Caribbean Issues Podcast

The Lobbyist's Paradise

The Lobbyist's Paradise - Episode 4 - The Kid Who Went Viral At Twelve

September 4, 2026 · Episode 4

Published by Caribbean IssuesEditorially reviewedCaribbean Governance, Politics and CARICOM

Key takeaway

CJ Pearson’s appointment shows how viral visibility and partisan access can be converted into a paid foreign-influence role, raising questions about what Caribbean governments receive for public money.

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Caribbean Governance, Politics and CARICOM

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Detailed show notes

At twelve years old, CJ Pearson became an internet sensation after publishing a political video attacking President Barack Obama. Before he was old enough to vote, he had built a public brand through viral videos, television appearances, controversy and social-media influence. Now, at twenty-three, Pearson has re-emerged as a registered foreign agent working to strengthen relations between the Government of The Bahamas and the United States, reportedly earning $20,000 a month. Episode 4 traces how viral fame became a professional credential, how creators are being absorbed into Washington’s lobbying industry, and what a Caribbean government may be purchasing when it hires an American political influencer. It investigates political branding, public money, foreign lobbying and the increasingly blurred line between advocacy, entertainment and international diplomacy.

This episode is part of Caribbean Issues’ Caribbean-first coverage for listeners across the region and Caribbean diaspora communities worldwide.

Questions explored

Episode chapters

  1. 00:00 The Influencer Video That Wasn’t Organic
  2. 01:10 The $20,000-a-Month Foreign-Agent Filing
  3. 02:20 Who Is CJ Pearson?
  4. 03:31 The ‘Overnight Sensation’ Myth
  5. 04:33 Learning Retail Politics Before High School
  6. 06:21 Renouncing Conservatism and Rebranding
  7. 07:42 Journalism, Media and a Return to the Right
  8. 09:12 Ideology as the Vehicle, Influence as the Skill
  9. 10:30 Building a Creator-Led Political Agency
  10. 12:06 The Power 30 Awards Controversy
  11. 14:05 Turning an Attack into a Trademark
  12. 14:40 Monetising Outrage and Hostile Attention
  13. 17:04 Why Foreign Governments Want Creator Networks
  14. 18:30 FARA Compliance Versus Audience Transparency
  15. 19:40 The Wider Shadow-Influence Industry
  16. 20:11 Final Question and Closing

Episode transcript

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Source and publication notes

Published and editorially reviewed by Caribbean Issues on September 4, 2026. The original episode page is the authoritative source for the audio, complete platform notes, and any subsequent corrections or updates.

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Podcast

The Lobbyist's Paradise - Episode 5 - Everybody's Doing It

The Bahamas’ $1.25 million lobbying contract is not an isolated scandal. It is one price point in a global market where governments buy proximity, attention and narrative reach—often without clear evidence that the spending works. WHAT THIS FINALE EXAMINES This final episode widens the lens beyond The Bahamas. It follows Continental Strategy’s work for Guyana, Haiti and the Dominican Republic; compares those retainers with Kenya’s higher monthly spend; and examines the firm’s mix of government and controversial corporate clients. The investigation then turns to Israel’s far larger influence campaign involving former Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale, before contrasting formal foreign-agent contracts with an influencer trip to Qatar. The result is not a simple verdict on whether lobbying works. It is a public ledger of what governments believe access, visibility and narrative influence are worth—and a question about whether paid access has quietly become a routine form of diplomacy. QUESTIONS EXPLORED • How much are Caribbean and other governments paying to be heard in Washington? • What do foreign governments believe lobbying firms and political influencers can deliver? • How do formal FARA-registered contracts differ from informal influence campaigns? • Is paid access now a routine form of diplomacy, and is there evidence that it works? • Where did Caribbean Issues’ reporting find a claim that could not be independently verified? EPISODE CHAPTERS 00:00 — The zoom-out: The Bahamas is not the exception 03:40 — Continental Strategy’s Caribbean book 18:18 — The client list nobody mentions 26:51 — What fifty million dollars actually buys 42:43 — Qatar and the informal influence market 50:02 — The invoice—and the question diplomacy cannot avoid REPORTING NOTE Earlier reporting named Grenada among Caribbean governments said to have hired Trump-aligned lobbyists. Across five episodes of research, Caribbean Issues could not independently verify a specific Grenada FARA filing or contract. This episode states that limitation plainly rather than presenting the claim as established fact. The chapter times above follow the final 56-minute audio edit. Read the companion investigation and source notes: https://caribbeanissues.com/articles/the-lobbyists-paradise-inside-the/ Editorial standards and corrections policy: https://caribbeanissues.com/editorial-standards/ This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or preferably a paid subscriber. To hear more, visit caribbeanissues.substack.com

