp;James Spears</div><div>JAMES SPEARS</div><div>DIGITAL MARKETING SPECIALIST</div><div>&nbsp;Dustin Wahl</div><div>DUSTIN WAHL</div><div>ASSOCIATE</div><div>&nbsp;Eric Wilson</div><div>ERIC WILSON</div><div>CHIEF DIGITAL OFFICER</div><div>&nbsp;Nick Zanetti</div><div>NICK ZANETTI</div><div>RESEARCH ASSOCIATE</div><div>WASHINGTON, DC | SAN FRANCISCO, CA</div><div>
</div><div>Copyright Definers Public Affairs 2018</div></div></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"></font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs</a></font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">dE<b style="">finers Public Affairs</b><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">&nbsp;</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">is an American right leaning</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">&nbsp;</span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opposition_research" title="Opposition research" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">opposition research</a><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">&nbsp;</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">firm based in</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">&nbsp;</span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arlington,Virginia" class="mw-redirect" title="Arlington, Virginia" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">Arlington, Virginia</a><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">.</span><sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference" style="line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: isolate; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_note-1" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">[1]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-NYT_2-0" class="reference" style="line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: isolate; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_note-NYT-2" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">[2]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference" style="line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: isolate; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_note-3" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">[3]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference" style="line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: isolate; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_note-4" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">[4]</a></sup><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">&nbsp;</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">It performs</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">&nbsp;</span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Media_monitoring_service" title="Media monitoring service" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">media monitoring services</a><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">, conducts research using the</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">&nbsp;</span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_of_Information_Act(United_States)" title="Freedom of Information Act (United States)" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">Freedom of Information Act</a><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">&nbsp;</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">and also creates strategic communication to negatively influence the public image about individuals, firms, candidates and organizations who oppose their clients.</span><sup id="cite_ref-5" class="reference" style="line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: isolate; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_note-5" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">[5]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-NYT_2-1" class="reference" style="line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: isolate; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_note-NYT-2" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">[2]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-6" class="reference" style="line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: isolate; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_note-6" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">[6]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-spokeout_7-0" class="reference" style="line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: isolate; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_note-spokeout-7" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">[7]</a></sup><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">&nbsp;</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Definers shares at least nine current and former executives, as well as its office space, with</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">&nbsp;</span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/America_Rising" title="America Rising" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">America Rising</a><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">, a</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">&nbsp;</span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republican_Party(United_States)" title="Republican Party (United States)" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">Republican</a><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">-affiliated</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">&nbsp;</span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_action_committee" title="Political action committee" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">political action committee</a><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">, and NTK Network, a digital</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">&nbsp;</span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/News_aggregator" title="News aggregator" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">news aggregator</a><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">.</span><sup id="cite_ref-spokeout_7-1" class="reference" style="line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: isolate; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_note-spokeout-7" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">[7]</a></sup></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div id="toc" class="toc" style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); background-color: rgb(248, 249, 250); padding: 7px; display: table; zoom: 1;"><input type="checkbox" role="button" id="toctogglecheckbox" class="toctogglecheckbox" style="direction: ltr; position: absolute; opacity: 0; display: none;" /><div class="toctitle" lang="en" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; text-align: center;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><ul style="list-style-type: none; margin: 0.3em 0px; padding: 0px; list-style-image: none;"><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-1" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#Organization" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><span class="tocnumber" style="display: table-cell; text-decoration: inherit; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0.5em;">1</span><span class="toctext" style="display: table-cell; text-decoration: inherit;">Organization</span></font></a></li><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-2" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#Contract_with_Environmental_Protection_Agency" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><span class="tocnumber" style="display: table-cell; text-decoration: inherit; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0.5em;">2</span><span class="toctext" style="display: table-cell; text-decoration: inherit;">Contract with Environmental Protection Agency</span></font></a></li><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-3" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#Allegations_by_Shervin_Pishevar" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><span class="tocnumber" style="display: table-cell; text-decoration: inherit; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0.5em;">3</span><span class="toctext" style="display: table-cell; text-decoration: inherit;">Allegations by Shervin Pishevar</span></font></a></li><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-4" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#Controversy_regarding_Facebook" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><span class="tocnumber" style="display: table-cell; text-decoration: inherit; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0.5em;">4</span><span class="toctext" style="display: table-cell; text-decoration: inherit;">Controversy regarding Facebook</span></font></a></li><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-5" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#References" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><span class="tocnumber" style="display: table-cell; text-decoration: inherit; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0.5em;">5</span><span class="toctext" style="display: table-cell; text-decoration: inherit;">References</span></font></a></li><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-6" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#External_links" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><span class="tocnumber" style="display: table-cell; text-decoration: inherit; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0.5em;">6</span><span class="toctext" style="display: table-cell; text-decoration: inherit;">External links</span></font></a></li></ul></div><h2 style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: normal; margin: 1em 0px 0.25em; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); line-height: 1.3;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="mw-headline" id="Organization">Organization</span></font></h2><p style="margin: 0.5em 0px; line-height: inherit; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Definers was founded by&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republican_Party(United_States)" title="Republican Party (United States)" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Republican Party</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_campaign_staff" title="Political campaign staff" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">political operatives</a>&nbsp;Joe Pounder and&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matt_Rhoades" title="Matt Rhoades" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Matt Rhoades</a>&nbsp;in 2016.<sup id="cite_ref-NYT_2-2" class="reference" style="line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: isolate; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_note-NYT-2" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[2]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-MJ_8-0" class="reference" style="line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: isolate; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_note-MJ-8" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[8]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-9" class="reference" style="line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: isolate; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_note-9" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[9]</a></sup></font></p><p style="margin: 0.5em 0px; line-height: inherit; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">In 2017,&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dentons" title="Dentons" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Dentons</a>&nbsp;formed a strategic partnership with Definers dubbed 3D Global Affairs.<sup id="cite_ref-10" class="reference" style="line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: isolate; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_note-10" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[10]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-11" class="reference" style="line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: isolate; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_note-11" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[11]</a></sup>&nbsp;Among the services offered at 3D Global Affairs would be “governmental relations and lobbying support to shape the environment...campaign-style opposition research " and “communications and rapid response professionals to direct&nbsp; the narrative.”<sup id="cite_ref-12" class="reference" style="line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: isolate; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_note-12" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[12]</a></sup></font></p><p style="margin: 0.5em 0px; line-height: inherit;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);" size="4">Definers established an office in&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Francisco" title="San Francisco" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">San Francisco</a>&nbsp;to provide opposition research to&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silicon_Valley" title="Silicon Valley" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">Silicon Valley</a>&nbsp;clients.<sup id="cite_ref-recode_13-0" class="reference" style="line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: isolate; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_note-recode-13" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">[13]</a></sup>&nbsp;In 2017 Definers opened an office in&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London" title="London" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">London</a>&nbsp;called the U.K. Policy Group, headed by Andrew Goodfellow, the former head of research for the&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conservative_Party(UK)" title="Conservative Party (UK)" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">Conservative Party</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-Politico_14-0" class="reference" style="line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: isolate; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_note-Politico-14" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">[14]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-15" class="reference" style="line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: isolate; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_note-15" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">[15]</a></sup></font></p><h2 style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 1em 0px 0.25em; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); line-height: 1.3;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style=""><span class="mw-headline" id="Contract_with_Environmental_Protection_Agency" style="">Contract with Environmental Protection Agency</span></font></h2><p style="margin: 0.5em 0px; line-height: inherit;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="" size="4"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">In December 2017, Definers Public Affairs was paid $120,000 in a&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No-bid_contract" title="No-bid contract" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">no-bid contract</a>&nbsp;from the&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Environmental_Protection_Agency" title="United States Environmental Protection Agency" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">United States Environmental Protection Agency</a>&nbsp;(EPA) for services which included searching for "resistance figures" opposing the agenda of&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Administrator_of_the_Environmental_Protection_Agency" title="Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">Administrator</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_Pruitt" title="Scott Pruitt" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">Scott Pruitt</a>, appointed to head the agency under President Donald Trump.<sup id="cite_ref-NYT_2-3" class="reference" style="line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: isolate; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_note-NYT-2" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">[2]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-16" class="reference" style="line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: isolate; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_note-16" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">[16]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-MJ_8-1" class="reference" style="line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: isolate; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_note-MJ-8" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">[8]</a></sup>&nbsp;During the bid Definers listed itself erroneously as a "small disadvantaged business", which was corrected after receiving the contract.<sup id="cite_ref-17" class="reference" style="line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: isolate; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_note-17" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">[17]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-18" class="reference" style="line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: isolate; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_note-18" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">[18]</a></sup>&nbsp;Allan Blutstein a lawyer for Definers Public Affairs lodged FOI requests on low-level bureaucrats that were perceived to be hostile to Pruitt's agenda, Definers work was incorrectly listed as in the contract to perform “media monitoring” services.<sup id="cite_ref-19" class="reference" style="line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: isolate; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_note-19" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">[19]</a></sup>&nbsp;Definers cancelled the contract after receiving media scrutiny.</span><sup id="cite_ref-20" class="reference" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: isolate; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_note-20" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[20]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-21" class="reference" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: isolate; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_note-21" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[21]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-22" class="reference" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: isolate; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_note-22" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[22]</a></sup></font></p><p style="margin: 0.5em 0px; line-height: inherit; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_K.Reilly" title="William K. Reilly" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">William K. Reilly</a>, the EPA administrator under President George H.W. Bush, criticized the hiring of Definers Public Affairs, saying that: “Mr. Pruitt appears not to understand that the two most valuable assets EPA has is the country’s trust and a very committed professional work force. This shows complete insensitivity, complete tone-deafness, or something worse.”<sup id="cite_ref-spokeout_7-2" class="reference" style="line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: isolate; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_note-spokeout-7" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[7]</a></sup>&nbsp;John O’Grady, President of the&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Federation_of_Government_Employees" title="American Federation of Government Employees" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">American Federation of Government Employees</a>&nbsp;Council 238, which represents approximately 10,000 EPA employees, was the target of a Definers FOIA request, and called the firm a threat to EPA employees.<sup id="cite_ref-NYT_2-4" class="reference" style="line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: isolate; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_note-NYT-2" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[2]</a></sup>&nbsp;Charles Tiefer of the&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Baltimore" title="University of Baltimore" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">University of Baltimore</a>argued that Definers is benefiting from politically-motivated&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crony_capitalism" title="Crony capitalism" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">crony capitalism</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-NYT_2-5" class="reference" style="line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: isolate; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_note-NYT-2" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[2]</a></sup></font></p><h2 style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: normal; margin: 1em 0px 0.25em; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); line-height: 1.3;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="mw-headline" id="Allegations_by_Shervin_Pishevar">Allegations by Shervin Pishevar</span></font></h2><p style="margin: 0.5em 0px; line-height: inherit; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venture_capitalist" class="mw-redirect" title="Venture capitalist" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Venture capitalist</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shervin_Pishevar" title="Shervin Pishevar" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Shervin Pishevar</a>&nbsp;filed a lawsuit against Definers Public Affairs, alleging that it orchestrated a&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smear_campaign" title="Smear campaign" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">smear campaign</a>&nbsp;against him.<sup id="cite_ref-23" class="reference" style="line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: isolate; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_note-23" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[23]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-24" class="reference" style="line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: isolate; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_note-24" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[24]</a></sup></font></p><h2 style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 1em 0px 0.25em; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); line-height: 1.3;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style=""><span class="mw-headline" id="Controversy_regarding_Facebook" style="">Controversy regarding Facebook</span></font></h2><p style="margin: 0.5em 0px; line-height: inherit;"><font face="Times New Roman" style="" size="4"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">In October 2017, Facebook expanded its work with Definers Public Affairs, that had originally been hired to monitor press coverage of the company to address concerns primarily regarding&nbsp;</span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_meddling_in_the_2016_United_States_elections" class="mw-redirect" title="Russian meddling in the 2016 United States elections" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;">Russian meddling</a><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">&nbsp;then data sharing and hate speech on Facebook and calls for protection through public policy and regulation.</span><sup id="cite_ref-25" class="reference" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: isolate; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_note-25" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[25]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-26" class="reference" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: isolate; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_note-26" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[26]</a></sup><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">&nbsp;Definers had established a Silicon Valley outpost earlier that year led by Tim Miller, a former spokesman for Jeb Bush. For tech firms, he argued in one interview, a goal should be to “have positive content pushed out about your company and negative content that’s being pushed out about your competitor.” A research document circulated by Definers to reporters this summer, just a month after the House hearing, cast&nbsp;</span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Soros" title="George Soros" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;">George Soros</a><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">, a frequent subject of&nbsp;</span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antisemitic_canard" title="Antisemitic canard" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;">antisemitic conspiracy theories</a><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">&nbsp;and hate speech, falsely as the unacknowledged force behind what appeared to be a broad anti-Facebook movement.</span><sup id="cite_ref-27" class="reference" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: isolate; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_note-27" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[27]</a></sup><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">&nbsp;Definers also created other negative media, along with&nbsp;</span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/America_Rising" title="America Rising" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;">America Rising</a><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">, which was distributed through NTK Network that was later picked up by larger media organisations like&nbsp;</span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breitbart_News" title="Breitbart News" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;">Breitbart</a><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">.