THE HEAVYWEIGHT: CHARLIE KIRK has been a fixture in Trump world for years. But look past the surface, and you'll see he's quietly become the most influential player outside the administration whose last name isn't Trump or Musk.
The article from Politico's West Wing Playbook discusses the significant influence of Larry Fink, CEO of BlackRock, in the financial and political arenas, despite not being as publicly recognized as figures like Donald Trump or Elon Musk. Fink has been instrumental in shaping economic policy through his leadership at BlackRock, the world's largest asset manager, which manages over $10 trillion in assets. His influence extends to advising on major economic issues, including retirement security, climate change, and infrastructure investment. Recently, Fink has been engaging with key political figures, including a meeting with President Joe Biden, focusing on retirement policy. His approach combines a focus on long-term investment strategies with a keen interest in public policy, making him a pivotal figure in discussions about the future of capitalism and economic governance. However, his influence also attracts criticism, particularly from those wary of the power wielded by large financial institutions in policy-making.