Congressional Democrats are currently looking at a 181-page dossier that lists hundreds of executives and companies for potential investigation once they take control of the House and Senate next year, the Washington Sun reports. This document, produced by the think tank Groundwork Collaborative, suggests the party should shift its focus toward probing large corporations instead of only centering on President Donald Trump.
The roadmap is the beginning of a larger internal debate regarding how the party should use its investigatory authority. While some Democrats feel the party should continue to focus on the scandals of President Donald Trump, such as his renovations of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and dismantling of the Kennedy Center, the Groundwork document argues for a wider approach. It was written by former staffers for Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders and suggests that targeting corporate behavior is the right move to address the cost-of-living crisis.
Alex Jacquez, senior vice president at Groundwork, mentioned that focusing on the personal scandals of the president is not motivating to most people. He stated, “Trump’s Qatari jet, his ballroom, the Reflecting Pool renovations — those take a lot of Beltway energy that is not interesting or motivating to anybody but hard-core Democrats who already hate Trump.” He added, “We need to be laser-focused on the pain points and the corporations people blame for jacking up their prices, and that means using the tools of Congress to confront them.”
The document suggests a series of high-profile hearings where executives from health care, energy, and tech firms are brought before cameras
The goal of these hearings would often be to press these leaders to resign or pay restitution to consumers. The dossier specifically proposes looking into online sports gambling companies regarding their use of artificial intelligence, landlord executives regarding junk fees, and grocery chains regarding consumer data.
Not everyone in the party agrees with this broad strategy. Some moderate Democrats fear that an aggressive anti-business stance could alienate voters. Ben Ritz, vice president of the Progressive Policy Institute, noted that the Biden administration’s past actions may have driven allies away.
Ritz said, “The Biden administration really put out this vibe of being anti-business by pursuing ideological hobby horses instead of growth and getting the cost of living down.” He also warned that it cannot be a message of, “Corporate America is the source of all your problems,” because most people rely on these firms for paychecks and products that make their lives better.
Jim Kessler, executive vice president for policy at Third Way, suggested that having too many targets might confuse the public. He argued that the party should focus on fewer, bigger targets to remain effective.
Rep. Jamie Raskin, the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, told The Washington Sun that his staff is reviewing opportunities but also downplayed the idea of attacking specific businesses. He stated, “We’re not targeting particular corporations. We’re targeting systems and networks of corruption, and to the extent corporations are involved, they are subject to the oversight project of Congress and our subpoena authority like everyone else.”
Despite these concerns, there is significant momentum for this approach among party leadership. Several key figures who are expected to lead major committees, including Sens. Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Sheldon Whitehouse, and Ron Wyden, are positioned to advance these investigations.
Lindsay Owens, executive director of Groundwork, believes that economic populism is growing and that the public wants to see corporate accountability. She said, “The American people are clear that corporate greed is behind rising prices, and they want to see it held to account. We’re talking resignations of major CEOs, hauling people in, material restitution. Economic populism is ascendant.”
Published: Nov 6, 2026 04:00 am