</span><sup id="cite_ref-28" class="reference" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: isolate; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_note-28" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[28]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-29" class="reference" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: isolate; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_note-29" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[29]</a></sup><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">&nbsp;Following the public outcry from the&nbsp;</span><i style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">New York Times</i><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">&nbsp;article documenting the activity of Definers Public Affairs Facebook cut ties with the agency.</span><sup id="cite_ref-30" class="reference" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: isolate; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_note-30" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[30]</a></sup><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">&nbsp;</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">George Soros'&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_Society_Foundations" title="Open Society Foundations" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">Open Society Foundation</a>&nbsp;put a statement out that said the content was a “deliberate strategy to distract” from Facebooks own scandals and that the "methods threaten the very values underpinning our democracy."<sup id="cite_ref-31" class="reference" style="line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: isolate; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_note-31" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">[31]</a></sup>&nbsp;Tim Miller defended the accuracy of Definers work stating that "Definers shared a narrow document about an anti-Facebook group's funding. It was entirely factual."<sup id="cite_ref-32" class="reference" style="line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: isolate; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_note-32" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">[32]</a></sup>&nbsp;A former employee told NBC News that there was an “in-house fake news shop”.</span><sup id="cite_ref-33" class="reference" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: isolate; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_note-33" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[33]</a></sup></font></p><h2 style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: normal; margin: 1em 0px 0.25em; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); line-height: 1.3;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="mw-headline" id="References">References</span></font></h2><div class="reflist" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); list-style-type: decimal;"><div class="mw-references-wrap mw-references-columns" style="column-width: 30em;"><ol class="references" style="margin: 0.3em 0px 0px 3.2em; padding: 0px; list-style-image: none; list-style-type: inherit;"><li id="cite_note-1" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em; break-inside: avoid-column;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="mw-cite-backlink" style="user-select: none;"><b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_ref-1" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;"><span class="cite-accessibility-label" style="user-select: none; top: -99999px; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px); overflow: hidden; position: absolute !important; padding: 0px !important; border: 0px !important; height: 1px !important; width: 1px !important;">Jump up</span>^{</a></b></span>&nbsp;}<span class="reference-text"><cite class="citation news" style="font-style: inherit; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.salon.com/2018/11/14/facebook-hired-gop-opposition-research-firm-to-demonize-activists-as-anti-semitic-report/" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent) right center no-repeat, url(" data:image="data:image" svg="svg" xml="xml" csvg="Csvg" width="%2212%22" height="%2212%22%3E" cpath="Cpath" fill="%22%23fff%22" stroke="%22%2336c%22" d="%22M9.995" h5.982v10.5h1.5z="h5.982V10.5H1.5z" e="E" h11v5.39l9.427="H11v5.39L9.427" l-1.31-1.31l5.393="l-1.31-1.31L5.393" l-2.69-2.688="l-2.69-2.688" l4.2="L4.2" z="z" l.022="l.022" l8.2="L8.2" l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z="l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z" c="C" padding-right="padding-right" px="px" xmlns="%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22" xmlns:data="data">"Facebook hired GOP consultancy that used anti-Semitic dogwhistles to smear protesters: report"</a>.&nbsp;<i>Salon</i>. 2018-11-14<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved&nbsp;<span class="nowrap" style="white-space: nowrap;">2018-11-15</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Salon&rft.atitle=Facebook+hired+GOP+consultancy+that+used+anti-Semitic+dogwhistles+to+smear+protesters%3A+report&rft.date=2018-11-14&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.salon.com%2F2018%2F11%2F14%2Ffacebook-hired-gop-opposition-research-firm-to-demonize-activists-as-anti-semitic-report%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ADefiners+Public+Affairs" class="Z3988" /></span></font></li><li id="cite_note-NYT-2" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em; break-inside: avoid-column;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><span class="mw-cite-backlink" style="user-select: none;">^&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_ref-NYT_2-0" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;"><span class="cite-accessibility-label" style="user-select: none; top: -99999px; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px); overflow: hidden; position: absolute !important; padding: 0px !important; border: 0px !important; height: 1px !important; width: 1px !important;">Jump up to:</span><sup style="line-height: 1;"><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a>&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_ref-NYT_2-1" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;"><sup style="line-height: 1;"><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a>&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_ref-NYT_2-2" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;"><sup style="line-height: 1;"><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a>&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_ref-NYT_2-3" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;"><sup style="line-height: 1;"><i><b>d</b></i></sup></a>&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_ref-NYT_2-4" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;"><sup style="line-height: 1;"><i><b>e</b></i></sup></a>&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_ref-NYT_2-5" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;"><sup style="line-height: 1;"><i><b>f</b></i></sup></a></span>&nbsp;<span class="reference-text"><cite class="citation news" style="font-style: inherit; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Lipton, Eric; Friedman, Lisa (December 15, 2017).&nbsp;<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/15/us/politics/epa-scott-pruitt-foia.html" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent) right center no-repeat, url(" data:image="data:image" svg="svg" xml="xml" csvg="Csvg" width="%2212%22" height="%2212%22%3E" cpath="Cpath" fill="%22%23fff%22" stroke="%22%2336c%22" d="%22M9.995" h5.982v10.5h1.5z="h5.982V10.5H1.5z" e="E" h11v5.39l9.427="H11v5.39L9.427" l-1.31-1.31l5.393="l-1.31-1.31L5.393" l-2.69-2.688="l-2.69-2.688" l4.2="L4.2" z="z" l.022="l.022" l8.2="L8.2" l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z="l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z" c="C" padding-right="padding-right" px="px" xmlns="%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22" xmlns:data="data">"Executive at Consultancy Hired by E.P.A. Scrutinized Agency Employees Critical of Trump"</a>.&nbsp;<i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_York_Times" title="The New York Times" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">The New York Times</a></i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved&nbsp;<span class="nowrap" style="white-space: nowrap;">December 16,</span>&nbsp;2017</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.atitle=Executive+at+Consultancy+Hired+by+E.P.A.+Scrutinized+Agency+Employees+Critical+of+Trump&rft.date=2017-12-15&rft.aulast=Lipton&rft.aufirst=Eric&rft.au=Friedman%2C+Lisa&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2017%2F12%2F15%2Fus%2Fpolitics%2Fepa-scott-pruitt-foia.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ADefiners+Public+Affairs" class="Z3988" /></span></font></li><li id="cite_note-3" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em; break-inside: avoid-column;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="mw-cite-backlink" style="user-select: none;"><b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_ref-3" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;"><span class="cite-accessibility-label" style="user-select: none; top: -99999px; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px); overflow: hidden; position: absolute !important; padding: 0px !important; border: 0px !important; height: 1px !important; width: 1px !important;">Jump up</span>^{</a></b></span>&nbsp;}<span class="reference-text"><cite class="citation news" style="font-style: inherit; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.npr.org/2016/10/14/497911819/why-didnt-allegations-of-trumps-sexual-misconduct-come-up-sooner" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent) right center no-repeat, url(" data:image="data:image" svg="svg" xml="xml" csvg="Csvg" width="%2212%22" height="%2212%22%3E" cpath="Cpath" fill="%22%23fff%22" stroke="%22%2336c%22" d="%22M9.995" h5.982v10.5h1.5z="h5.982V10.5H1.5z" e="E" h11v5.39l9.427="H11v5.39L9.427" l-1.31-1.31l5.393="l-1.31-1.31L5.393" l-2.69-2.688="l-2.69-2.688" l4.2="L4.2" z="z" l.022="l.022" l8.2="L8.2" l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z="l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z" c="C" padding-right="padding-right" px="px" xmlns="%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22" xmlns:data="data">"Why Didn't Allegations Of Trump's Sexual Misconduct Come Up Sooner?"</a>.&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Public_Radio" class="mw-redirect" title="National Public Radio" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">National Public Radio</a>. October 14, 2016<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved&nbsp;<span class="nowrap" style="white-space: nowrap;">December 16,</span>&nbsp;2017</span>.&nbsp;<q style="quotes: " apos="apos">Tim Miller is a partner at Definers Public Affairs, company that specializes in opposition research.</q></cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.atitle=Why+Didn%27t+Allegations+Of+Trump%27s+Sexual+Misconduct+Come+Up+Sooner%3F&rft.date=2016-10-14&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.npr.org%2F2016%2F10%2F14%2F497911819%2Fwhy-didnt-allegations-of-trumps-sexual-misconduct-come-up-sooner&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ADefiners+Public+Affairs" class="Z3988" /></span></font></li><li id="cite_note-4" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em; break-inside: avoid-column;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="mw-cite-backlink" style="user-select: none;"><b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_ref-4" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;"><span class="cite-accessibility-label" style="user-select: none; top: -99999px; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px); overflow: hidden; position: absolute !important; padding: 0px !important; border: 0px !important; height: 1px !important; width: 1px !important;">Jump up</span>^{</a></b></span>&nbsp;}<span class="reference-text"><cite class="citation news" style="font-style: inherit; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Pounder, Joe (June 16, 2016).&nbsp;<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://time.com/4371832/opposition-research-election/" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent) right center no-repeat, url(" data:image="data:image" svg="svg" xml="xml" csvg="Csvg" width="%2212%22" height="%2212%22%3E" cpath="Cpath" fill="%22%23fff%22" stroke="%22%2336c%22" d="%22M9.995" h5.982v10.5h1.5z="h5.982V10.5H1.5z" e="E" h11v5.39l9.427="H11v5.39L9.427" l-1.31-1.31l5.393="l-1.31-1.31L5.393" l-2.69-2.688="l-2.69-2.688" l4.2="L4.2" z="z" l.022="l.022" l8.2="L8.2" l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z="l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z" c="C" padding-right="padding-right" px="px" xmlns="%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22" xmlns:data="data">"An Opposition Researcher for the GOP Reveals His Secrets"</a>.&nbsp;<i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time(magazine)" title="Time (magazine)" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Time</a></i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved&nbsp;<span class="nowrap" style="white-space: nowrap;">December 16,</span>&nbsp;2017</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Time&rft.atitle=An+Opposition+Researcher+for+the+GOP+Reveals+His+Secrets&rft.date=2016-06-16&rft.aulast=Pounder&rft.aufirst=Joe&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Ftime.com%2F4371832%2Fopposition-research-election%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ADefiners+Public+Affairs" class="Z3988" /></span></font></li><li id="cite_note-5" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em; break-inside: avoid-column;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="mw-cite-backlink" style="user-select: none;"><b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_ref-5" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;"><span class="cite-accessibility-label" style="user-select: none; top: -99999px; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px); overflow: hidden; position: absolute !important; padding: 0px !important; border: 0px !important; height: 1px !important; width: 1px !important;">Jump up</span>^{</a></b></span>&nbsp;}<span class="reference-text"><cite class="citation news" style="font-style: inherit; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/14/technology/facebook-data-russia-election-racism.html" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent) right center no-repeat, url(" data:image="data:image" svg="svg" xml="xml" csvg="Csvg" width="%2212%22" height="%2212%22%3E" cpath="Cpath" fill="%22%23fff%22" stroke="%22%2336c%22" d="%22M9.995" h5.982v10.5h1.5z="h5.982V10.5H1.5z" e="E" h11v5.39l9.427="H11v5.39L9.427" l-1.31-1.31l5.393="l-1.31-1.31L5.393" l-2.69-2.688="l-2.69-2.688" l4.2="L4.2" z="z" l.022="l.022" l8.2="L8.2" l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z="l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z" c="C" padding-right="padding-right" px="px" xmlns="%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22" xmlns:data="data">"Delay, Deny and Deflect: How Facebook's Leaders Fought Through Crisis"</a><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved&nbsp;<span class="nowrap" style="white-space: nowrap;">2018-11-15</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.atitle=Delay%2C+Deny+and+Deflect%3A+How+Facebook%E2%80%99s+Leaders+Fought+Through+Crisis&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2018%2F11%2F14%2Ftechnology%2Ffacebook-data-russia-election-racism.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ADefiners+Public+Affairs" class="Z3988" /></span></font></li><li id="cite_note-6" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em; break-inside: avoid-column;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="mw-cite-backlink" style="user-select: none;"><b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_ref-6" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;"><span class="cite-accessibility-label" style="user-select: none; top: -99999px; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px); overflow: hidden; position: absolute !important; padding: 0px !important; border: 0px !important; height: 1px !important; width: 1px !important;">Jump up</span>^{</a></b></span>&nbsp;}<span class="reference-text"><cite class="citation news" style="font-style: inherit; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/12/15/us/politics/epa-foia-requests.html" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent) right center no-repeat, url(" data:image="data:image" svg="svg" xml="xml" csvg="Csvg" width="%2212%22" height="%2212%22%3E" cpath="Cpath" fill="%22%23fff%22" stroke="%22%2336c%22" d="%22M9.995" h5.982v10.5h1.5z="h5.982V10.5H1.5z" e="E" h11v5.39l9.427="H11v5.39L9.427" l-1.31-1.31l5.393="l-1.31-1.31L5.393" l-2.69-2.688="l-2.69-2.688" l4.2="L4.2" z="z" l.022="l.022" l8.2="L8.2" l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z="l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z" c="C" padding-right="padding-right" px="px" xmlns="%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22" xmlns:data="data">"Searching for 'Resistance' E.P.A. Employees"</a>.&nbsp;<i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_York_Times" title="The New York Times" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">The New York Times</a></i>. December 15, 2017<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved&nbsp;<span class="nowrap" style="white-space: nowrap;">December 16,</span>&nbsp;2017</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=The+New+York+Times&rft.atitle=Searching+for+%E2%80%98Resistance%E2%80%99+E.P.A.+Employees&rft.date=2017-12-15&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2Finteractive%2F2017%2F12%2F15%2Fus%2Fpolitics%2Fepa-foia-requests.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ADefiners+Public+Affairs" class="Z3988" /></span></font></li><li id="cite_note-spokeout-7" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em; break-inside: avoid-column;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><span class="mw-cite-backlink" style="user-select: none;">^&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_ref-spokeout_7-0" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;"><span class="cite-accessibility-label" style="user-select: none; top: -99999px; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px); overflow: hidden; position: absolute !important; padding: 0px !important; border: 0px !important; height: 1px !important; width: 1px !important;">Jump up to:</span><sup style="line-height: 1;"><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a>&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_ref-spokeout_7-1" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;"><sup style="line-height: 1;"><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a>&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_ref-spokeout_7-2" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;"><sup style="line-height: 1;"><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a></span>&nbsp;<span class="reference-text"><cite class="citation news" style="font-style: inherit; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Lipton, Eric; Friedman, Lisa; Vogel, Kenneth P. (December 17, 2017).&nbsp;<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/17/us/politics/epa-pruitt-media-monitoring.html" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent) right center no-repeat, url(" data:image="data:image" svg="svg" xml="xml" csvg="Csvg" width="%2212%22" height="%2212%22%3E" cpath="Cpath" fill="%22%23fff%22" stroke="%22%2336c%22" d="%22M9.995" h5.982v10.5h1.5z="h5.982V10.5H1.5z" e="E" h11v5.39l9.427="H11v5.39L9.427" l-1.31-1.31l5.393="l-1.31-1.31L5.393" l-2.69-2.688="l-2.69-2.688" l4.2="L4.2" z="z" l.022="l.022" l8.2="L8.2" l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z="l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z" c="C" padding-right="padding-right" px="px" xmlns="%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22" xmlns:data="data">"E.P.A. Employees Spoke Out. Then Came Scrutiny of Their Email"</a>.&nbsp;<i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_York_Times" title="The New York Times" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">The New York Times</a></i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved&nbsp;<span class="nowrap" style="white-space: nowrap;">December 17,</span>&nbsp;2017</span>.&nbsp;<q style="quotes: " apos="apos">He and Matt Rhoades, his partner at Definers Public Affairs, also started America Rising. The two entities share several top executives, including Allan L. Blutstein, the lawyer who prepared the Freedom of Information Act requests aimed at the EPA employees.</q></cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=The+New+York+Times&rft.atitle=E.P.A.+Employees+Spoke+Out.+Then+Came+Scrutiny+of+Their+Email.&rft.date=2017-12-17&rft.aulast=Lipton&rft.aufirst=Eric&rft.au=Friedman%2C+Lisa&rft.au=Vogel%2C+Kenneth+P.&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2017%2F12%2F17%2Fus%2Fpolitics%2Fepa-pruitt-media-monitoring.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ADefiners+Public+Affairs" class="Z3988" /></span></font></li><li id="cite_note-MJ-8" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em; break-inside: avoid-column;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><span class="mw-cite-backlink" style="user-select: none;">^&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_ref-MJ_8-0" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;"><span class="cite-accessibility-label" style="user-select: none; top: -99999px; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px); overflow: hidden; position: absolute !important; padding: 0px !important; border: 0px !important; height: 1px !important; width: 1px !important;">Jump up to:</span><sup style="line-height: 1;"><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a>&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_ref-MJ_8-1" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;"><sup style="line-height: 1;"><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span>&nbsp;<span class="reference-text"><cite class="citation news" style="font-style: inherit; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Leber, Rebecca; Kroll, Andy; Choma, Russ (December 15, 2017).&nbsp;<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2017/12/the-epa-hired-a-major-republican-opposition-research-firm-to-track-press-activity/" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent) right center no-repeat, url(" data:image="data:image" svg="svg" xml="xml" csvg="Csvg" width="%2212%22" height="%2212%22%3E" cpath="Cpath" fill="%22%23fff%22" stroke="%22%2336c%22" d="%22M9.995" h5.982v10.5h1.5z="h5.982V10.5H1.5z" e="E" h11v5.39l9.427="H11v5.39L9.427" l-1.31-1.31l5.393="l-1.31-1.31L5.393" l-2.69-2.688="l-2.69-2.688" l4.2="L4.2" z="z" l.022="l.022" l8.2="L8.2" l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z="l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z" c="C" padding-right="padding-right" px="px" xmlns="%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22" xmlns:data="data">"The EPA Hired a Major Republican Opposition Research Firm to Track Press Activity"</a>.&nbsp;<i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother_Jones(magazine)" title="Mother Jones (magazine)" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Mother Jones</a></i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved&nbsp;<span class="nowrap" style="white-space: nowrap;">December 16,</span>&nbsp;2017</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Mother+Jones&rft.atitle=The+EPA+Hired+a+Major+Republican+Opposition+Research+Firm+to+Track+Press+Activity&rft.date=2017-12-15&rft.aulast=Leber&rft.aufirst=Rebecca&rft.au=Kroll%2C+Andy&rft.au=Choma%2C+Russ&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.motherjones.com%2Fpolitics%2F2017%2F12%2Fthe-epa-hired-a-major-republican-opposition-research-firm-to-track-press-activity%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ADefiners+Public+Affairs" class="Z3988" /></span></font></li><li id="cite_note-9" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em; break-inside: avoid-column;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="mw-cite-backlink" style="user-select: none;"><b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_ref-9" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;"><span class="cite-accessibility-label" style="user-select: none; top: -99999px; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px); overflow: hidden; position: absolute !important; padding: 0px !important; border: 0px !important; height: 1px !important; width: 1px !important;">Jump up</span>^{</a></b></span>&nbsp;}<span class="reference-text"><cite class="citation news" style="font-style: inherit; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Sherman, Jake (September 6, 2017).&nbsp;<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.politico.com/story/2016/09/former-jeb-bush-spokesman-tim-miller-joining-definers-public-affairs-227753" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent) right center no-repeat, url(" data:image="data:image" svg="svg" xml="xml" csvg="Csvg" width="%2212%22" height="%2212%22%3E" cpath="Cpath" fill="%22%23fff%22" stroke="%22%2336c%22" d="%22M9.995" h5.982v10.5h1.5z="h5.982V10.5H1.5z" e="E" h11v5.39l9.427="H11v5.39L9.427" l-1.31-1.31l5.393="l-1.31-1.31L5.393" l-2.69-2.688="l-2.69-2.688" l4.2="L4.2" z="z" l.022="l.022" l8.2="L8.2" l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z="l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z" c="C" padding-right="padding-right" px="px" xmlns="%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22" xmlns:data="data">"Former Jeb Bush spokesman Tim Miller joining Definers Public Affairs"</a>.