Your congressional baseball game ticket is probably bought by a lobbyist
Look, the Congressional Baseball Game is an institution here in Washington, D.C. It’s a chance for Members of Congress to pretend they’re regular people, out there on the field, not debating the finer points of the national debt. But here’s the thing: while they’re playing, the money behind the scenes is anything but regular. This year, the sponsorships for the game read like a K Street directory.
Here’s what the money says:
* The second and third biggest lobbying firms by revenue are on the sponsor list. Think of the names you see etched on the brass plaques in the lobbies of office buildings from McPherson Square down to the Capitol. They’re there. * Three of the largest corporate lobbying spenders in the last year are also sponsoring the game. These are the giants whose policy teams have offices just off DuPont Circle, and who pay top dollar for tables at the Monocle. * This isn't a new phenomenon. The Congressional Baseball Game has a long history of drawing big-money sponsors. It's prime real estate for influence.
What This Means for Washington, D.C.
This isn't just about baseball. This is about access. The optics of the game are about bipartisanship and charity, which is true to a point. But the reality is, the money flowing into this event comes from the same entities that spend millions trying to shape policy outcomes in the very building these members work in. It’s a subtle reminder of who is always at the table, even when the lights are on a baseball field instead of in a hearing room. For anyone commuting on the Orange Line and seeing the Capitol dome every morning, it’s a peek behind the curtain of how things really operate.
Follow the money.
Catch Sarah and the team breaking down the numbers every morning – tune in live at mornings.live.