Podcast

The Lobbyist's Paradise - Episode 2 - The Hospital

Episode 2 of “The Lobbyist’s Paradise,” titled “ The Hospital ,” examines how a healthcare project became a geopolitical flashpoint and the primary catalyst for the Bahamian government’s $1.25 million lobbying contract with DCI Group. The episode shifts the focus from the lobbyists in Washington to 50 acres of land at Perpall Tract in New Providence, the site of the proposed New Providence Specialty Hospital . This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or preferably a paid subscriber. The episode is structured into four key segments: * The Three-Year Search: The narrative debunks the idea that the government chose China over the United States on a whim. Health Minister Dr. Michael Darville details a three-year search for financing that included “highest level” engagements with the U.S. Export-Import Bank, which failed to produce a viable offer. Ultimately, the government accepted a $195 million loan from the China Export-Import Bank with highly favourable terms: 2% interest over 20 years with a five-year grace period. * The Fiscal Reality: The episode reveals a “staggering” fiscal reality based on a feasibility study obtained by Tribune Business . While the hospital is a critical public health investment for maternal and child care, it is not a commercial one; the study found a negative net present value of $163.24 million . Furthermore, the hospital’s annual operating cost is projected at $68.651 million , with only 3.7% covered by user fees, leaving Bahamian taxpayers to subsidize the remaining 96%. * The Diplomatic Flashpoint: The central conflict involves U.S. Ambassador Herschel Walker , who issued a public warning in February 2026. His primary concern was that the $278 million project was governed by Chinese law and jurisdiction rather than Bahamian courts. Despite Walker offering U.S. assistance to “secure a better deal,” the government moved forward with a groundbreaking ceremony on April 17, 2026, featuring the state-owned China Railway Construction Company . The U.S. Embassy subsequently expressed disappointment, questioning the decision to “rush forward” with a deal they claimed compromised Bahamian sovereignty. * The Strategic Link: The episode concludes by connecting these events to the DCI Group lobbying contract . Signed on March 24, the contract was finalised in the narrow window between the Ambassador’s first warning and the hospital’s groundbreaking. The hosts suggest the $1.25 million retainer—including the hiring of Roger Stone —functioned as “insurance” to manage the fallout of a major diplomatic rift during an election year. Thanks for reading! This post is public so feel free to share it. Ultimately, the episode highlights the difficult choices small states face when caught between superpowers, especially when a primary ally fails to provide a competing offer for essential infrastructure. To hear more, visit caribbeanissues.substack.com

Podcast

The Lobbyist's Paradise - Episode 1 - The Protection Racket

The Lobbyist's Paradise A 5-Episode Podcast Series This podcast examines a $1.25 million lobbying contract signed by the government of The Bahamas with the American firm DCI Group . The agreement notably features high-profile figures like Roger Stone and influencer CJ Pearson to manage diplomatic relations during a period of heightened tension with the United States . These tensions stemmed from a $278 million hospital project funded by Chinese loans , which drew public criticism from the U.S. ambassador regarding national sovereignty. It highlights the strategic timing of the contract, as it was finalised just weeks before a general election where the ruling party secured a second term. Ultimately, it explores the complex trade-offs small nations face when navigating the geopolitical rivalry between global superpowers . Episode 1 - The Protection Racket Explores a $1.25 million, five-month contract signed by the Bahamian government with the Washington-based lobbying firm DCI Group AZ . Signed on March 24, 2026, by Permanent Secretary Cresswell Sturrup, the contract authorised the firm to provide "communications and government-affairs services" to help The Bahamas "build stronger relations with the United States". The episode focuses on three primary figures registered under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) for this deal: Roger Stone : A 73-year-old, long-time political adviser to Donald Trump, who was paid $100,000 per month . CJ Pearson : A 23-year-old MAGA influencer with a decade of media experience, paid $20,000 per month . Doug Davenport : A former Trump administration attorney and senior adviser at DCI. The sources highlight that the contract was signed in the middle of a diplomatic crisis involving the construction of the New Providence Specialty Hospital . The project was financed by a $195 million loan from the China Export-Import Bank governed by Chinese law, which drew public condemnation from U.S. Ambassador Herschel Walker . The Bahamian government maintained they turned to China only after the U.S. failed to provide a viable financing offer. Furthermore, the episode examines the political timing of the agreement, noting it was signed only seven weeks before the May 12th general election . The hosts discuss whether the $1.25 million retainer was a necessary "crisis-management" tool to handle strained U.S. relations—including a 10% tariff on exports and federal indictments of Bahamian officials—or an attempt to prevent the rift with Washington from becoming an electoral liability . Ultimately, the episode leaves it unresolved whether the investment was a strategic success or if the country was "fleeced" for access. To hear more, visit caribbeanissues.substack.com