&nbsp;<i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politico" title="Politico" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Politico</a></i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved&nbsp;<span class="nowrap" style="white-space: nowrap;">December 16,</span>&nbsp;2017</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Politico&rft.atitle=Former+Jeb+Bush+spokesman+Tim+Miller+joining+Definers+Public+Affairs&rft.date=2017-09-06&rft.aulast=Sherman&rft.aufirst=Jake&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.politico.com%2Fstory%2F2016%2F09%2Fformer-jeb-bush-spokesman-tim-miller-joining-definers-public-affairs-227753&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ADefiners+Public+Affairs" class="Z3988" /></span></font></li><li id="cite_note-10" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em; break-inside: avoid-column;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="mw-cite-backlink" style="user-select: none;"><b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_ref-10" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;"><span class="cite-accessibility-label" style="user-select: none; top: -99999px; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px); overflow: hidden; position: absolute !important; padding: 0px !important; border: 0px !important; height: 1px !important; width: 1px !important;">Jump up</span>^{</a></b></span>&nbsp;}<span class="reference-text"><cite class="citation news" style="font-style: inherit; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/lobbying-hires/363441-lobbying-world" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent) right center no-repeat, url(" data:image="data:image" svg="svg" xml="xml" csvg="Csvg" width="%2212%22" height="%2212%22%3E" cpath="Cpath" fill="%22%23fff%22" stroke="%22%2336c%22" d="%22M9.995" h5.982v10.5h1.5z="h5.982V10.5H1.5z" e="E" h11v5.39l9.427="H11v5.39L9.427" l-1.31-1.31l5.393="l-1.31-1.31L5.393" l-2.69-2.688="l-2.69-2.688" l4.2="L4.2" z="z" l.022="l.022" l8.2="L8.2" l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z="l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z" c="C" padding-right="padding-right" px="px" xmlns="%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22" xmlns:data="data">"Lobbying world"</a>.&nbsp;<i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hill(newspaper)" title="The Hill (newspaper)" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">The Hill</a></i>. December 5, 2017<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved&nbsp;<span class="nowrap" style="white-space: nowrap;">December 16,</span>&nbsp;2017</span>.&nbsp;<q style="quotes: " apos="apos">Law and lobby firm Dentons has launched 3D Global Affairs as part of an alliance with strategic communications and political intelligence firm Definers Public Affairs, run by Matt Rhoades, the former campaign manager for Mitt Romney’s presidential run in 2012 and former Republican National Committee research director Joe Pounder. 3D Global Affairs offers clients legal teams, lobbying and advocacy help, digital advertising, data analytics, opposition research and political intelligence, among other services.</q></cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.atitle=Lobbying+world&rft.date=2017-12-05&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fthehill.com%2Fbusiness-a-lobbying%2Flobbying-hires%2F363441-lobbying-world&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ADefiners+Public+Affairs" class="Z3988" /></span></font></li><li id="cite_note-11" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em; break-inside: avoid-column;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="mw-cite-backlink" style="user-select: none;"><b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_ref-11" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;"><span class="cite-accessibility-label" style="user-select: none; top: -99999px; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px); overflow: hidden; position: absolute !important; padding: 0px !important; border: 0px !important; height: 1px !important; width: 1px !important;">Jump up</span>^{</a></b></span>&nbsp;}<span class="reference-text"><cite class="citation pressrelease" style="font-style: inherit; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.politico.com/f/?id=00000160-0dcb-df3f-a979-3fffc25a0000" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent) right center no-repeat, url(" data:image="data:image" svg="svg" xml="xml" csvg="Csvg" width="%2212%22" height="%2212%22%3E" cpath="Cpath" fill="%22%23fff%22" stroke="%22%2336c%22" d="%22M9.995" h5.982v10.5h1.5z="h5.982V10.5H1.5z" e="E" h11v5.39l9.427="H11v5.39L9.427" l-1.31-1.31l5.393="l-1.31-1.31L5.393" l-2.69-2.688="l-2.69-2.688" l4.2="L4.2" z="z" l.022="l.022" l8.2="L8.2" l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z="l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z" c="C" padding-right="padding-right" px="px" xmlns="%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22" xmlns:data="data">"Dentons announces strategic alliance to create 3D Global Affairs"</a>(Press release).&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dentons" title="Dentons" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Dentons</a>. November 30, 2017<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved&nbsp;<span class="nowrap" style="white-space: nowrap;">December 16,</span>2017</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Dentons+announces+strategic+alliance+to+create+3D+Global+Affairs&rft.pub=Dentons&rft.date=2017-11-30&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.politico.com%2Ff%2F%3Fid%3D00000160-0dcb-df3f-a979-3fffc25a0000&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ADefiners+Public+Affairs" class="Z3988" /></span></font></li><li id="cite_note-12" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em; break-inside: avoid-column;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="mw-cite-backlink" style="user-select: none;"><b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_ref-12" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;"><span class="cite-accessibility-label" style="user-select: none; top: -99999px; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px); overflow: hidden; position: absolute !important; padding: 0px !important; border: 0px !important; height: 1px !important; width: 1px !important;">Jump up</span>^{</a></b></span>&nbsp;}<span class="reference-text"><cite class="citation news" style="font-style: inherit; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.dentons.com/en/whats-different-about-dentons/connecting-you-to-talented-lawyers-around-the-globe/news/2017/november/dentons-announces-strategic-alliance-to-create-3d-global-affairs" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent) right center no-repeat, url(" data:image="data:image" svg="svg" xml="xml" csvg="Csvg" width="%2212%22" height="%2212%22%3E" cpath="Cpath" fill="%22%23fff%22" stroke="%22%2336c%22" d="%22M9.995" h5.982v10.5h1.5z="h5.982V10.5H1.5z" e="E" h11v5.39l9.427="H11v5.39L9.427" l-1.31-1.31l5.393="l-1.31-1.31L5.393" l-2.69-2.688="l-2.69-2.688" l4.2="L4.2" z="z" l.022="l.022" l8.2="L8.2" l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z="l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z" c="C" padding-right="padding-right" px="px" xmlns="%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22" xmlns:data="data">"Dentons announces strategic alliance to create 3D Global Affairs"</a><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved&nbsp;<span class="nowrap" style="white-space: nowrap;">2018-11-16</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.atitle=Dentons+announces+strategic+alliance+to+create+3D+Global+Affairs&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dentons.com%2Fen%2Fwhats-different-about-dentons%2Fconnecting-you-to-talented-lawyers-around-the-globe%2Fnews%2F2017%2Fnovember%2Fdentons-announces-strategic-alliance-to-create-3d-global-affairs&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ADefiners+Public+Affairs" class="Z3988" /></span></font></li><li id="cite_note-recode-13" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em; break-inside: avoid-column;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="mw-cite-backlink" style="user-select: none;"><b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_ref-recode_13-0" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;"><span class="cite-accessibility-label" style="user-select: none; top: -99999px; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px); overflow: hidden; position: absolute !important; padding: 0px !important; border: 0px !important; height: 1px !important; width: 1px !important;">Jump up</span>^{</a></b></span>&nbsp;}<span class="reference-text"><cite class="citation news" style="font-style: inherit; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Romm, Tony (June 7, 2017).&nbsp;<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.recode.net/2017/6/7/15746928/republicans-political-opposition-tech-silicon-valley-trump" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent) right center no-repeat, url(" data:image="data:image" svg="svg" xml="xml" csvg="Csvg" width="%2212%22" height="%2212%22%3E" cpath="Cpath" fill="%22%23fff%22" stroke="%22%2336c%22" d="%22M9.995" h5.982v10.5h1.5z="h5.982V10.5H1.5z" e="E" h11v5.39l9.427="H11v5.39L9.427" l-1.31-1.31l5.393="l-1.31-1.31L5.393" l-2.69-2.688="l-2.69-2.688" l4.2="L4.2" z="z" l.022="l.022" l8.2="L8.2" l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z="l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z" c="C" padding-right="padding-right" px="px" xmlns="%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22" xmlns:data="data">"Republican political operatives want to sell the dark arts of opposition research to tech companies"</a>.&nbsp;<i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recode" title="Recode" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Recode</a></i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved&nbsp;<span class="nowrap" style="white-space: nowrap;">December 16,</span>&nbsp;2017</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Recode&rft.atitle=Republican+political+operatives+want+to+sell+the+dark+arts+of+opposition+research+to+tech+companies&rft.date=2017-06-07&rft.aulast=Romm&rft.aufirst=Tony&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.recode.net%2F2017%2F6%2F7%2F15746928%2Frepublicans-political-opposition-tech-silicon-valley-trump&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ADefiners+Public+Affairs" class="Z3988" /></span></font></li><li id="cite_note-Politico-14" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em; break-inside: avoid-column;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="mw-cite-backlink" style="user-select: none;"><b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_ref-Politico_14-0" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;"><span class="cite-accessibility-label" style="user-select: none; top: -99999px; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px); overflow: hidden; position: absolute !important; padding: 0px !important; border: 0px !important; height: 1px !important; width: 1px !important;">Jump up</span>^{</a></b></span>&nbsp;}<span class="reference-text"><cite class="citation news" style="font-style: inherit; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Cooper, Charlie (July 10, 2017).&nbsp;<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.politico.eu/article/romney-linked-lobbying-firm-london-branch-brexit-andrew-goodfellow-definers-public-affairs-matt-rhoades/" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent) right center no-repeat, url(" data:image="data:image" svg="svg" xml="xml" csvg="Csvg" width="%2212%22" height="%2212%22%3E" cpath="Cpath" fill="%22%23fff%22" stroke="%22%2336c%22" d="%22M9.995" h5.982v10.5h1.5z="h5.982V10.5H1.5z" e="E" h11v5.39l9.427="H11v5.39L9.427" l-1.31-1.31l5.393="l-1.31-1.31L5.393" l-2.69-2.688="l-2.69-2.688" l4.2="L4.2" z="z" l.022="l.022" l8.2="L8.2" l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z="l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z" c="C" padding-right="padding-right" px="px" xmlns="%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22" xmlns:data="data">"Romney-linked lobbying firm to open London branch"</a>.&nbsp;<i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politico" title="Politico" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Politico</a></i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved&nbsp;<span class="nowrap" style="white-space: nowrap;">December 16,</span>&nbsp;2017</span>.&nbsp;<q style="quotes: " apos="apos">Washington-based Definers Public Affairs will expand its operation to the U.K. later this year, and has appointed Andrew Goodfellow, a former director of research for the Conservative Party, as its vice president.</q></cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Politico&rft.atitle=Romney-linked+lobbying+firm+to+open+London+branch&rft.date=2017-07-10&rft.aulast=Cooper&rft.aufirst=Charlie&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.politico.eu%2Farticle%2Fromney-linked-lobbying-firm-london-branch-brexit-andrew-goodfellow-definers-public-affairs-matt-rhoades%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ADefiners+Public+Affairs" class="Z3988" /></span></font></li><li id="cite_note-15" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em; break-inside: avoid-column;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="mw-cite-backlink" style="user-select: none;"><b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_ref-15" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;"><span class="cite-accessibility-label" style="user-select: none; top: -99999px; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px); overflow: hidden; position: absolute !important; padding: 0px !important; border: 0px !important; height: 1px !important; width: 1px !important;">Jump up</span>^{</a></b></span>&nbsp;}<span class="reference-text"><cite class="citation news" style="font-style: inherit; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Paavola, Christy (July 14, 2017).&nbsp;<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.definersdc.com/single-post/2017/07/14/%E2%80%9CBlood-Toil-Tears-And-Sweat%E2%80%9D" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent) right center no-repeat, url(" data:image="data:image" svg="svg" xml="xml" csvg="Csvg" width="%2212%22" height="%2212%22%3E" cpath="Cpath" fill="%22%23fff%22" stroke="%22%2336c%22" d="%22M9.995" h5.982v10.5h1.5z="h5.982V10.5H1.5z" e="E" h11v5.39l9.427="H11v5.39L9.427" l-1.31-1.31l5.393="l-1.31-1.31L5.393" l-2.69-2.688="l-2.69-2.688" l4.2="L4.2" z="z" l.022="l.022" l8.2="L8.2" l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z="l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z" c="C" padding-right="padding-right" px="px" xmlns="%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22" xmlns:data="data">"<span class="cs1-kern-left" style="padding-left: 0.2em;">"</span>Blood, Toil, Tears And Sweat<span class="cs1-kern-right" style="padding-right: 0.2em;">"</span>"</a>. Definers Public Affairs<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved&nbsp;<span class="nowrap" style="white-space: nowrap;">December 16,</span>&nbsp;2017</span>.&nbsp;<q style="quotes: " apos="apos">Recently at Definers, we opened our London affiliate, the U.K. Policy Group[...]</q></cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.atitle=%22Blood%2C+Toil%2C+Tears+And+Sweat%22&rft.date=2017-07-14&rft.aulast=Paavola&rft.aufirst=Christy&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.definersdc.com%2Fsingle-post%2F2017%2F07%2F14%2F%25E2%2580%259CBlood-Toil-Tears-And-Sweat%25E2%2580%259D&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ADefiners+Public+Affairs" class="Z3988" /></span></font></li><li id="cite_note-16" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em; break-inside: avoid-column;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="mw-cite-backlink" style="user-select: none;"><b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_ref-16" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;"><span class="cite-accessibility-label" style="user-select: none; top: -99999px; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px); overflow: hidden; position: absolute !important; padding: 0px !important; border: 0px !important; height: 1px !important; width: 1px !important;">Jump up</span>^{</a></b></span>&nbsp;}<span class="reference-text"><cite class="citation news" style="font-style: inherit; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20171216051716/https://www.usaspending.gov/transparency/Pages/TransactionDetails.aspx?RecordID=53D2AF0E-B566-47BB-8EB4-728DAC00CEB7&AwardID=59978626&AwardType=C" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent) right center no-repeat, url(" data:image="data:image" svg="svg" xml="xml" csvg="Csvg" width="%2212%22" height="%2212%22%3E" cpath="Cpath" fill="%22%23fff%22" stroke="%22%2336c%22" d="%22M9.995" h5.982v10.5h1.5z="h5.982V10.5H1.5z" e="E" h11v5.39l9.427="H11v5.39L9.427" l-1.31-1.31l5.393="l-1.31-1.31L5.393" l-2.69-2.688="l-2.69-2.688" l4.2="L4.2" z="z" l.022="l.022" l8.2="L8.2" l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z="l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z" c="C" padding-right="padding-right" px="px" xmlns="%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22" xmlns:data="data">"DEFINERS CORP EP18H000025"</a>.&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Office_of_Management_and_Budget" title="Office of Management and Budget" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Office of Management and Budget</a>. Archived from&nbsp;<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.usaspending.gov/transparency/Pages/TransactionDetails.aspx?RecordID=53D2AF0E-B566-47BB-8EB4-728DAC00CEB7&AwardID=59978626&AwardType=C" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent) right center no-repeat, url(" data:image="data:image" svg="svg" xml="xml" csvg="Csvg" width="%2212%22" height="%2212%22%3E" cpath="Cpath" fill="%22%23fff%22" stroke="%22%2336c%22" d="%22M9.995" h5.982v10.5h1.5z="h5.982V10.5H1.5z" e="E" h11v5.39l9.427="H11v5.39L9.427" l-1.31-1.31l5.393="l-1.31-1.31L5.393" l-2.69-2.688="l-2.69-2.688" l4.2="L4.2" z="z" l.022="l.022" l8.2="L8.2" l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z="l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z" c="C" padding-right="padding-right" px="px" xmlns="%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22" xmlns:data="data">the original</a>&nbsp;on December 16, 2017.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.atitle=DEFINERS+CORP+EP18H000025&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.usaspending.gov%2Ftransparency%2FPages%2FTransactionDetails.aspx%3FRecordID%3D53D2AF0E-B566-47BB-8EB4-728DAC00CEB7%26AwardID%3D59978626%26AwardType%3DC&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ADefiners+Public+Affairs" class="Z3988" /></span></font></li><li id="cite_note-17" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em; break-inside: avoid-column;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="mw-cite-backlink" style="user-select: none;"><b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_ref-17" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;"><span class="cite-accessibility-label" style="user-select: none; top: -99999px; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px); overflow: hidden; position: absolute !important; padding: 0px !important; border: 0px !important; height: 1px !important; width: 1px !important;">Jump up</span>^{</a></b></span>&nbsp;}<span class="reference-text"><cite class="citation web" style="font-style: inherit; overflow-wrap: break-word;">@ProPublica (December 19, 2017).&nbsp;<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://twitter.com/ProPublica/status/943300173928726529" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent) right center no-repeat, url(" data:image="data:image" svg="svg" xml="xml" csvg="Csvg" width="%2212%22" height="%2212%22%3E" cpath="Cpath" fill="%22%23fff%22" stroke="%22%2336c%22" d="%22M9.995" h5.982v10.5h1.5z="h5.982V10.5H1.5z" e="E" h11v5.39l9.427="H11v5.39L9.427" l-1.31-1.31l5.393="l-1.31-1.31L5.393" l-2.69-2.688="l-2.69-2.688" l4.2="L4.2" z="z" l.022="l.022" l8.2="L8.2" l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z="l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z" c="C" padding-right="padding-right" px="px" xmlns="%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22" xmlns:data="data">"1. A GOP-affiliated oppo research firm won a no-bid EPA contract. 2. They gave themselves a leg up by listing themselves as a "small disadvantaged business." 3. Except they're not one—a fact they corrected...after they got the contract"</a>(Tweet) – via&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twitter" title="Twitter" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Twitter</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=1.+A+GOP-affiliated+oppo+research+firm+won+a+no-bid+EPA+contract.+2.+They+gave+themselves+a+leg+up+by+listing+themselves+as+a+%E2%80%9Csmall+disadvantaged+business.%E2%80%9D+3.+Except+they%E2%80%99re+not+one%E2%80%94a+fact+they+corrected...after+they+got+the+contract.&rft.date=2017-12-19&rft.au=%40ProPublica&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2FProPublica%2Fstatus%2F943300173928726529&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ADefiners+Public+Affairs" class="Z3988" /></span></font></li><li id="cite_note-18" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em; break-inside: avoid-column;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="mw-cite-backlink" style="user-select: none;"><b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_ref-18" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;"><span class="cite-accessibility-label" style="user-select: none; top: -99999px; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px); overflow: hidden; position: absolute !important; padding: 0px !important; border: 0px !important; height: 1px !important; width: 1px !important;">Jump up</span>^{</a></b></span>&nbsp;}<span class="reference-text"><cite class="citation web" style="font-style: inherit; overflow-wrap: break-word;">@EricLiptonNYT (December 19, 2017).&nbsp;<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://twitter.com/EricLiptonNYT/status/943295937459507202" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent) right center no-repeat, url(" data:image="data:image" svg="svg" xml="xml" csvg="Csvg" width="%2212%22" height="%2212%22%3E" cpath="Cpath" fill="%22%23fff%22" stroke="%22%2336c%22" d="%22M9.995" h5.982v10.5h1.5z="h5.982V10.5H1.5z" e="E" h11v5.39l9.427="H11v5.39L9.427" l-1.31-1.31l5.393="l-1.31-1.31L5.393" l-2.69-2.688="l-2.69-2.688" l4.2="L4.2" z="z" l.022="l.022" l8.2="L8.2" l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z="l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z" c="C" padding-right="padding-right" px="px" xmlns="%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22" xmlns:data="data">"So when Definers--the GOP-affiliated oppo research and PR firm--applied for its no-bid EPA contract to do media monitoring for the agency, it told the federal government it was a "small disadvantaged business," a standing that can help secure a contract"</a>&nbsp;(Tweet) – via&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twitter" title="Twitter" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Twitter</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=So+when+Definers--the+GOP-affiliated+oppo+research+and+PR+firm--applied+for+its+no-bid+EPA+contract+to+do+media+monitoring+for+the+agency%2C+it+told+the+federal+government+it+was+a+%22small+disadvantaged+business%2C%22+a+standing+that+can+help+secure+a+contract.&rft.date=2017-12-19&rft.au=%40EricLiptonNYT&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2FEricLiptonNYT%2Fstatus%2F943295937459507202&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ADefiners+Public+Affairs" class="Z3988" /></span></font></li><li id="cite_note-19" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em; break-inside: avoid-column;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="mw-cite-backlink" style="user-select: none;"><b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_ref-19" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;"><span class="cite-accessibility-label" style="user-select: none; top: -99999px; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px); overflow: hidden; position: absolute !important; padding: 0px !important; border: 0px !important; height: 1px !important; width: 1px !important;">Jump up</span>^{</a></b></span>&nbsp;}<span class="reference-text"><cite class="citation news" style="font-style: inherit; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/04/02/scott-pruitts-dirty-politics" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent) right center no-repeat, url(" data:image="data:image" svg="svg" xml="xml" csvg="Csvg" width="%2212%22" height="%2212%22%3E" cpath="Cpath" fill="%22%23fff%22" stroke="%22%2336c%22" d="%22M9.995" h5.982v10.5h1.5z="h5.982V10.5H1.5z" e="E" h11v5.39l9.427="H11v5.39L9.427" l-1.31-1.31l5.393="l-1.31-1.31L5.393" l-2.69-2.688="l-2.69-2.688" l4.2="L4.2" z="z" l.022="l.022" l8.2="L8.2" l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z="l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z" c="C" padding-right="padding-right" px="px" xmlns="%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22" xmlns:data="data">"Scott Pruitt's Dirty Politics"</a>.&nbsp;<i>The New Yorker</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved&nbsp;<span class="nowrap" style="white-space: nowrap;">2018-11-16</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=The+New+Yorker&rft.atitle=Scott+Pruitt%E2%80%99s+Dirty+Politics&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.newyorker.com%2Fmagazine%2F2018%2F04%2F02%2Fscott-pruitts-dirty-politics&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ADefiners+Public+Affairs" class="Z3988" /></span></font></li><li id="cite_note-20" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em; break-inside: avoid-column;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="mw-cite-backlink" style="user-select: none;"><b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_ref-20" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;"><span class="cite-accessibility-label" style="user-select: none; top: -99999px; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px); overflow: hidden; position: absolute !important; padding: 0px !important; border: 0px !important; height: 1px !important; width: 1px !important;">Jump up</span>^{</a></b></span>&nbsp;}<span class="reference-text"><cite class="citation news" style="font-style: inherit; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Holden, Emily (December 19, 2017).