John Thune embodies the rail industry’s Washington influence machine that could now kill bipartisan safety legislation.
by Julia Rock, Jordan Uhl, and, Matthew Cunningham-Cook, The Lever
In 2004, a registered lobbyist for a railroad corporation got himself elected to the U.S. Senate, and then he promptly helped his former client become eligible for billions in cheap federal loans in the wake of the company’s hazmat train derailment. The same Republican lawmaker later spearheaded the effort to repeal a major rail safety rule while becoming one of the Senate’s top recipients of campaign cash from the industry.
Now, Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) is once again going to bat for the industry, positioning himself as a key obstacle to the most substantial rail safety initiative considered by Congress in years.

Thune, the second highest ranking Republican in the upper chamber, has been critical of the bipartisan push for quick and expansive legislation in the wake of the East Palestine, Ohio, train derailment that has rocked national politics.
“We’ll take a look at what’s being proposed, but an immediate quick response heavy on regulation needs to be thoughtful and targeted,” Thune told The Hill, echoing his earlier comments to CNN insisting that lawmakers should wait to “get the facts, and then figure out what, if anything, needs to be changed.”
Recent Posts
Holding The Weapons Industry Responsible For War Crimes
May 14, 2025
Take Action Now The weapons industry’s influence runs deep. It is fueled by campaign donations and a revolving door between government and industry.……
The Careerism That Enabled Biden’s Reelection Run Still Poisons the Democratic Party
May 14, 2025
Take Action Now Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson’s new book Original Sin reveals top White House aides lying to journalists and trying to gaslight the…
Qatar Is Bribing Trump With A Big Plane
May 13, 2025
Take Action Now What does Qatar want with its offer to give Trump a replacement for Air Force One?By Sarah Anderson, In These Times Donald Trump…
A Hopkins Professor Says America’s Descent Into Authoritarianism May Have Started With Policing In Blue Cities.
May 13, 2025
Take Action Now As the Trump administration continues to press the boundaries of the Constitution, Johns Hopkins Professor Lester Spence says we need…