&nbsp;<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.politico.com/story/2017/12/19/definers-public-affairs-epa-contract-304980" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent) right center no-repeat, url(" data:image="data:image" svg="svg" xml="xml" csvg="Csvg" width="%2212%22" height="%2212%22%3E" cpath="Cpath" fill="%22%23fff%22" stroke="%22%2336c%22" d="%22M9.995" h5.982v10.5h1.5z="h5.982V10.5H1.5z" e="E" h11v5.39l9.427="H11v5.39L9.427" l-1.31-1.31l5.393="l-1.31-1.31L5.393" l-2.69-2.688="l-2.69-2.688" l4.2="L4.2" z="z" l.022="l.022" l8.2="L8.2" l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z="l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z" c="C" padding-right="padding-right" px="px" xmlns="%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22" xmlns:data="data">"GOP firm ends controversial media monitoring contract with EPA"</a>.&nbsp;<i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politico" title="Politico" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Politico</a></i>.&nbsp;<q style="quotes: " apos="apos">The Republican media monitoring firm Definers Public Affairs canceled its $120,000 contract with Environmental Protection Agency after a media backlash because of the company's links to GOP opposition research firm America Rising.</q></cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.atitle=GOP+firm+ends+controversial+media+monitoring+contract+with+EPA&rft.date=2017-12-19&rft.aulast=Holden&rft.aufirst=Emily&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.politico.com%2Fstory%2F2017%2F12%2F19%2Fdefiners-public-affairs-epa-contract-304980&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ADefiners+Public+Affairs" class="Z3988" /></span></font></li><li id="cite_note-21" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em; break-inside: avoid-column;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="mw-cite-backlink" style="user-select: none;"><b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_ref-21" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;"><span class="cite-accessibility-label" style="user-select: none; top: -99999px; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px); overflow: hidden; position: absolute !important; padding: 0px !important; border: 0px !important; height: 1px !important; width: 1px !important;">Jump up</span>^{</a></b></span>&nbsp;}<span class="reference-text"><cite class="citation web" style="font-style: inherit; overflow-wrap: break-word;">@PounderFile (December 19, 2017).&nbsp;<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://twitter.com/PounderFile/status/943172637202755584" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent) right center no-repeat, url(" data:image="data:image" svg="svg" xml="xml" csvg="Csvg" width="%2212%22" height="%2212%22%3E" cpath="Cpath" fill="%22%23fff%22" stroke="%22%2336c%22" d="%22M9.995" h5.982v10.5h1.5z="h5.982V10.5H1.5z" e="E" h11v5.39l9.427="H11v5.39L9.427" l-1.31-1.31l5.393="l-1.31-1.31L5.393" l-2.69-2.688="l-2.69-2.688" l4.2="L4.2" z="z" l.022="l.022" l8.2="L8.2" l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z="l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z" c="C" padding-right="padding-right" px="px" xmlns="%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22" xmlns:data="data">"Below is my statement regarding the EPA contract..."</a>&nbsp;(Tweet) – via&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twitter" title="Twitter" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Twitter</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Below+is+my+statement+regarding+the+EPA+contract...&rft.date=2017-12-19&rft.au=%40PounderFile&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2FPounderFile%2Fstatus%2F943172637202755584&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ADefiners+Public+Affairs" class="Z3988" /></span></font></li><li id="cite_note-22" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em; break-inside: avoid-column;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="mw-cite-backlink" style="user-select: none;"><b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_ref-22" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;"><span class="cite-accessibility-label" style="user-select: none; top: -99999px; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px); overflow: hidden; position: absolute !important; padding: 0px !important; border: 0px !important; height: 1px !important; width: 1px !important;">Jump up</span>^{</a></b></span>&nbsp;}<span class="reference-text"><cite class="citation news" style="font-style: inherit; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Dennis, Brady (December 19, 2017).&nbsp;<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2017/12/19/epa-to-end-controversial-contract-with-conservative-media-monitoring-firm/" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent) right center no-repeat, url(" data:image="data:image" svg="svg" xml="xml" csvg="Csvg" width="%2212%22" height="%2212%22%3E" cpath="Cpath" fill="%22%23fff%22" stroke="%22%2336c%22" d="%22M9.995" h5.982v10.5h1.5z="h5.982V10.5H1.5z" e="E" h11v5.39l9.427="H11v5.39L9.427" l-1.31-1.31l5.393="l-1.31-1.31L5.393" l-2.69-2.688="l-2.69-2.688" l4.2="L4.2" z="z" l.022="l.022" l8.2="L8.2" l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z="l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z" c="C" padding-right="padding-right" px="px" xmlns="%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22" xmlns:data="data">"EPA to end controversial contract with conservative 'media monitoring' firm"</a>.&nbsp;<i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Washington_Post" title="The Washington Post" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">The Washington Post</a></i>.&nbsp;<q style="quotes: " apos="apos">But an agency spokesman confirmed Tuesday that the EPA and the company had agreed to terminate the contract. In a separate conversation, the company’s president, Joe Pounder, said the decision was a mutual one. “Definers offered EPA a better and more efficient news clipping service that would give EPA’s employees real-time news at a lower cost than what previous administrations paid for more antiquated clipping services,” Pounder said in an emailed statement. “But it’s become clear this will become a distraction.”</q></cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.atitle=EPA+to+end+controversial+contract+with+conservative+%E2%80%98media+monitoring%E2%80%99+firm&rft.date=2017-12-19&rft.aulast=Dennis&rft.aufirst=Brady&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fnews%2Fenergy-environment%2Fwp%2F2017%2F12%2F19%2Fepa-to-end-controversial-contract-with-conservative-media-monitoring-firm%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ADefiners+Public+Affairs" class="Z3988" /></span></font></li><li id="cite_note-23" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em; break-inside: avoid-column;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="mw-cite-backlink" style="user-select: none;"><b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_ref-23" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;"><span class="cite-accessibility-label" style="user-select: none; top: -99999px; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px); overflow: hidden; position: absolute !important; padding: 0px !important; border: 0px !important; height: 1px !important; width: 1px !important;">Jump up</span>^{</a></b></span>&nbsp;}<span class="reference-text"><cite class="citation news" style="font-style: inherit; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Musil, Steven (December 14, 2017).&nbsp;<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.cnet.com/news/silicon-valley-vc-quits-firm-amid-reports-of-sexual-misconduct/" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent) right center no-repeat, url(" data:image="data:image" svg="svg" xml="xml" csvg="Csvg" width="%2212%22" height="%2212%22%3E" cpath="Cpath" fill="%22%23fff%22" stroke="%22%2336c%22" d="%22M9.995" h5.982v10.5h1.5z="h5.982V10.5H1.5z" e="E" h11v5.39l9.427="H11v5.39L9.427" l-1.31-1.31l5.393="l-1.31-1.31L5.393" l-2.69-2.688="l-2.69-2.688" l4.2="L4.2" z="z" l.022="l.022" l8.2="L8.2" l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z="l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z" c="C" padding-right="padding-right" px="px" xmlns="%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22" xmlns:data="data">"Silicon Valley VC quits firm amid reports of sexual misconduct"</a>.&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CNET" title="CNET" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">CNET</a><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved&nbsp;<span class="nowrap" style="white-space: nowrap;">December 16,</span>&nbsp;2017</span>.&nbsp;<q style="quotes: " apos="apos">Pishevar filed a lawsuit last month against Definers Public Affairs, accusing the public relations firm of carrying out a "malicious smear campaign." Definers Public Affairs has denied any involvement in work related to Pishevar.</q></cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.atitle=Silicon+Valley+VC+quits+firm+amid+reports+of+sexual+misconduct&rft.date=2017-12-14&rft.aulast=Musil&rft.aufirst=Steven&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnet.com%2Fnews%2Fsilicon-valley-vc-quits-firm-amid-reports-of-sexual-misconduct%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ADefiners+Public+Affairs" class="Z3988" /></span></font></li><li id="cite_note-24" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em; break-inside: avoid-column;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="mw-cite-backlink" style="user-select: none;"><b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_ref-24" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;"><span class="cite-accessibility-label" style="user-select: none; top: -99999px; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px); overflow: hidden; position: absolute !important; padding: 0px !important; border: 0px !important; height: 1px !important; width: 1px !important;">Jump up</span>^{</a></b></span>&nbsp;}<span class="reference-text"><cite class="citation news" style="font-style: inherit; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Mac, Ryan (December 6, 2017).&nbsp;<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.buzzfeed.com/ryanmac/silicon-valley-investor-shervin-pishevar-accused-of" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent) right center no-repeat, url(" data:image="data:image" svg="svg" xml="xml" csvg="Csvg" width="%2212%22" height="%2212%22%3E" cpath="Cpath" fill="%22%23fff%22" stroke="%22%2336c%22" d="%22M9.995" h5.982v10.5h1.5z="h5.982V10.5H1.5z" e="E" h11v5.39l9.427="H11v5.39L9.427" l-1.31-1.31l5.393="l-1.31-1.31L5.393" l-2.69-2.688="l-2.69-2.688" l4.2="L4.2" z="z" l.022="l.022" l8.2="L8.2" l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z="l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z" c="C" padding-right="padding-right" px="px" xmlns="%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22" xmlns:data="data">"Silicon Valley Investor Shervin Pishevar Accused Of Spreading False Information To Cover Up Alleged Sexual Misconduct"</a>.&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BuzzFeed_News" title="BuzzFeed News" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">BuzzFeed News</a><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved&nbsp;<span class="nowrap" style="white-space: nowrap;">December 16,</span>&nbsp;2017</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.atitle=Silicon+Valley+Investor+Shervin+Pishevar+Accused+Of+Spreading+False+Information+To+Cover+Up+Alleged+Sexual+Misconduct&rft.date=2017-12-06&rft.aulast=Mac&rft.aufirst=Ryan&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.buzzfeed.com%2Fryanmac%2Fsilicon-valley-investor-shervin-pishevar-accused-of&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ADefiners+Public+Affairs" class="Z3988" /></span></font></li><li id="cite_note-25" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em; break-inside: avoid-column;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="mw-cite-backlink" style="user-select: none;"><b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_ref-25" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;"><span class="cite-accessibility-label" style="user-select: none; top: -99999px; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px); overflow: hidden; position: absolute !important; padding: 0px !important; border: 0px !important; height: 1px !important; width: 1px !important;">Jump up</span>^{</a></b></span>&nbsp;}<span class="reference-text"><cite class="citation news" style="font-style: inherit; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/facebook-hired-firm-house-fake-news-shop-combat-pr-crisis-n936591" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent) right center no-repeat, url(" data:image="data:image" svg="svg" xml="xml" csvg="Csvg" width="%2212%22" height="%2212%22%3E" cpath="Cpath" fill="%22%23fff%22" stroke="%22%2336c%22" d="%22M9.995" h5.982v10.5h1.5z="h5.982V10.5H1.5z" e="E" h11v5.39l9.427="H11v5.39L9.427" l-1.31-1.31l5.393="l-1.31-1.31L5.393" l-2.69-2.688="l-2.69-2.688" l4.2="L4.2" z="z" l.022="l.022" l8.2="L8.2" l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z="l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z" c="C" padding-right="padding-right" px="px" xmlns="%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22" xmlns:data="data">"Facebook hired firm with 'in-house fake news shop' to combat PR crisis"</a>.&nbsp;<i>NBC News</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved&nbsp;<span class="nowrap" style="white-space: nowrap;">2018-11-16</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=NBC+News&rft.atitle=Facebook+hired+firm+with+%E2%80%98in-house+fake+news+shop%E2%80%99+to+combat+PR+crisis&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcnews.com%2Ftech%2Ftech-news%2Ffacebook-hired-firm-house-fake-news-shop-combat-pr-crisis-n936591&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ADefiners+Public+Affairs" class="Z3988" /></span></font></li><li id="cite_note-26" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em; break-inside: avoid-column;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="mw-cite-backlink" style="user-select: none;"><b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_ref-26" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;"><span class="cite-accessibility-label" style="user-select: none; top: -99999px; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px); overflow: hidden; position: absolute !important; padding: 0px !important; border: 0px !important; height: 1px !important; width: 1px !important;">Jump up</span>^{</a></b></span>&nbsp;}<span class="reference-text"><cite class="citation news" style="font-style: inherit; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/14/technology/facebook-data-russia-election-racism.html" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent) right center no-repeat, url(" data:image="data:image" svg="svg" xml="xml" csvg="Csvg" width="%2212%22" height="%2212%22%3E" cpath="Cpath" fill="%22%23fff%22" stroke="%22%2336c%22" d="%22M9.995" h5.982v10.5h1.5z="h5.982V10.5H1.5z" e="E" h11v5.39l9.427="H11v5.39L9.427" l-1.31-1.31l5.393="l-1.31-1.31L5.393" l-2.69-2.688="l-2.69-2.688" l4.2="L4.2" z="z" l.022="l.022" l8.2="L8.2" l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z="l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z" c="C" padding-right="padding-right" px="px" xmlns="%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22" xmlns:data="data">"Delay, Deny and Deflect: How Facebook's Leaders Fought Through Crisis"</a><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved&nbsp;<span class="nowrap" style="white-space: nowrap;">2018-11-15</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.atitle=Delay%2C+Deny+and+Deflect%3A+How+Facebook%E2%80%99s+Leaders+Fought+Through+Crisis&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2018%2F11%2F14%2Ftechnology%2Ffacebook-data-russia-election-racism.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ADefiners+Public+Affairs" class="Z3988" /></span></font></li><li id="cite_note-27" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em; break-inside: avoid-column;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="mw-cite-backlink" style="user-select: none;"><b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_ref-27" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;"><span class="cite-accessibility-label" style="user-select: none; top: -99999px; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px); overflow: hidden; position: absolute !important; padding: 0px !important; border: 0px !important; height: 1px !important; width: 1px !important;">Jump up</span>^{</a></b></span>&nbsp;}<span class="reference-text"><cite class="citation news" style="font-style: inherit; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Frier, Sarah.&nbsp;<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-11-16/facebook-morale-already-hurt-by-share-drop-suffers-another-hit" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent) right center no-repeat, url(" data:image="data:image" svg="svg" xml="xml" csvg="Csvg" width="%2212%22" height="%2212%22%3E" cpath="Cpath" fill="%22%23fff%22" stroke="%22%2336c%22" d="%22M9.995" h5.982v10.5h1.5z="h5.982V10.5H1.5z" e="E" h11v5.39l9.427="H11v5.39L9.427" l-1.31-1.31l5.393="l-1.31-1.31L5.393" l-2.69-2.688="l-2.69-2.688" l4.2="L4.2" z="z" l.022="l.022" l8.2="L8.2" l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z="l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z" c="C" padding-right="padding-right" px="px" xmlns="%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22" xmlns:data="data">"Facebook Morale, Hurt by Share Drop, Suffers Another Hit"</a>.&nbsp;<i>Bloomberg</i>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Bloomberg&rft.atitle=Facebook+Morale%2C+Hurt+by+Share+Drop%2C+Suffers+Another+Hit&rft.aulast=Frier&rft.aufirst=Sarah&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bloomberg.com%2Fnews%2Farticles%2F2018-11-16%2Ffacebook-morale-already-hurt-by-share-drop-suffers-another-hit&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ADefiners+Public+Affairs" class="Z3988" /></span></font></li><li id="cite_note-28" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em; break-inside: avoid-column;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="mw-cite-backlink" style="user-select: none;"><b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_ref-28" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;"><span class="cite-accessibility-label" style="user-select: none; top: -99999px; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px); overflow: hidden; position: absolute !important; padding: 0px !important; border: 0px !important; height: 1px !important; width: 1px !important;">Jump up</span>^{</a></b></span>&nbsp;}<span class="reference-text"><cite class="citation news" style="font-style: inherit; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/14/technology/facebook-data-russia-election-racism.html" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent) right center no-repeat, url(" data:image="data:image" svg="svg" xml="xml" csvg="Csvg" width="%2212%22" height="%2212%22%3E" cpath="Cpath" fill="%22%23fff%22" stroke="%22%2336c%22" d="%22M9.995" h5.982v10.5h1.5z="h5.982V10.5H1.5z" e="E" h11v5.39l9.427="H11v5.39L9.427" l-1.31-1.31l5.393="l-1.31-1.31L5.393" l-2.69-2.688="l-2.69-2.688" l4.2="L4.2" z="z" l.022="l.022" l8.2="L8.2" l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z="l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z" c="C" padding-right="padding-right" px="px" xmlns="%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22" xmlns:data="data">"Delay, Deny and Deflect: How Facebook's Leaders Fought Through Crisis"</a><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved&nbsp;<span class="nowrap" style="white-space: nowrap;">2018-11-15</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.atitle=Delay%2C+Deny+and+Deflect%3A+How+Facebook%E2%80%99s+Leaders+Fought+Through+Crisis&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2018%2F11%2F14%2Ftechnology%2Ffacebook-data-russia-election-racism.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ADefiners+Public+Affairs" class="Z3988" /></span></font></li><li id="cite_note-29" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em; break-inside: avoid-column;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="mw-cite-backlink" style="user-select: none;"><b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_ref-29" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;"><span class="cite-accessibility-label" style="user-select: none; top: -99999px; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px); overflow: hidden; position: absolute !important; padding: 0px !important; border: 0px !important; height: 1px !important; width: 1px !important;">Jump up</span>^{</a></b></span>&nbsp;}<span class="reference-text"><cite class="citation web" style="font-style: inherit; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Wong, Julia Carrie (2018-11-15).&nbsp;<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/nov/14/facebook-george-soros-pr-firm-discredit-critics-crisis" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent) right center no-repeat, url(" data:image="data:image" svg="svg" xml="xml" csvg="Csvg" width="%2212%22" height="%2212%22%3E" cpath="Cpath" fill="%22%23fff%22" stroke="%22%2336c%22" d="%22M9.995" h5.982v10.5h1.5z="h5.982V10.5H1.5z" e="E" h11v5.39l9.427="H11v5.39L9.427" l-1.31-1.31l5.393="l-1.31-1.31L5.393" l-2.69-2.688="l-2.69-2.688" l4.2="L4.2" z="z" l.022="l.022" l8.2="L8.2" l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z="l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z" c="C" padding-right="padding-right" px="px" xmlns="%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22" xmlns:data="data">"Facebook reportedly discredited critics by linking them to George Soros"</a>.&nbsp;<i>the Guardian</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved&nbsp;<span class="nowrap" style="white-space: nowrap;">2018-11-15</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=the+Guardian&rft.atitle=Facebook+reportedly+discredited+critics+by+linking+them+to+George+Soros&rft.date=2018-11-15&rft.aulast=Wong&rft.aufirst=Julia+Carrie&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Ftechnology%2F2018%2Fnov%2F14%2Ffacebook-george-soros-pr-firm-discredit-critics-crisis&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ADefiners+Public+Affairs" class="Z3988" /></span></font></li><li id="cite_note-30" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em; break-inside: avoid-column;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="mw-cite-backlink" style="user-select: none;"><b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_ref-30" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;"><span class="cite-accessibility-label" style="user-select: none; top: -99999px; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px); overflow: hidden; position: absolute !important; padding: 0px !important; border: 0px !important; height: 1px !important; width: 1px !important;">Jump up</span>^{</a></b></span>&nbsp;}<span class="reference-text"><cite class="citation news" style="font-style: inherit; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/15/technology/facebook-definers-soros.html" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent) right center no-repeat, url(" data:image="data:image" svg="svg" xml="xml" csvg="Csvg" width="%2212%22" height="%2212%22%3E" cpath="Cpath" fill="%22%23fff%22" stroke="%22%2336c%22" d="%22M9.995" h5.982v10.5h1.5z="h5.982V10.5H1.5z" e="E" h11v5.39l9.427="H11v5.39L9.427" l-1.31-1.31l5.393="l-1.31-1.31L5.393" l-2.69-2.688="l-2.69-2.688" l4.2="L4.2" z="z" l.022="l.022" l8.2="L8.2" l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z="l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z" c="C" padding-right="padding-right" px="px" xmlns="%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22" xmlns:data="data">"Facebook Cuts Ties With Definers Public Affairs Following Outcry"</a><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved&nbsp;<span class="nowrap" style="white-space: nowrap;">2018-11-15</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.atitle=Facebook+Cuts+Ties+With+Definers+Public+Affairs+Following+Outcry&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2018%2F11%2F15%2Ftechnology%2Ffacebook-definers-soros.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ADefiners+Public+Affairs" class="Z3988" /></span></font></li><li id="cite_note-31" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em; break-inside: avoid-column;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="mw-cite-backlink" style="user-select: none;"><b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_ref-31" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;"><span class="cite-accessibility-label" style="user-select: none; top: -99999px; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px); overflow: hidden; position: absolute !important; padding: 0px !important; border: 0px !important; height: 1px !important; width: 1px !important;">Jump up</span>^{</a></b></span>&nbsp;}<span class="reference-text"><cite class="citation news" style="font-style: inherit; overflow-wrap: break-word;">McKay, Tom.&nbsp;<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://gizmodo.com/george-soros-foundation-calls-facebook-vile-reprehensi-1830455147?IR=T" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent) right center no-repeat, url(" data:image="data:image" svg="svg" xml="xml" csvg="Csvg" width="%2212%22" height="%2212%22%3E" cpath="Cpath" fill="%22%23fff%22" stroke="%22%2336c%22" d="%22M9.995" h5.982v10.5h1.5z="h5.982V10.5H1.5z" e="E" h11v5.39l9.427="H11v5.39L9.427" l-1.31-1.31l5.393="l-1.31-1.31L5.393" l-2.69-2.688="l-2.69-2.688" l4.2="L4.2" z="z" l.022="l.022" l8.2="L8.2" l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z="l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z" c="C" padding-right="padding-right" px="px" xmlns="%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22" xmlns:data="data">"George Soros Foundation Calls Facebook 'Vile,' 'Reprehensible' for Pushing Conspiracy Theories"</a>.&nbsp;<i>Gizmodo</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved&nbsp;<span class="nowrap" style="white-space: nowrap;">2018-11-15</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Gizmodo&rft.atitle=George+Soros+Foundation+Calls+Facebook+%27Vile%2C%27+%27Reprehensible%27+for+Pushing+Conspiracy+Theories&rft.aulast=McKay&rft.aufirst=Tom&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fgizmodo.com%2Fgeorge-soros-foundation-calls-facebook-vile-reprehensi-1830455147%3FIR%3DT&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ADefiners+Public+Affairs" class="Z3988" /></span></font></li><li id="cite_note-32" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em; break-inside: avoid-column;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="mw-cite-backlink" style="user-select: none;"><b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_ref-32" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;"><span class="cite-accessibility-label" style="user-select: none; top: -99999px; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px); overflow: hidden; position: absolute !important; padding: 0px !important; border: 0px !important; height: 1px !important; width: 1px !important;">Jump up</span>^{</a></b></span>&nbsp;}<span class="reference-text"><cite class="citation news" style="font-style: inherit; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Feinberg, Ashley (2018-11-16).&nbsp;<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/crooked-media-tim-miller-facebook-soros_us_5bed98c0e4b09f467007d6b0" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent) right center no-repeat, url(" data:image="data:image" svg="svg" xml="xml" csvg="Csvg" width="%2212%22" height="%2212%22%3E" cpath="Cpath" fill="%22%23fff%22" stroke="%22%2336c%22" d="%22M9.995" h5.982v10.5h1.5z="h5.982V10.5H1.5z" e="E" h11v5.39l9.427="H11v5.39L9.427" l-1.31-1.31l5.393="l-1.31-1.31L5.393" l-2.69-2.688="l-2.69-2.688" l4.2="L4.2" z="z" l.022="l.022" l8.2="L8.2" l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z="l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z" c="C" padding-right="padding-right" px="px" xmlns="%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22" xmlns:data="data">"What Did 'Pod Save America' Expect?"</a>.&nbsp;<i>Huffington Post</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved&nbsp;<span class="nowrap" style="white-space: nowrap;">2018-11-16</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Huffington+Post&rft.atitle=What+Did+%27Pod+Save+America%27+Expect%3F&rft.date=2018-11-16&rft.aulast=Feinberg&rft.aufirst=Ashley&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.huffingtonpost.com%2Fentry%2Fcrooked-media-tim-miller-facebook-soros_us_5bed98c0e4b09f467007d6b0&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ADefiners+Public+Affairs" class="Z3988" /></span></font></li><li id="cite_note-33" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em; break-inside: avoid-column;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="mw-cite-backlink" style="user-select: none;"><b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definers_Public_Affairs#cite_ref-33" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;"><span class="cite-accessibility-label" style="user-select: none; top: -99999px; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px); overflow: hidden; position: absolute !important; padding: 0px !important; border: 0px !important; height: 1px !important; width: 1px !important;">Jump up</span>^{</a></b></span>&nbsp;}<span class="reference-text"><cite class="citation news" style="font-style: inherit; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/facebook-hired-firm-house-fake-news-shop-combat-pr-crisis-n936591" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent) right center no-repeat, url(" data:image="data:image" svg="svg" xml="xml" csvg="Csvg" width="%2212%22" height="%2212%22%3E" cpath="Cpath" fill="%22%23fff%22" stroke="%22%2336c%22" d="%22M9.995" h5.982v10.5h1.5z="h5.982V10.5H1.5z" e="E" h11v5.39l9.427="H11v5.39L9.427" l-1.31-1.31l5.393="l-1.31-1.31L5.393" l-2.69-2.688="l-2.69-2.688" l4.2="L4.2" z="z" l.022="l.022" l8.2="L8.2" l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z="l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z" c="C" padding-right="padding-right" px="px" xmlns="%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22" xmlns:data="data">"Facebook hired firm with 'in-house fake news shop' to combat PR crisis"</a>.&nbsp;<i>NBC News</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved&nbsp;<span class="nowrap" style="white-space: nowrap;">2018-11-16</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=NBC+News&rft.atitle=Facebook+hired+firm+with+%E2%80%98in-house+fake+news+shop%E2%80%99+to+combat+PR+crisis&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcnews.com%2Ftech%2Ftech-news%2Ffacebook-hired-firm-house-fake-news-shop-combat-pr-crisis-n936591&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ADefiners+Public+Affairs" class="Z3988" /></span></font></li></ol></div></div><h2 style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: normal; margin: 1em 0px 0.25em; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); line-height: 1.3;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="mw-headline" id="External_links">External links</span><span class="mw-editsection" style="user-select: none; margin-left: 1em; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1em; white-space: nowrap; unicode-bidi: isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="margin-right: 0.25em;">[</span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Definers_Public_Affairs&action=edit&section=6" title="Edit section: External links" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="margin-left: 0.25em;">]</span></span></font></h2><ul style="margin: 0.3em 0px 0px 1.6em; padding: 0px; list-style-image: url(" data:image="data:image" svg="svg" xml="xml" csvg="Csvg" width="%225%22" height="%2213%22%3E" ccircle="Ccircle" cx="%222.5%22" cy="%229.5%22" r="%222.5%22" fill="%22%2300528c%22/%3E" c="C" e="E" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" xmlns="%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22" xmlns:data="data"><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><span class="official-website"><span class="url"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.definersdc.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent) right center no-repeat, url(" data:image="data:image" svg="svg" xml="xml" csvg="Csvg" width="%2212%22" height="%2212%22%3E" cpath="Cpath" fill="%22%23fff%22" stroke="%22%2336c%22" d="%22M9.995" h5.982v10.5h1.5z="h5.982V10.5H1.5z" e="E" h11v5.39l9.427="H11v5.39L9.427" l-1.31-1.31l5.393="l-1.31-1.31L5.393" l-2.69-2.688="l-2.69-2.688" l4.2="L4.2" z="z" l.022="l.022" l8.2="L8.2" l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z="l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z" c="C" padding-right="padding-right" px="px" xmlns="%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22" xmlns:data="data"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Official website</font></a></span></span></li></ul><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"></font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><a href="https://www.politico.com/tipsheets/morning-score/2016/10/gop-researchers-get-into-the-news-business-216706">https://www.politico.com/tipsheets/morning-score/<b>2016/</b>10/gop-researchers-get-into-the-news-business-216706</a></font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">C<b style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia, Times, " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" serif="serif" font-size="font-size" px="px" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb">OME ON IN, THE WATER'S WARM — “GOP researchers try the news business,” by Campaign Pro’s Maggie Severns:&nbsp;</b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" serif="serif" font-size="font-size" px="px" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb">“When Democrat Ted Strickland joked about the death of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia during a recent AFL-CIO event, the Ohio Senate candidate met a familiar fate: A recording device spread his words from the meeting to the internet, where news outlets and social media spent a day blasting Strickland’s comment. But the way Strickland’s gaffe traveled was unusual. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" serif="serif" font-size="font-size" px="px" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb">The audio was obtained by an under-the-radar website called NTK Network </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" serif="serif" font-size="font-size" px="px" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb">— which happens to be run by operatives connected to Republican opposition research firm America Rising, and is headquartered in the same building. ... America Rising co-founder Joe Pounder and three colleagues launched NTK (short for Need to Know) Network this summer as a side project, along with three colleagues who work for America Rising or Definers Public Affairs ... Pounder and others post collections of links and footage they think will raise eyebrows on a clean, image-heavy site, alongside other developing stories and news of the day about topics less germane to conservative political junkies — like the NFL or, this week, Kim Kardashian.”&nbsp;</span><a href="https://www.politicopro.com/story/2016/10/gop-researchers-try-the-news-business-132840" target="blank" style="box-sizing: border-box; transition: all 0.25s ease 0s; text-decoration-line: none;" times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" serif="serif" font-size="font-size" px="px" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb"><b style="box-sizing: border-box;">Full story</b></a><b style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia, Times, " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" serif="serif" font-size="font-size" px="px" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb">. 404</b></font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
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</div><div>https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/15/technology/facebook-definers-opposition-research.html</div><div>
</div><div>sAN FRANCISCO — A small firm called Definers Public Affairs brought the dark arts of Washington’s back-room politics to Silicon Valley when, while working for Facebook, it began disparaging other tech companies to reporters.</div><div>
</div><div>But a few days before Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook’s chief operating officer, testified to Congress in September, Definers set its sights on a different target: the senators about to question Ms. Sandberg.</div><div>
</div><div>In one document circulated to reporters, Definers tallied what software the 15 members of the Senate Intelligence Committee used to track visitors to their Senate websites. Another document detailed how much each senator spent on Facebook ads and how much they had received in campaign donations from Facebook or other big tech companies.</div><div>
</div><div>Known in the political business as opposition research, the documents pushed out by Definers neatly provided reporters with the ammunition they would need to suggest the senators grilling Ms. Sandberg were hypocrites for criticizing Facebook.</div><div>
</div><div>While senators are no strangers to opposition research — they use it all the time against political rivals — they take a dimmer view when it used against them outside of election season. That is especially true when the research is being paid for and shoveled to reporters on behalf of a company that is saying it wants to work with lawmakers, not against them.</div><div>
</div><div>And companies facing scrutiny in Washington usually avoid doing anything that could antagonize lawmakers.</div><div>
</div><div>“At the same time that Facebook was publicly professing their desire to work with the committee to address these issues, they were paying a political opposition research firm to privately attempt to undermine that same committee’s credibility,” Senator Mark Warner of Virginia, the top Democrat on the panel, said in a statement. “It’s very concerning.”</div><div>
</div><div>The documents obtained by The New York Times provide a deeper look at Definers’ tactics to discredit Facebook’s critics. The Times reported on Wednesday that Definers also distributed research documents to reporters that cast the liberal donor George Soros as an unacknowledged force behind activists protesting Facebook, and helped publish articles criticizing Facebook’s rivals on what was designed to look like a typical conservative news site.</div><div>
</div><div>Definers Public Affairs, a public-relations firm hired by Facebook, distributed this memo about how senators tracked visitors to their websites ahead of a congressional hearing with Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook’s chief operating officer.</div><div>
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</div><div>Image</div><div>Definers Public Affairs, a public-relations firm hired by Facebook, distributed this memo about how senators tracked visitors to their websites ahead of a congressional hearing with Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook’s chief operating officer.</div><div>
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</div><div>Late Wednesday, after The Times published its findings, Facebook cut ties with the firm.</div><div>
</div><div>“I understand that a lot of D.C.-type firms might do this kind of work. When I learned about it I decided that we don’t want to be doing it,” Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook’s chief executive, said on Thursday during a call with reporters.</div><div>
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</div><div>Colin Reed, managing director of Definers, said in an email that his firm simply compiled public information and what Definers did was “standard operating procedure” for public affairs outfits. “It shouldn’t be surprising to reporters at The New York Times that a P.R. firm would be providing context for reporters ahead of a client’s testimony on Capitol Hill,” he wrote.</div><div>
</div><div>Facebook initially hired Definers to monitor news about the social network. It expanded its relationship with the firm in October 2017 when scrutiny of Facebook was increasing over how Russian agents had used the site to sow discord before the 2016 United States election.</div><div>
</div><div>Definers began doing some general communications work, such as running conference calls for Facebook. It also undertook more covert efforts to spread the blame for the rise of the Russian disinformation, pointing fingers at other companies like Google.</div><div>
</div><div>A key part of Definers’ strategy was NTK Network, a website that appeared to be a run-of-the-mill news aggregator with a right-wing slant. In fact, many of NTK Network’s stories were written by employees at Definers and America Rising, a sister firm, to criticize rivals of their clients, according to one former employee not allowed to speak about it publicly. The three outfits share some staff and offices in Arlington, Va.</div><div>
</div><div>Definers Public Affairs, a public-relations firm hired by Facebook, distributed to reporters information about how much each senator spent on Facebook ads and how much each had received in campaign donations from Facebook or other big tech firms.</div><div>
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</div><div>Definers Public Affairs, a public-relations firm hired by Facebook, distributed to reporters information about how much each senator spent on Facebook ads and how much each had received in campaign donations from Facebook or other big tech firms.</div><div>Before Ms. Sandberg’s Senate testimony, Facebook lobbyists pushed lawmakers to refrain from questioning her about privacy, censorship and other issues, and to stick to election interference. The committee’s chairman, Senator Richard Burr, Republican of North Carolina, was swayed and warned members to stick to the hearing’s planned topic, The Times reported Wednesday.</div><div>
</div><div>Facebook had also lobbied for the hearing to include a Google emissary of similar rank to Ms. Sandberg. Mr. Burr invited Larry Page, a Google co-founder, but he did not show up. Instead, Ms. Sandberg sat alongside an empty chair behind a placard for Google.</div><div>
</div><div>In an email days before the hearing, a Definers employee pressed a Times reporter to write that Facebook was taking the senators’ concerns seriously while Google was irresponsible for skipping the hearing.</div><div>
</div><div>The day before the hearing, NTK Network reported that Senator Marco Rubio, Republican of Florida, had suggested that Google was possibly a monopoly. The next day, shortly after the hearing ended, NTK Network posted another story highlighting Mr. Rubio’s criticism of Google during the hearing.</div><div>
</div><div>Those pieces were just two of at least 11 negative items NTK has posted about Google since late March, including an article questioning why Mr. Zuckerberg needed to testify to Congress at another hearing earlier in the year but a Google executive did not.</div><div>
</div><div>Like the documents on the senators, Definers distributed other memos that sought to lay out evidence for angles that it wanted reporters to pursue. The memos were typically based on public information like press clippings and social media posts.</div><div>
</div><div>Definers urged reporters to explore the financial ties between Mr. Soros and Freedom From Facebook, a coalition of groups that had criticized the company. The idea was to persuade reporters that the coalition was not a sincere movement of like-minded groups but rather an orchestrated campaign by a rich, partisan opponent.</div><div>
</div><div>A two-page document that Definers distributed about Freedom From Facebook noted that “at least four of the groups in the coalition receive funding or are aligned with George Soros, who has publicly criticized Facebook.” The four groups named in the document do appear to have received funding from Mr. Soros’s Open Society Foundations.</div><div>
</div><div>A second, 12-page document sought to link Freedom From Facebook to Mr. Soros and to David Brock, a Democratic operative who is widely portrayed in conservative circles as a master of political dirty tricks. While pushing the connection to Mr. Soros, the document highlighted that protesters from Freedom From Facebook held up signs with images reminiscent of old, anti-Semitic propaganda.</div><div>
</div><div>Definers said in a statement that the document was “entirely factual and based on public records.”</div><div>
</div><div>Eddie Vale, a Freedom From Facebook spokesman, said the coalition’s primary funder was the computer scientist David Magerman but he declined to disclose other funders. Mr. Vale said the coalition did not receive money from corporations. Open Society Foundations said it did not fund the coalition.</div><div>
</div><div>Laura Silber, a spokeswoman for Open Society Foundations, said the philanthropy’s president spoke with Ms. Sandberg on Thursday and requested that Facebook commission an independent review of the company’s relationship with Definers, with results made public within three months.</div><div>
</div><div>The recent work by Definers was not the first time Facebook has tried to smear its rivals. In 2011, Facebook hired the public-relations firm Burson-Marsteller to urge reporters to investigate Google for invading people’s privacy. The move backfired when reporters revealed the plan.</div><div>
</div><div>=</div><div>http://nymag.com/intelligencer/2018/11/facebook-hired-republican-consultants-to-seed-stories.html?gtm=top>m=bottom</div><div>
</div><div>For two years now, Facebook has faced increasingly furious criticism over the frictionless spread of misinformation across its network. But, according to the New York Times’ 5,000-word, five-byline story about the company’s dysfunctional response to its misinformation crisis, Facebook eventually learned its lesson. Having heard from scores of politicians, activists, academics, and even former employees about the dangerous effects of “fake news” influence campaigns, Facebook finally landed on a solution: Create its own.</div><div>
</div><div>As they say, if you can’t beat ‘em, hire a Republican opposition-research firm to write blog posts “play[ing] down the impact of Russians’ use of Facebook.” According to the Times, in October 2017 Facebook hired a political consultancy called Definers Public Affairs — whose Silicon Valley branch is run by Tim Miller, a former Jeb Bush staffer and contributor at Crooked Media — to apply “political campaign tactics” and “campaign-style opposition research” to Facebook’s public-relations campaign. One of these tactics? Seed the conservative blogosphere with “positive content … about your company and negative content … about your competitor”:</div><div>
</div><div>On a conservative news site called the NTK Network, dozens of articles blasted Google and Apple for unsavory business practices. One story called Mr. Cook hypocritical for chiding Facebook over privacy, noting that Apple also collects reams of data from users. Another played down the impact of the Russians’ use of Facebook.</div><div>
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</div><div>The rash of news coverage was no accident: NTK is an affiliate of Definers, sharing offices and staff with the public relations firm in Arlington, Va. Many NTK Network stories are written by staff members at Definers or America Rising, the company’s political opposition-research arm, to attack their clients’ enemies. While the NTK Network does not have a large audience of its own, its content is frequently picked up by popular conservative outlets, including Breitbart.</div><div>
</div><div>The Times also details the Definers operatives’ efforts to “cast [George] Soros as the unacknowledged force behind what appeared to be a broad anti-Facebook movement.” (You’d think that, for the money Facebook was presumably paying Definers, the consultants could’ve come up with a fresher boogeyman than Soros, the billionaire liberal philanthropist and eternal object of anti-Semitic conspiracy theorizing — but hey, why not go with what works?)</div><div>
</div><div>It may be that other companies have the same kinds of hyperaggressive PR strategies — the kinds of hyperaggressive strategies that, if they were based in Russia, we’d call “influence operations.” But other companies aren’t asking us to trust that they have the institutional integrity necessary to ensure the integrity of elections. I don’t expect Facebook to ever be able to fix the eternal human problem of misinformation entirely. But I do expect them not to be actively contributing to it.</div><div>
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</div><div><b>Colin Reed</b></div><div><b>Senior Vice President at Definers</b></div><div>
</div><div>Washington D.C. Metro AreaMarketing and Advertising</div><div>Current<span style="white-space:pre"> </span></div><div>Definers</div><div>Previous<span style="white-space:pre"> </span></div><div><b>America Rising PAC, Scott Brown For Senate, Governor Chris Christie</b></div><div>Education<span style="white-space:pre"> </span></div><div>University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill</div><div>426</div><div>connections</div><div>View Colin Reed’s full profile. It's free!</div><div>Your colleagues, classmates, and 500 million other professionals are on LinkedIn.</div><div>View Colin’s Full Profile</div><div>Experience</div><div>Definers</div><div>Managing Director</div><div>Definers</div><div>July 2017 – Present&nbsp; 1 year 5 months</div><div>
</div><div>America Rising PAC</div><div>Executive Director</div><div>America Rising PAC</div><div>March 2015 – July 2017&nbsp; 2 years 5 months</div><div>Arlington, VA</div><div>Run a communications & rapid response Super PAC the Washington Post called the nation’s “leading anti-Clinton super PAC." During the 2016 cycle, America Rising's aggressive earned media effort helped drive Hillary Clinton’s approval rating down 50 net points, according to Gallup tracking</div><div>
</div><div>Scott Brown For Senate</div><div>Campaign Manager</div><div>Scott Brown For Senate</div><div>April 2014 – November 2014&nbsp; 8 months</div><div>Governor Chris Christie</div><div>Deputy Communications Director</div><div>Governor Chris Christie</div><div>March 2013 – April 2014&nbsp; 1 year 2 months</div><div>Trenton, NJ</div><div>Scott Brown for Senate</div><div>Communications Director</div><div>Scott Brown for Senate</div><div>September 2011 – November 2012&nbsp; 1 year 3 months</div><div>U.S. Senate</div><div>Press Secretary for Scott Brown</div><div>U.S. Senate</div><div>February 2010 – September 2011&nbsp; 1 year 8 months</div><div>National Republican Senatorial Committee</div><div>Deputy Press Secretary</div><div>National Republican Senatorial Committee</div><div>January 2009 – April 2010&nbsp; 1 year 4 months</div><div>McCain for President</div><div>Rapid Response Director of the Vice Presidential Nominee</div><div>McCain for President</div><div>August 2008 – November 2008&nbsp; 4 months</div><div>
</div><div><b>Freedom's Watch</b></div><div>Research Analyst</div><div>Freedom's Watch</div><div>April 2008 – August 2008&nbsp; 5 months</div><div>Romney for President</div><div>War Room Deputy</div><div>Romney for President</div><div>January 2007 – February 2008&nbsp; 1 year 2 months</div><div>Office of Governor Mitt Romney</div><div>Press Office Assistant</div><div>Office of Governor Mitt Romney</div><div>November 2006 – January 2007&nbsp; 3 months</div><div>Education</div><div>University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill</div><div>University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill</div><div>BA, Journalism & Mass Communication</div><div>
</div><div>Paul Davis</div><div>Executive Vice President at J Street Companies</div><div>
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</div><div>Brian Rogers</div><div>Senior Vice President at Definers Public Affairs</div><div>
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</div><div>Meredith Meer Haley</div><div>Director, Sales Planning at The Washington Post</div><div>
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</div><div>Raj Shah</div><div>Principal Deputy Press Secretary at The White House</div><div>
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</div><div>Joe Pounder</div><div>President at Definers Public Affairs</div><div>
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</div><div>Scott Will</div><div>Executive Director at the Republican Attorneys General Association</div><div>
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</div><div>Adam Wade</div><div>President & CEO at A Plus Landscape Services, Inc.</div><div>
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</div><div>Tracey Lintott</div><div>Public Affairs and Communications Strategist, Founder at Matador</div><div>
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</div><div>Caroline Kuebler</div></div></div><div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">=</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="https://www.democracynow.org/2018/11/16/bombshell_investigation_how_facebook_fought_critics" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;">https://www.democracynow.org/2018/11/16/bombshell_investigation_how_facebook_fought_critics</a></font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">=</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/14/technology/facebook-data-russia-election-racism.html">https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/14/technology/facebook-data-russia-election-racism.html</a></font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" /><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></div><div><b>Delay, Deny and Deflect: How Facebook’s Leaders Fought Through Crisis</b></div><div>Facebook has gone on the attack as one scandal after another — Russian meddling, data sharing, hate speech — has led to a congressional and consumer backlash.</div><div>Credit</div><div>Tom Brenner for The New York Times</div><div>
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</div><div>Image</div><div>Facebook has gone on the attack as one scandal after another — Russian meddling, data sharing, hate speech — has led to a congressional and consumer backlash.CreditCreditTom Brenner for The New York Times</div><div>By Sheera Frenkel, Nicholas Confessore, Cecilia Kang, Matthew Rosenberg and Jack Nicas</div><div>Nov. 14, 2018</div><div>
</div><div>Sheryl Sandberg was seething.</div><div>
</div><div>Inside Facebook’s Menlo Park, Calif., headquarters, top executives gathered in the glass-walled conference room of its founder, Mark Zuckerberg. It was September 2017, more than a year after Facebook engineers discovered suspicious Russia-linked activity on its site, an early warning of the Kremlin campaign to disrupt the 2016 American election. Congressional and federal investigators were closing in on evidence that would implicate the company.</div><div>
</div><div>But it wasn’t the looming disaster at Facebook that angered Ms. Sandberg. It was the social network’s security chief, Alex Stamos, who had informed company board members the day before that Facebook had yet to contain the Russian infestation. Mr. Stamos’s briefing had prompted a humiliating boardroom interrogation of Ms. Sandberg, Facebook’s chief operating officer, and her billionaire boss. She appeared to regard the admission as a betrayal.</div><div>
</div><div>“You threw us under the bus!” she yelled at Mr. Stamos, according to people who were present.</div><div>
</div><div>The clash that day would set off a reckoning — for Mr. Zuckerberg, for Ms. Sandberg and for the business they had built together. In just over a decade, Facebook has connected more than 2.2 billion people, a global nation unto itself that reshaped political campaigns, the advertising business and daily life around the world. Along the way, Facebook accumulated one of the largest-ever repositories of personal data, a treasure trove of photos, messages and likes that propelled the company into the Fortune 500.</div><div>
</div><div>[Here’s how Facebook failed to police how its partners handled user data.]</div><div>
</div><div><b>But as evidence accumulated that Facebook’s power could also be exploited to disrupt elections, broadcast viral propaganda and inspire deadly campaigns of hate around the globe, Mr. Zuckerberg and Ms. Sandberg stumbled. Bent on growth, the pair ignored warning signs and then sought to conceal them from public view.</b>&nbsp;At critical moments over the last three years, they were distracted by personal projects, and passed off security and policy decisions to subordinates, according to current and former executives.</div><div>
</div><div>Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook’s chief operating officer, has overseen an aggressive campaign to fight critics and ward off regulation.</div><div>Credit</div><div>Joshua Roberts/Reuters</div><div>
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</div><div>Image</div><div>Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook’s chief operating officer, has overseen an aggressive campaign to fight critics and ward off regulation.</div><div>CreditJoshua Roberts/Reuters</div><div>
</div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">When Facebook users learned last spring that the company had compromised their privacy in its rush to expand, allowing access to the personal information of tens of millions of people to a political data firm linked to President Trump, Facebook sought to deflect blame and mask the extent of the problem.</span></div><div>
</div><div>And when that failed — as the company’s stock price plummeted and it faced a consumer backlash — Facebook went on the attack.</div><div>
</div><div><b>While Mr. Zuckerberg has conducted a public apology tour in the last year, Ms. Sandberg has overseen an aggressive lobbying campaign to combat Facebook’s critics, shift public anger toward rival companies and ward off damaging regulation.<span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">&nbsp;Facebook employed a Republican opposition-research firm to discredit activist protesters, in part by linking them to the liberal financier George Soros. It also tapped its business relationships, lobbying a Jewish civil rights group to cast some criticism of the company as anti-Semitic.</span></b></div><div>
</div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">In Washington, allies of Facebook, including Senator Chuck Schumer, the Democratic Senate leader, intervened on its behalf. And Ms. Sandberg wooed or cajoled hostile lawmakers, while trying to dispel Facebook’s reputation as a bastion of Bay Area liberalism.</span></div><div>
</div><div>This account of how Mr. Zuckerberg and Ms. Sandberg navigated Facebook’s cascading crises, much of which has not been previously reported, is based on interviews with more than 50 people. They include current and former Facebook executives and other employees, lawmakers and government officials, lobbyists and congressional staff members. Most spoke on the condition of anonymity because they had signed confidentiality agreements, were not authorized to speak to reporters or feared retaliation.</div><div>
</div><div>Facebook declined to make Mr. Zuckerberg and Ms. Sandberg available for comment. In a statement, a spokesman acknowledged that Facebook had been slow to address its challenges but had since made progress fixing the platform.</div><div>
</div><div>“This has been a tough time at Facebook and our entire management team has been focused on tackling the issues we face,” the statement said. “While these are hard problems we are working hard to ensure that people find our products useful and that we protect our community from bad actors.”</div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">
</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Even so, trust in the social network has sunk, while its pell-mell growth has slowed. Regulators and law enforcement officials in the United States and Europe are investigating Facebook’s conduct with Cambridge Analytica, a political data firm that worked with Mr. Trump’s 2016 campaign, opening up the company to fines and other liability. Both the Trump administration and lawmakers have begun crafting proposals for a national privacy law, setting up a yearslong struggle over the future of Facebook’s data-hungry business model.</span></div><div>
</div><div>[Despite a turbulent two years, here’s why almost no one in tech thinks Mark Zuckerberg should step down from the company he built.]</div><div>
</div><div>“We failed to look and try to imagine what was hiding behind corners,” Elliot Schrage, former vice president for global communications, marketing and public policy at Facebook, said in an interview.</div><div>
</div><div>Mr. Zuckerberg, 34, and Ms. Sandberg, 49, remain at the company’s helm, while Mr. Stamos and other high-profile executives have left after disputes over Facebook’s priorities. Mr. Zuckerberg, who controls the social network with 60 percent of the voting shares and who approved many of its directors, has been asked repeatedly in the last year whether he should step down as chief executive.</div><div>
</div><div>His answer each time: a resounding “No.”</div><div>
</div><div>‘Don’t Poke the Bear’</div><div>
</div><div>Joel Kaplan, right, Facebook’s vice president for corporate public policy, attended an April Senate hearing where a coached Mark Zuckerberg, the company’s chief executive, largely eluded tough questions.</div><div>Credit</div><div>Tom Brenner/The New York Times</div><div>
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</div><div>Image</div><div>Joel Kaplan, right, Facebook’s vice president for corporate public policy, attended an April Senate hearing where a coached Mark Zuckerberg, the company’s chief executive, largely eluded tough questions.CreditTom Brenner/The New York Times</div><div>
</div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Three years ago, Mr. Zuckerberg, who founded Facebook in 2004 while attending Harvard, was celebrated for the company’s extraordinary success. Ms. Sandberg, a former Clinton administration official and Google veteran, had become a feminist icon with the publication of her empowerment manifesto, “Lean In,” in 2013.</span></div><div>
</div><div><b>Like other technology executives, Mr. Zuckerberg and Ms. Sandberg cast their company as a force for social good. Facebook’s lofty aims were emblazoned even on securities filings: “Our mission is to make the world more open and connected.”</b></div><div>
</div><div>But as Facebook grew, so did the hate speech, bullying and other toxic content on the platform. When researchers and activists in Myanmar, India, Germany and elsewhere warned that Facebook had become an instrument of government propaganda and ethnic cleansing, the company largely ignored them. Facebook had positioned itself as a platform, not a publisher. Taking responsibility for what users posted, or acting to censor it, was expensive and complicated. Many Facebook executives worried that any such efforts would backfire.</div><div>
</div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Then Donald J. Trump ran for president. He described Muslim immigrants and refugees as a danger to America, and in December 2015 posted a statement on Facebook calling for a “total and complete shutdown” on Muslims entering the United States. Mr. Trump’s call to arms — widely condemned by Democrats and some prominent Republicans — was shared more than 15,000 times on Facebook, an illustration of the site’s power to spread racist sentiment.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">
</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);"><b>Mr. Zuckerberg, who had helped found a nonprofit dedicated to immigration reform,</b>&nbsp;was appalled, said employees who spoke to him or were familiar with the conversation. He asked Ms. Sandberg and other executives if Mr. Trump had violated Facebook’s terms of service.</span></div><div>
</div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">The question was unusual. Mr. Zuckerberg typically focused on broader technology issues; politics was Ms. Sandberg’s domain. In 2010, Ms. Sandberg, a Democrat, had recruited a friend and fellow Clinton alum, Marne Levine, as Facebook’s chief Washington representative. A year later, after Republicans seized control of the House, Ms. Sandberg installed another friend, a well-connected Republican: Joel Kaplan, who had attended Harvard with Ms. Sandberg and later served in the George W. Bush administration.</span></div><div>
</div><div>Some at Facebook viewed Mr. Trump’s 2015 attack on Muslims as an opportunity to finally take a stand against the hate speech coursing through its platform. But Ms. Sandberg, who was edging back to work after the death of her husband several months earlier, delegated the matter to Mr. Schrage and Monika Bickert, a former prosecutor whom Ms. Sandberg had recruited as the company’s head of global policy management. Ms. Sandberg also turned to the Washington office — particularly to Mr. Kaplan, said people who participated in or were briefed on the discussions.</div><div>
</div><div>In video conference calls between the Silicon Valley headquarters and Washington, the three officials construed their task narrowly. They parsed the company’s terms of service to see if the post, or Mr. Trump’s account, violated Facebook’s rules.</div><div>
</div><div>Mr. Kaplan argued that Mr. Trump was an important public figure and that shutting down his account or removing the statement could be seen as obstructing free speech, said three employees who knew of the discussions. He said it could also stoke a conservative backlash.</div><div>
</div><div>“Don’t poke the bear,” Mr. Kaplan warned.</div><div>
</div><div>Mr. Zuckerberg did not participate in the debate. Ms. Sandberg attended some of the video meetings but rarely spoke.</div><div>
</div><div>Mr. Schrage concluded that Mr. Trump’s language had not violated Facebook’s rules and that the candidate’s views had public value. “We were trying to make a decision based on all the legal and technical evidence before us,” he said in an interview.</div><div>
</div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">In the end, Mr. Trump’s statement and account remained on the site. When Mr. Trump won election the next fall, giving Republicans control of the White House as well as Congress, Mr. Kaplan was empowered to plan accordingly.<b>&nbsp;The company hired a former aide to Mr. Trump’s new attorney general, Jeff Sessions, along with lobbying firms linked to Republican lawmakers who had jurisdiction over internet companies.</b></span></div><div>
</div><div>But inside Facebook, new troubles were brewing.</div><div><b>
</b></div><div><b>Minimizing Russia’s Role</b></div><div>
</div><div>At a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing in November 2017, Facebook and other tech giants were asked about Russia’s election meddling.</div><div>Credit</div><div>Eric Thayer for The New York Times]</div><div>
</div><div>In the final months of Mr. Trump’s presidential campaign, Russian agents escalated a yearlong effort to hack and harass his Democratic opponents, culminating in the release of thousands of emails stolen from prominent Democrats and party officials.</div><div>
</div><div>Facebook had said nothing publicly about any problems on its own platform. But in the spring of 2016, a company expert on Russian cyberwarfare spotted something worrisome. He reached out to his boss, Mr. Stamos.</div><div>
</div><div>Mr. Stamos’s team discovered that Russian hackers appeared to be probing Facebook accounts for people connected to the presidential campaigns, said two employees. Months later, as Mr. Trump battled Hillary Clinton in the general election, the team also found Facebook accounts linked to Russian hackers who were messaging journalists to share information from the stolen emails.</div><div>
</div><div>Mr. Stamos, 39, told Colin Stretch, Facebook’s general counsel, about the findings, said two people involved in the conversations. At the time, Facebook had no policy on disinformation or any resources dedicated to searching for it.</div><div>
</div><div>Mr. Stamos, acting on his own, then directed a team to scrutinize the extent of Russian activity on Facebook. In December 2016, after Mr. Zuckerberg publicly scoffed at the idea that fake news on Facebook had helped elect Mr. Trump, Mr. Stamos — alarmed that the company’s chief executive seemed unaware of his team’s findings — met with Mr. Zuckerberg, Ms. Sandberg and other top Facebook leaders.</div><div>
</div><div>Ms. Sandberg was angry. Looking into the Russian activity without approval, she said, had left the company exposed legally. Other executives asked Mr. Stamos why they had not been told sooner.</div><div>
</div><div><b>Still, Ms. Sandberg and Mr. Zuckerberg decided to expand on Mr. Stamos’s work, creating a group called Project P, for “propaganda,” to study false news on the site</b>, according to people involved in the discussions. By January 2017, the group knew that Mr. Stamos’s original team had only scratched the surface of Russian activity on Facebook, and pressed to issue a public paper about their findings.</div><div>
</div><div>Alex Stamos, Facebook’s former security chief, met with criticism as he investigated Russian activity on the platform.</div><div>Credit</div><div>Steve Marcus/Reuters</div><div>
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</div><div>Image</div><div>Alex Stamos, Facebook’s former security chief, met with criticism as he investigated Russian activity on the platform.</div><div>CreditSteve Marcus/Reuters</div><div>
</div><div>But Mr. Kaplan and other Facebook executives objected. Washington was already reeling from an official finding by American intelligence agencies that Vladimir V. Putin, the Russian president, had personally ordered an influence campaign aimed at helping elect Mr. Trump.</div><div>
</div><div>If Facebook implicated Russia further, Mr. Kaplan said, Republicans would accuse the company of siding with Democrats. And if Facebook pulled down the Russians’ fake pages, regular Facebook users might also react with outrage at having been deceived: His own mother-in-law, Mr. Kaplan said, had followed a Facebook page created by Russian trolls.</div><div>
</div><div>Ms. Sandberg sided with Mr. Kaplan, recalled four people involved. Mr. Zuckerberg — who spent much of 2017 on a national “listening tour,” feeding cows in Wisconsin and eating dinner with Somali refugees in Minnesota — did not participate in the conversations about the public paper. When it was&nbsp; published that April, the word “Russia” never appeared.</div><div>
</div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Ms. Sandberg’s subordinates took a similar approach in Washington, where the Senate had begun pursuing its own investigation, led by Richard Burr, the North Carolina Republican, and Mark Warner, the Virginia Democrat. Throughout the spring and summer of 2017, Facebook officials repeatedly played down Senate investigators’ concerns about the company, while publicly claiming there had been no Russian effort of any significance on Facebook.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">
</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">But inside the company, employees were tracing more ads, pages and groups back to Russia. That June, a Times reporter provided Facebook a list of accounts with suspected ties to Russia, seeking more information on their provenance. By August 2017, Facebook executives concluded that the situation had become what one called a “five-alarm fire,” said a person familiar with the discussions.</span></div><div>
</div><div>Mr. Zuckerberg and Ms. Sandberg agreed to go public with some findings, and laid plans to release a blog post on Sept. 6, 2017, the day of the company’s quarterly board meeting.</div><div>
</div><div>After Mr. Stamos and his team drafted the post, however, Ms. Sandberg and her deputies insisted it be less specific. She and Mr. Zuckerberg also asked Mr. Stamos and Mr. Stretch to brief the&nbsp;<b>board’s audit committee, chaired by Erskine Bowles, t</b>he patrician investor and White House veteran.</div><div>
</div><div>Colin Stretch, Facebook’s general counsel, learned in 2016 that suspicious Russian activity on the social network had been detected internally.</div><div>Credit</div><div>Eric Thayer for The New York Times</div><div>
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</div><div>Image</div><div>Colin Stretch, Facebook’s general counsel, learned in 2016 that suspicious Russian activity on the social network had been detected internally.</div><div>CreditEric Thayer for The New York Times</div><div>
</div><div>Mr. Stretch and Mr. Stamos went into more detail with the audit committee than planned, warning that Facebook was likely to find even more evidence of Russian interference.</div><div>
</div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">The disclosures set off Mr. Bowles, who after years in Washington could anticipate how lawmakers might react. He grilled the two men, occasionally cursing, on how Facebook had allowed itself to become a tool for Russian interference. He demanded to know why it had taken so long to uncover the activity, and why Facebook directors were only now being told.</span></div><div>
</div><div>When the full board gathered later that day at a room at the company’s headquarters reserved for sensitive meetings, Mr. Bowles pelted questions at Facebook’s founder and second-in-command. Ms. Sandberg, visibly unsettled, apologized. Mr. Zuckerberg, stone-faced, whirred through technical fixes, said three people who attended or were briefed on the proceedings.</div><div>
</div><div>Later that day, the company’s abbreviated blog post went up. It said little about fake accounts or the organic posts created by Russian trolls that had gone viral on Facebook, disclosing only that Russian agents had spent roughly $100,000 — a relatively tiny sum — on approximately 3,000 ads.</div><div>
</div><div>Just one day after the company’s carefully sculpted admission, The Times published an investigation of further Russian activity on Facebook, showing how Russian intelligence had used fake accounts to promote emails stolen from the Democratic Party and prominent Washington figures.</div><div>
</div><div>
</div><div><b>A Political Playbook</b></div><div><b>
</b></div><div>Senators Amy Klobuchar and Mark Warner introduced legislation last fall to force Facebook and other tech companies to disclose who bought political ads on their sites.</div><div>Credit</div><div>Al Drago for The New York TimesTimes</div><div>
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</div><div>Image</div><div>Senators Amy Klobuchar and Mark Warner introduced legislation last fall to force Facebook and other tech companies to disclose who bought political ads on their sites.CreditAl Drago for The New York TimesTimes</div><div>
</div><div>The combined revelations infuriated Democrats, finally fracturing the political consensus that had protected Facebook and other big tech companies from Beltway interference. Republicans, already concerned that the platform was censoring conservative views, accused Facebook of fueling what they claimed were meritless conspiracy charges against Mr. Trump and Russia. Democrats, long allied with Silicon Valley on issues including immigration and gay rights, now blamed Mr. Trump’s win partly on Facebook’s tolerance for fraud and disinformation.</div><div>
</div><div>After stalling for weeks, Facebook eventually agreed to hand over the Russian posts to Congress. Twice in October 2017, Facebook was forced to revise its public statements, finally acknowledging that close to 126 million people had seen the Russian posts.</div><div>
</div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">The same month, Mr. Warner and Senator Amy Klobuchar, the Minnesota Democrat, introduced legislation to compel Facebook and other internet firms to disclose who bought political ads on their sites — a significant expansion of federal regulation over tech companies.</span></div><div>
</div><div>“It’s time for Facebook to let all of us see the ads bought by Russians and paid for in Rubles during the last election,” Ms. Klobuchar wrote on her own Facebook page.</div><div>
</div><div>Facebook girded for battle. Days after the bill was unveiled, Facebook hired Mr. Warner’s former chief of staff, Luke Albee, to lobby on it. Mr. Kaplan’s team took a larger role in managing the company’s Washington response, routinely reviewing Facebook news releases for words or phrases that might rile conservatives.</div><div>
</div><div><b>Ms. Sandberg also reached out to Ms. Klobuchar.&nbsp;</b>She had been friendly with the senator, who is featured on the website for Lean In, Ms. Sandberg’s empowerment initiative. Ms. Sandberg had contributed a blurb to Ms. Klobuchar’s 2015 memoir, and the senator’s chief of staff had previously worked at Ms. Sandberg’s charitable foundation.</div><div>
</div><div>But in a tense conversation shortly after the ad legislation was introduced, Ms. Sandberg complained about Ms. Klobuchar’s attacks on the company, said a person who was briefed on the call. Ms. Klobuchar did not back down on her legislation. But she dialed down her criticism in at least one venue important to the company: After blasting Facebook repeatedly that fall on her own Facebook page, Ms. Klobuchar hardly mentioned the company in posts between November and February.</div><div>
</div><div>A spokesman for Ms. Klobuchar said in a statement that Facebook’s lobbying had not lessened her commitment to holding the company accountable. “Facebook was pushing to exclude issue ads from the Honest Ads Act, and Senator Klobuchar strenuously disagreed and refused to change the bill,” he said.</div><div>
</div><div><b>In October 2017, Facebook also expanded its work with a Washington-based consultant, Definers Public Affairs<span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">,</span></b><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">&nbsp;that had originally been hired to monitor press coverage of the company. Founded by veterans of Republican presidential politics, Definers specialized in applying political campaign tactics to corporate public relations — an approach long employed in Washington by big telecommunications firms and activist hedge fund managers, but less common in tech.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">
</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Definers had established a Silicon Valley outpost earlier that year, led by Tim Miller, a former spokesman for Jeb Bush who preached the virtues of campaign-style opposition research. For tech firms, he argued in one interview, a goal should be to “have positive content pushed out about your company and negative content that’s being pushed out about your competitor.”</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">
</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Facebook quickly adopted that strategy. In November 2017, the social network came out in favor of a bill called the Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act, which made internet companies responsible for sex trafficking ads on their sites.</span></div><div>
</div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Google and others had fought the bill for months, worrying it would set a cumbersome precedent. But the sex trafficking bill was championed by Senator John Thune, a Republican of South Dakota who had pummeled Facebook over accusations that it censored conservative content, and Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Connecticut Democrat and senior commerce committee member who was a frequent critic of Facebook.</span></div><div>
</div><div>Facebook broke ranks with other tech companies, hoping the move would help repair relations on both sides of the aisle, said two congressional staffers and three tech industry officials.</div><div>
</div><div>
</div><div>When the bill came to a vote in the House in February, Ms. Sandberg offered public support online, urging Congress to “make sure we pass meaningful and strong legislation to stop sex trafficking.”</div><div>
</div><div><b>Opposition Research</b></div><div>
</div><div>In March, The Times, The Observer of London and The Guardian prepared to publish a joint investigation into how Facebook user data had been appropriated by Cambridge Analytica to profile American voters. A few days before publication, The Times presented Facebook with evidence that copies of improperly acquired Facebook data still existed, despite earlier promises by Cambridge executives and others to delete it.</div><div>
</div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Mr. Zuckerberg and Ms. Sandberg met with their lieutenants to determine a response. They decided to pre-empt the stories, saying in a statement published late on a Friday night that Facebook had suspended Cambridge Analytica from its platform. The executives figured that getting ahead of the news would soften its blow, according to people in the discussions.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">
</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">They were wrong.&nbsp;</span>The story drew worldwide outrage, prompting lawsuits and official investigations in Washington, London and Brussels. For days, Mr. Zuckerberg and Ms. Sandberg remained out of sight, mulling how to respond. While the Russia investigation had devolved into an increasingly partisan battle, the Cambridge scandal set off Democrats and Republicans alike. And in Silicon Valley, other tech firms began exploiting the outcry to burnish their own brands.</div><div>
</div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">“We’re not going to traffic in your personal life,” Tim Cook, Apple’s chief executive, said in an MSNBC interview. “Privacy to us is a human right. It’s a civil liberty.” (Mr. Cook’s criticisms infuriated Mr. Zuckerberg, who later ordered his management team to use only Android phones — arguing that the operating system had far more users than Apple’s.)</span></div><div>
</div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Facebook scrambled anew. Executives quietly shelved an internal communications campaign, called “We Get It,” meant to assure employees that the company was committed to getting back on track in 2018.</span></div><div>
</div><div><b>Then Facebook went on the offensive.</b>&nbsp;Mr. Kaplan prevailed on Ms. Sandberg to promote Kevin Martin, a former Federal Communications Commission chairman and fellow Bush administration veteran, to lead the company’s American lobbying efforts. Facebook also expanded its work with Definers.</div><div>
</div><div>On a conservative news site called the NTK Network, dozens of articles blasted Google and Apple for unsavory business practices. One story called Mr. Cook hypocritical for chiding Facebook over privacy, noting that Apple also collects reams of data from users. Another played down the impact of the Russians’ use of Facebook.</div><div>
</div><div><b>The rash of news coverage was no accident: NTK is an affiliate of Definers,</b>&nbsp;sharing offices and staff with the public relations firm in Arlington, Va. Many NTK Network stories are written by staff members at Definers or America Rising, the company’s political opposition-research arm, to attack their clients’ enemies. While the NTK Network does not have a large audience of its own, its content is frequently picked up by popular conservative outlets, including Breitbart.</div><div>
</div><div>Mr. Miller acknowledged that Facebook and Apple do not directly compete. Definers’ work on Apple is funded by a third technology company, he said, but Facebook has pushed back against Apple because Mr. Cook’s criticism upset Facebook.</div><div>
</div><div>If the privacy issue comes up, Facebook is happy to “muddy the waters,” Mr. Miller said over drinks at an Oakland, Calif., bar last month.</div><div>
</div><div><b>On Thursday, after this article was published, Facebook said that it had ended its relationship with Definers, without citing a reason.</b></div><div>
</div><div>
</div><div>In public, Facebook was more conciliatory. Mr. Zuckerberg agreed to testify on Capitol Hill. The company unveiled a gauzy advertising campaign, titled “Here Together,” to apologize to its users. Days before Mr. Zuckerberg’s appearance in Congress in April, Facebook announced that it was endorsing Ms. Klobuchar’s Honest Ads bill and would pre-emptively begin disclosing political ad buyers. It also informed users whose data had been improperly harvested by Cambridge Analytica.</div><div>
</div><div>But Mr. Zuckerberg’s good-will tour was bumpy. Thanks to intensive coaching and preparation, the company’s communications team believed, he had effectively parried tough questions at the April hearing. But they worried he had come off as robotic — a suspicion confirmed by Facebook’s pollsters.</div><div>
</div><div>Mr. Zuckerberg spoke with Representative Greg Walden during a break in an April hearing, telling him he was surprised at the tough line of questioning.</div><div>]</div><div>
</div><div>Mr. Zuckerberg’s political instincts were no more well-tuned. During a break in one hearing, he buttonholed Greg Walden, an Oregon Republican who leads the House Energy and Commerce Committee, to express his surprise at how tough on Facebook Democrats had been.</div><div>
</div><div>Mr. Walden was taken aback, said people who knew of the remark. Facebook’s leader, Mr. Walden realized, did not understand the breadth of the anger now aimed at his creation.</div><div>
</div><div><b>Personal Appeals in Washington</b></div><div>
</div><div>
</div><div>Some colleagues believed that Ms. Sandberg — whose ambitions to return to public life were much discussed at the company — was protecting her own brand at Facebook’s expense. At one company gathering, said two people who knew of the event, friends told Ms. Sandberg that if Facebook did not address the scandals effectively, its role in spreading hate and fear would define her legacy, too.</div><div>
</div><div><b>So Ms. Sandberg began taking a more personal role in the company’s Washington campaign,</b>&nbsp;drawing on all the polish that Mr. Zuckerberg sometimes lacked. She not only relied on her old Democratic ties, but also sought to assuage skeptical Republicans, who grumbled that Facebook was more sensitive to the political opinions of its work force than to those of powerful committee leaders. Trailing an entourage of as many as 10 people on trips to the capital, Ms. Sandberg made a point of sending personal thank-you notes to lawmakers and others she met.</div><div>
</div><div><b>Her top Republican target was Mr. Burr,</b>&nbsp;whose Senate committee’s Russia investigation had chugged along. The two spoke by phone, according to a congressional staff member and a Facebook executive, and met in person this fall. While critics cast Facebook as a serial offender that had ignored repeated warning signs about the dangers posed by its product, Ms. Sandberg argued that the company was grappling earnestly with the consequences of its extraordinary growth.</div><div>
</div><div>She made the same case in June at a conference of the National Association of Attorneys General in Portland, Ore. At the time, several attorneys general had opened or joined investigations into the company. Facebook was eager to head off further trouble.</div><div>
</div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">The company organized several private receptions, including what was billed as a conversation with Ms. Sandberg about “corporate citizenship in the digital age” and a briefing on Cambridge Analytica.</span></div><div>
</div><div><b>While Facebook had publicly declared itself ready for new federal regulations, Ms. Sandberg privately contended that the social network was already adopting the best reforms and policies available. Heavy-handed regulation, she warned, would only disadvantage smaller competitors.</b></div><div>
</div><div>Some of the officials were skeptical. But Ms. Sandberg’s presence — companies typically send lower-ranking executives to such gatherings — persuaded others that Facebook was serious about addressing its problems, according to two who attended the conference.</div><div>
</div><div>Facebook also continued to look for ways to deflect criticism to rivals. In June, after The Times reported on Facebook’s previously undisclosed deals to share user data with device makers — partnerships Facebook had failed to disclose to lawmakers — executives ordered up focus groups in Washington.</div><div>
</div><div>In separate sessions with liberals and conservatives, about a dozen at a time, Facebook previewed messages to lawmakers. Among the approaches it tested was bringing YouTube and other social media platforms into the controversy, while arguing that Google struck similar data-sharing deals.</div><div>
</div><div><b>Deflecting Criticism</b></div><div><b>
</b></div><div>Monika Bickert, Facebook’s head of global policy management, testifying before Congress in July. Demonstrators held up signs with octopus imagery that a company official flagged as anti-Semitic.]</div><div>
</div><div>By then, some of the harshest criticism of Facebook was coming from the political left, where activists and policy experts had begun calling for the company to be broken up.</div><div>
</div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">In July, organizers with a coalition called Freedom from Facebook crashed a hearing of the House Judiciary Committee, where a company executive was testifying about its policies. As the executive spoke, the organizers held aloft signs depicting Ms. Sandberg and Mr. Zuckerberg, who are both Jewish, as two heads of an octopus stretching around the globe.</span></div><div>
</div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Eddie Vale, a Democratic public relations strategist who led the protest, later said the image was meant to evoke old cartoons of Standard Oil, the Gilded Age monopoly. But a Facebook official quickly called the<b>&nbsp;Anti-Defamation League</b>, a leading Jewish civil rights organization, to flag the sign. Facebook and other tech companies had partnered with the civil rights group since late 2017 on an initiative to combat anti-Semitism and hate speech online.</span></div><div>
</div><div>That afternoon, the A.D.L. issued a warning from its Twitter account.</div><div>
</div><div>“Depicting Jews as an octopus encircling the globe is a classic anti-Semitic trope,” the organization wrote. “Protest Facebook — or anyone — all you want, but pick a different image.” The criticism was soon echoed in conservative outlets including The Washington Free Beacon, which has sought to tie Freedom from Facebook to what the publication calls “extreme anti-Israel groups.”</div><div>
</div><div>An A.D.L. spokeswoman, Betsaida Alcantara, said the group routinely fielded reports of anti-Semitic slurs from journalists, synagogues and others. “Our experts evaluate each one based on our years of experience, and we respond appropriately,” Ms. Alcantara said. (The group has at times sharply criticized Facebook, including when Mr. Zuckerberg suggested that his company should not censor Holocaust deniers.)</div><div>
</div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Facebook also used Definers to take on bigger opponents, such as Mr<b>. Soros,&nbsp;</b>a longtime boogeyman to mainstream conservatives and the target of intense anti-Semitic smears on the far right. A research document circulated by Definers to reporters this summer, just a month after the House hearing, cast Mr. Soros as the unacknowledged force behind what appeared to be a broad anti-Facebook movement.</span></div><div>
</div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">He was a natural target. In a speech at the World Economic Forum in January, he had attacked Facebook and Google, describing them as a monopolist “menace” with “neither the will nor the inclination to protect society against the consequences of their actions.”</span></div><div>
</div><div>Definers pressed reporters to explore the financial connections between Mr. Soros’s family or philanthropies and groups that were members of Freedom from Facebook, such as Color of Change, an online racial justice organization, as well as a progressive group founded by Mr. Soros’s son. (An official at Mr. Soros’s Open Society Foundations said the philanthropy had supported both member groups, but not Freedom from Facebook, and had made no grants to support campaigns against Facebook.)</div><div>
</div><div>Definers also circulated research about other critics of Facebook, such as Diamond and Silk, the pro-Trump social media stars who had claimed they were treated unfairly by Facebook.</div><div>
</div><div><b>In at least one instance, the company also relied on Mr. Schumer, the New York senator and Senate Democratic leader</b>. He has long worked to advance Silicon Valley’s interests on issues such as commercial drone regulations and patent reform. During the 2016 election cycle, he raised more money from Facebook employees than any other member of Congress, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.</div><div>
</div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Mr. Schumer also has a personal connection to Facebook: His daughter Alison joined the firm out of college and is now a marketing manager in Facebook’s New York office, according to her LinkedIn profile.</span></div><div>
</div><div>In July, as Facebook’s troubles threatened to cost the company billions of dollars in market value, Mr. Schumer confronted Mr. Warner, by then Facebook’s most insistent inquisitor in Congress.</div><div>
</div><div>Back off, he told Mr. Warner, according to a Facebook employee briefed on Mr. Schumer’s intervention. Mr. Warner should be looking for ways to work with Facebook, Mr. Schumer advised, not harm it. Facebook lobbyists were kept abreast of Mr. Schumer’s efforts to protect the company, according to the employee.</div><div>
</div><div>A Senate aide briefed on the exchange said that Mr. Schumer had not wanted Mr. Warner to lose sight of the need for Facebook to tackle problems with right-wing disinformation and election interference, as well as consumer privacy and other issues.</div><div>
</div><div><b>The War Room</b></div></div></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"></font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/19/climate/epa-definers-public-affairs-contract.html?mtrref=www.google.com</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">A consulting firm has pulled out of a federal contract to provide media monitoring services to the Environmental Protection Agency after it was disclosed that a lawyer among its top executives had been investigating agency employees critical of the Trump administration.</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Joe Pounder, the president of Definers Public Affairs, said in a statement on Twitter that his company’s $120,000 contract with the E.P.A., which it was awarded this month, had become a “distraction.”</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">The contract came under scrutiny because of the company’s links to America Rising, a Virginia-based corporation and Republican political operation with several offshoots that have investigated E.P.A. officials. One lawyer on the company’s staff, Allan Blutstein, sent a series of Freedom of Information Act requests to the E.P.A. asking for email correspondence by employees who had been publicly critical of the Trump administration’s management of the agency.</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">America Rising and its affiliates also separately deployed “trackers” to videotape climate change activists and produced news releases and videos favorable to Scott Pruitt, the administrator of the E.P.A.</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Definers Public Affairs, a corporate entity, shares multiple top executives with America Rising, including Mr. Pounder. Both he and E.P.A. officials said the contract was solely to monitor and collect news articles and videos that appear about the agency. E.P.A. officials said a need for compiling those news reports was not being met sufficiently by its previous vendor.</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">But agency employees — particularly those who had been targeted by America Rising after they raised questions about the management of Mr. Trump’s E.P.A. — said they were fearful the new contract might translate into increased surveillance of agency staff.</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">You have 3 free articles remaining.</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Subscribe to The Times</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">E.P.A. officials and Mr. Pounder disputed that suggestion.</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">“Definers offered E.P.A. a better and more efficient news clipping service that would give E.P.A.’s employees real-time news at a lower cost than what previous administrations paid for more antiquated clipping services,” Mr. Pounder said. “But it’s become clear this will become a distraction. As a result, Definers and the E.P.A. have decided to forgo the contract.”</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Below is my statement regarding the EPA contract... pic.twitter.com/JWYBxeZNiT</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">— Joe Pounder (@PounderFile) December 19, 2017</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Mr. Pounder also said on Twitter that other government agencies had expressed interest in his company’s services, but said his firm would no longer work with the federal government.</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Contract documents show that Definers — which on its website lists its founder, president and top partner — applied to the E.P.A. as a “disadvantaged business,” a status that can give a bidder preference as it pursues a federal contract.</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Asked about this filing, Mr. Pounder said that it was a computer error, and that the company recently corrected its status in the federal contracting system to make clear that it was not a “disadvantaged business.”</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">An E.P.A. spokesman said that Definers did not receive any benefit as a result of the original disadvantaged status claim.</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">The move to drop the contract came after a liberal nonprofit group, Public Citizen, filed a formal protest late Monday with the Government Accountability Office saying that Definers had illegally been granted the deal. Public Citizen cited contract records indicating that no other bidders had been considered. The protest was filed on behalf of two other companies that offer similar services to the ones that Definers had been hired to deliver.</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">“Federal law establishes that full and open competition is the standard means for contracting,” the protest letter said.</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Jahan Wilcox, an E.P.A. spokesman, declined to say why the agency had listed the contract as a sole-source notification, with Definers as the intended recipient.</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">He noted that the agency publicly announced the no-bid contract on federal websites, as is required, so that other vendors could have the opportunity to apply. One other company responded, E.P.A. officials said, and Definers was chosen for the job. Mr. Wilcox did not identify the other company.</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">ADVERTISEMENT</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">“How we consume the news has changed, and we hope to find a vendor that can provide us with real-time news clips at a rate that is cheaper than our previous vendor,” he said.</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Separately, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, Democrat of Rhode Island, and Senator Kamala Harris, Democrat of California, sent a letter on Tuesday to Mr. Pruitt, urging him to move on his own to cancel the contract.</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Mr. Whitehouse said that America Rising Squared, a dark-money, nonprofit partner of Definers, set up a website this year pushing the Senate to confirm Mr. Pruitt. He said the firm also has conducted an elaborate surveillance operation tracking climate activists critical of the Trump administration, including Tom Steyer, the liberal billionaire donor, and sought to gather emails of E.P.A. employees who questioned Mr. Pruitt’s actions and policy.</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">“E.P.A.’s contract with Definers risks further politicizing the agency and is another instance of E.P.A. under your tenure becoming captured by the industry it regulates,” Mr. Whitehouse wrote, citing reporting by The New York Times and Mother Jones, which was the first to disclose the contract award. “At a minimum, it presents an appearance of impropriety to which you as administrator should never be a party. For the reasons that follow, you should terminate this contract immediately.”</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Statements by Mr. Pounder that America Rising and Definers are separate entities were simply false, Mr. Whitehouse said in his letter.</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">“These organizations may have different corporate forms, but we should all be clear that they are merely different parts of the same multifaceted partisan operation,” Mr. Whitehouse wrote. “Any claim they are distinct is a sham.”</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Joe Wagner, the managing director of the Washington office of Fenton, a public relations firm that identifies itself as supporting social change and was a party to the protest filed by Public Citizen, said he was glad the contract award had been terminated.</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">“They should put it out to bid,” he said. “That is standard practice.”</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">no lix 12/17</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">lipton &</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">=</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">=</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">2016 Definers Corp.</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Joe Pounder</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Named by GQ as one of the most powerful people in Washington, D.C. for his ability to influence the national news cycle and described as “a master of opposition research” by&nbsp; National Review...</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">?</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Joe Pounder</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">President</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Read More</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Todd Scher</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Todd Scher</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Research Associate</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Todd conducts research services for Definers clients. Prior to joining Definers, he worked as an analyst in the Republican National Committee's research department. Todd was born and raised in New York...</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Read More</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Brian Rogers</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Senior Vice President</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Brian Rogers brings a wealth of communications and research experience in high-stakes political campaigns and government. He previously served as Communications Director to U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ), Deputy...</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Brian Rogers</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Read More</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Mike conducts research and war room services. Before joining Definers, he was a War Room Analyst at America Rising, LLC. Prior to that, he worked in the War Room at the Republican National Committee....</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Mike Presutti</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Mike Presutti</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Research Associate</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Read More</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Sam’s excellent organization skills and positive attitude keep things running smoothly at Definers Corp. Sam graduated from The University of Arkansas-Monticello and quickly joined America Rising LLC...</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Sam Montgomery</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Sam Montgomery</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Office Manager</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Read More</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Andrew conducts research services for Definers Before joining Definers, Andrew was a War Room Analyst for Marco Rubio’s presidential campaign and a War Room Analyst for America Rising LLC...</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Sam Montgomery</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Andrew Lautz</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Research Associate</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Read More</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Michael Chenderlin</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Chief Digital Officer</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Michael Chenderlin is a veteran digital strategist most recently playing a key role within Sen. Marco Rubio’s presidential campaign where he developed digital campaigns for grassroots activation, voter turnout and volunteer...</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Mike Chenderlin</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Read More</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">The team at Definers Public Affairs is comprised of leading communications, political and research professionals. Founded by former Romney-Ryan 2012 campaign manager Matt Rhoades and former RNC Research Director Joe Pounder, Definers helps corporations, trade associations, political campaigns and issue-based clients run smarter campaigns using cutting-edge research and communications strategies and tactics.</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">WHO WE ARE</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Jim Barnett’s experience spreads presidential, statewide, local, corporate and issue campaigns. Prior to joining Definers, Barnett served as Vice President for Political Affairs for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s...</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Jim Barnett</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Chief Operating Officer</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
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</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Jim Barnett</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Read More</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Julia Cotrone</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">As a special assistant at Definers Corp, Julia makes sure the trains are running on time and the team is firing on all cylinders. After graduating from The Catholic University of America, she went right to work for Governor Romney's...</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Julia Cotrone</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Special Assistant</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Read More</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Geoff Embler is a proud military brat born in Japan and raised in South Carolina. Geoff has worked in politics at all levels as a researcher and communicator, from state legislative campaigns, to congressional and Senate...</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Geoff Embler</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Senior Vice President</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Geoff Embler</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Read More</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">OUR TEAM</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Tim Killeen</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Tim Killeen</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Senior Vice President</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Tim Killeen has a background in research and communications. Previously, he worked for America Rising, the Republican National Committee, high-profile political campaigns, the Washington Free Beacon, and the national...</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Read More</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Will Schenkel</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Will Schenkel</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">War Room Associate</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Will provides war room research services to Definers clients. Prior to joining Definers, he fulfilled a similar capacity for other firms and political offices, as well as on numerous campaigns in his native northeast...</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Read More</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Christy Paavola</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Vice President</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Christy Paavola possesses a diverse set of experiences in research and communications. Prior to joining Definers Corp., Christy was the Research Director for CARLY for America, the Super PAC supporting Carly Fiorina’s presidential bid...</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Christy Paavola</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Read More</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Read More</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Sara started her career as a graphic designer working with political and corporate clients in the DC area straight out of art school. She has used her unique perspective as an in-house creative to help her clients stand out against...</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Sara Pietsch</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Art Director</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Sara Pietsch</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Jasmine Sossa</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Jasmine Sossa</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Graphic Designer</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Jasmine Sossa is a graphic designer with a heart that beats for creative and clean aesthetics. She attended Art School and finished with a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Graphic and Web Design. Her love of craft beer landed her...</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Read More</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Nick Zanetti</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Nick Zanetti</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Research Associate</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Nick conducts research and war room services for Definers clients. Before joining Definers, he was Deputy War Room Director at America Rising LLC. Prior to that, he worked in the war room of Ken Cuccinelli’s gubernatorial...</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Read More</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Matt Rhoades</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Matt Rhoades</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Founder</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Matt Rhoades is one of America’s most accomplished political and public affairs professionals. He served as campaign manager for the Romney-Ryan 2012 presidential campaign, guiding Gov. Romney through...</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Read More</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"></font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Tim Killeen has a background in research and communications. Previously, he worked for America Rising, the Republican National Committee, high-profile political campaigns, the Washington Free Beacon, and the national security non-profit Keep America Safe. Originally from California, Tim graduated from Claremont McKenna College, where he played water polo and studied Government. Tim lives in Washington, D.C. with his wife and two dogs, Finnegan and Seamus.</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"></font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Barnett’s experience spreads presidential, statewide, local, corporate and issue campaigns. Prior to joining Definers, Barnett served as Vice President for Political Affairs for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for Legal Reform. Barnett is a veteran of Republican politics having managed Sen. John McCain’s comeback victory in the first-in-the-nation New Hampshire primary and U.S. Senator Scott Brown’s $45 million 2012 campaign. He is a past chairman of the Vermont Republican Party and served as deputy campaign manager and communications director for Governor Jim Douglas’s 2002 upset victory</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Jim Barnett</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Chief Operating Officer</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Jim Barnett’s experience spreads presidential, statewide, local, corporate and issue campaigns. Prior to joining Definers, Barnett served as Vice President for Political Affairs for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for Legal Reform. Barnett is a veteran of Republican politics having managed Sen. John McCain’s comeback victory in the first-in-the-nation New Hampshire primary and U.S. Senator Scott Brown’s $45 million 2012 campaign. He is a past chairman of the Vermont Republican Party and served as deputy campaign manager and communications director for Governor Jim Douglas’s 2002 upset victory.</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
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</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Joe Pounder</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">President</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Named by GQ as one of the most powerful people in Washington, D.C. for his ability to influence the national news cycle and described as “a master of opposition research” by National Review, Joe Pounder is one of the nation’s most sought after political communicators. Pounder is a co-founder and president of the Republican rapid response and opposition research firm America Rising. He has served as a senior advisor for Sen. Marco Rubio’s presidential campaign and as communications director in his Senate office, research director at the Republican National Committee, and rapid response director on the presidential campaigns of Mitt Romney and John McCain.</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">&nbsp;Pounder</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">President</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Named by GQ as one of the most powerful people in Washington, D.C. for his ability to influence the national news cycle and described as “a master of opposition research” by National Review, Joe Pounder is one of the nation’s most sought after political communicators. Pounder is a co-founder and president of the Republican rapid response and opposition research firm America Rising. He has served as a senior advisor for Sen. Marco Rubio’s presidential campaign and as communications director in his Senate office, research director at the Republican National Committee, and rapid response director on the presidential campaigns of Mitt Romney and John McCain.</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Joe Pounder</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">President</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Named by GQ as one of the most powerful people in Washington, D.C. for his ability to influence the national news cycle and described as “a master of opposition research” by National Review, Joe Pounder is one of the nation’s most sought after political communicators. Pounder is a co-founder and president of the Republican rapid response and opposition research firm America Rising. He has served as a senior advisor for Sen. Marco Rubio’s presidential campaign and as communications director in his Senate office, research director at the Republican National Committee, and rapid response director on the presidential campaigns of Mitt Romney and John McCain.</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">=</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">LI bs</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">President</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">&nbsp; &nbsp; Definers Public Affairs</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">&nbsp; &nbsp; January 2015 – Present (1 year 7 months)</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">&nbsp; &nbsp; https://www.linkedin.com/company/definers-public-affairs</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">&nbsp; &nbsp; President</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">&nbsp; &nbsp; America Rising LLC</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">&nbsp; &nbsp; March 2013 – Present (3 years 5 months)</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">&nbsp; &nbsp; Marco Rubio for President</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">&nbsp; &nbsp; Senior Adviser</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">&nbsp; &nbsp; Marco Rubio for President</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">&nbsp; &nbsp; November 2015 – March 2016 (5 months)Washington D.C. Metro Area</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">&nbsp; &nbsp; Republican National Committee</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">&nbsp; &nbsp; Research Director And Deputy Communications Director</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">&nbsp; &nbsp; Republican National Committee</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">&nbsp; &nbsp; May 2011 – March 2013 (1 year 11 months)</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">&nbsp; &nbsp; Communications Director</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">&nbsp; &nbsp; Office of US Senator Marco Rubio</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">&nbsp; &nbsp; January 2011 – October 2011 (10 months)</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">&nbsp; &nbsp; Deputy Campaign Manager for Communications</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">&nbsp; &nbsp; Marco Rubio for U.S. Senate</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">&nbsp; &nbsp; March 2010 – May 2011 (1 year 3 months)</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">&nbsp; &nbsp; Strategic Communications Director</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">&nbsp; &nbsp; Office of House Republican Whip Eric Cantor</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">&nbsp; &nbsp; January 2009 – March 2010 (1 year 3 months)</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">&nbsp; &nbsp; Rapid Response Director</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">&nbsp; &nbsp; John McCain 2008</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">&nbsp; &nbsp; 2008 – 2008 (less than a year)</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">&nbsp; &nbsp; Rapid Response Director</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">&nbsp; &nbsp; Romney for President, Inc.</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">&nbsp; &nbsp; 2007 – 2008 (1 year)</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">&nbsp; &nbsp; Deputy Research Director</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">&nbsp; &nbsp; California Republican Party</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">&nbsp; &nbsp; 2006 – 2006 (less than a year)</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">&nbsp; &nbsp; War Room Intern</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">&nbsp; &nbsp; Bush-Cheney '04</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">&nbsp; &nbsp; 2004 – 2004 (less than a year)</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Education</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">&nbsp; &nbsp; The George Washington University</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">&nbsp; &nbsp; The George Washington University</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">&nbsp; &nbsp; Bachelor, International Affairs</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">&nbsp; &nbsp; 2002 – 2005</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">--</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">LI scrape</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Brooke Sammon</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Communications & Media Relations Professional</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Raj Shah</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Research Director & Deputy Communications Director at Republican National Committee</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Julia Cotrone</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Special Assistant at Definers Public Affairs</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Geoff Embler</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Senior Vice President at Definers Public Affairs</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Colin Reed</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Campaign Manager at Scott Brown For Senate</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Alexandra Angel</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">VP at America Rising LLC</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Alex Conant</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Partner at Firehouse Strategies</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Nick Zanetti</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Researcher At Definers Corporation</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Tim Miller</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Communications Director at Jeb Bush 2016</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Michael Presutti</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Researcher at Definers Public Affairs</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"></font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">An Opposition Researcher for the GOP Reveals His Secrets</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">&nbsp; &nbsp; Joe Pounder @PounderFile&nbsp;</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">June 16, 2016</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Pounder is the President of Definers Public Affairs and America Rising LLC. He previously served as a Senior Adviser to Marco Rubio's presidential campaign and Research Director of the Republican National Committee.</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Joe Pounder on how he tries to derail candidates</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">The 2016 general election is just beginning to take shape, and already political commentators are asking: What new information could possibly come out that would actually change voters’ minds? We think we know Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. These candidates, their lives, their successes, and their controversies—from cattle futures to Atlantic City exploits—have made headlines for decades. But there is still plenty left to come.</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">In general, through required disclosures, online databases, and public records requests, more information is available about the public and private lives of candidates running for office today than ever before. Ready to comb through all the information and documents are legions of opposition researchers employed by both parties, which have had researchers gearing up for 2016 ever since the last election ended in 2012. Republicans and Democrats each created dedicated outside groups. The GOP’s America Rising, which I run, and the Democrats’ American Bridge have already spent millions looking into Hillary Clinton’s and Donald Trump’s pasts. (The Democratic National Committee recently had its own files on Trump hacked.) Both sides are actively touting their efforts. Their war chests are strong.</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">For those in my field, this is the presidential election of Big Oppo. Massive research files (our Clinton file is over 7,000 pages of distilled research and over 10,000 video clips) are ready to be shared with an American people who, because of social media and the diversification of news platforms, now have an insatiable appetite for more information. With a candidate like Hillary Clinton, we have very long records to search for opportunities. America Rising’s Clinton effort to date has meant an analysis of the public record, compilation of thousands of video clips, numerous state and federal records requests, and trips to more than a dozen states for field research. To win, the real question is where to start.</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Opposition research has always been a part of the political process. What’s new is the degree of professionalization on both sides, the transparency in the industry, and now the ability for every American to do it. The best video tracker—those persistent kids who trail candidates with video cameras and have the ability to change the course of an election—could be an everyday citizen in the first row while a candidate shakes hands, who uploaded a video to YouTube or used our organization’s new Grill app. Activists are increasingly doing their own splicing of facts and video together to create new narratives. News organizations are increasingly becoming more about opposition research than reporting.</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">In this Big Oppo election, a candidate must be prepared. While Clinton and Trump can seem larger than life to most people, for an opposition researcher, their records are no different than any other candidate. Their personal financial disclosures—documents each candidate is required to release—will be scrutinized for how they line up with their stated positions. How they managed their businesses, foundations, and time in government will be analyzed for opportunities. Every on-the-record comment, interview, and speech they ever made has been watched, tagged, and is ready to be exploited should they say one thing today inconsistent with something they said yesterday. For example, Clinton gave a disastrous interview to NPR about her ever-changing position on same-sex marriage, which we were able to exploit it because we already had on file everything she had ever said on the subject. Meanwhile, Donald Trump has been forced to reconcile positions on issues like Iraq and Libya with numerous past interviews.</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">The goals of having all this research are clear: Define your opponent early in voters’ minds; do not let your opponent get his or her message out; dominate the daily news cycle with research-driven rapid response attacks; and set the record straight in defense of your own boss. However, the most important goal is to provide case studies that reinforce the questions voters already have about either candidate’s character. For example, three years ago, America Rising made a clear determination that our research effort would look to drive questions around Hillary Clinton’s trustworthiness and honesty. Why? Our research showed that voters really did not like Clinton when she was viewed as a typical, out-of-touch politician. It was critical that we tapped into that inherent belief among voters. What we could not imagine was that Clinton had provided the best example by her own decision to use a home server for classified emails. At the same time, our counterparts at American Bridge and the Clinton campaign are just beginning the process of honing an anti-Trump message and field-testing slogans that might appeal to a wider non-Democrat primary audience.</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Not to be forgotten is that Clinton and Trump have been around for so long that much of their older records are not known to newer generations. People are voting today who barely remember Bill Clinton’s impeachment or weren’t tuning into The Apprentice.</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">How do you take down a presidential candidate? With compelling content the couples a candidate’s positive vision for the future of the country with a clear case for why your opponent can’t take the country forward. Ultimately, to win, a candidate’s message has to simply be better and more compelling than their opponent’s. Each campaign will have to constantly feed out new, negative information. Twitter and Facebook feeds must be fed. News sites must have news. And anchors need breaking scoops, while bloggers must have something to chatter about. And Big Oppo is here for them. There’s no escaping the Big Oppo election.</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">TIME Ideas hosts the world's leading voices, providing commentary on events in news, society, and culture. We welcome outside contributions. Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of TIME editors.</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">==</font></div></div>