Story’s not in Washington; politicians are.
The LCB’s an independent Washington, DC-based digital, broadcast and new media wire service that blows up the internet for understaffed newsrooms. We partner with regional, national and specialty newsrooms to deliver original reporting, exclusive interviews and localized policy coverage.
Founded by veteran journalist and new media Lecturer Matt Laslo, who has covered Congress for more than 100 outlets since 2006.
The LCB in action
Outlaw Report: Cannabis Caucus founder says ‘strong support’ growing in Senate for marijuana banking reforms
The LCB’s Matt Laslo covers marijuana for Outlaw Report
MJ Biz Daily: Schumer’s marijuana reform bill poised to fail without more GOP support
Marijuana Business Daily has relied on Washington, DC based news service The LCB and its founder, Matt Laslo, to break cannabis news from the nation’s capital for the new media outlet.
Marijuana Reform Died but Senate Dems Found Wedge Issue
Marijuana Reform Died but Senate Dems Found Wedge Issue. Top Senate Democrats – including Majority Leader Chuck Schumer who hails from New York City – are now vowing to shelve the bipartisan SAFE Banking Act until they can also pass social equity protections for cannabis companies. Many advocates say they’re playing politics, and putting Wall Street above, say, Crenshaw Blvd.
Dem on Dem Marijuana Banking Battle: Racial Justice vs. Big Banks
Dem on Dem Marijuana Banking Battle: Racial Justice vs. Big Banks — House Democrats passed a marijuana banking measure for the fifth time this week, but its chances are dim in the Senate thanks to progressive Democrats who say no handout to Wall Street until Congress addresses the racial injustices foundational to the War on Drugs.
The Democratic Resistance to Marijuana
The Democratic Resistance to Marijuana. GOP leaders continue to disregard marijuana’s popularity with their voters, but that doesn’t mean Democrats have successfully laid claim to one of the most broadly popular issues in today’s hyper, hyper-partisan political arena.
Chameleons in Our Midst: The Evolution of America’s Anti-Marijuana Lobby
Chameleons in Our Midst: The Evolution of America’s Anti-Marijuana Lobby. Smart Approaches to Marijuana, or SAM, lost the war against legalization. Now, the anti-pot group is devoting its vast resources and energy to a new front in the fight: capping the levels of THC in marijuana products. By Alex Thomas and Matt Laslo
The Gun Debate Washington Isn’t Having
The Gun Debate Washington Isn’t Having. Unlike some GOP governors in recent years, Republicans on Capitol Hill refuse to even entertain gun safety measures. Strangely, polls steadily show that puts GOP lawmakers out of touch with the vast majority of their voters. They don’t care, though, which becomes clear when you look at the effort to increase background checks on firearm sales.
In Spite of Defeat, AOC Says Vote on Her Psychedelic Bill “a leap” Forward
In Spite of Defeat, AOC Says Vote on Her Psychedelic Bill “a leap” Forward: Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez saw her amendment promoting research into an array of drugs defeated for the second time this week, but she’s elated because math is done differently in Washington. Matt Laslo exclusive feature.
Forget “Defund the Police” — Two Dems say “Defund War on Drugs”
Forget “Defund the Police” — Two Dems say “Defund War on Drugs” Reps. Cori Bush and Bonnie Watson Coleman say after 50 years of a failed ‘war on drugs,’ it’s time to flip the script on police and remove the very policy that’s enabled the unequal enforcement of American justice.
Red State Trend: Mississippi Supreme Court Strikes Down Marijuana Ballot Measure
The DEA’s proud of the Mississippi Supreme Court for overruling the will of voters on cannabis and marijuana legalization.
AOC Upset Sens. Cornyn & Cruz Open to Rick Perry’s Call for Shroom Research, Not Hers
AOC Upset Sens. Cornyn & Cruz Open to Rick Perry’s Call for Shroom Research, Not Hers
How Post-Capitol Riot Politics Derailed a Bi-Partisan Opioid Bill
Opioid politics have always been bad but only gor worse after the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol as Rep. Madeleine Dean and her son Harry Cunnane exclusively recount to Matt Laslo.
No One Knows Where President Biden is on Marijuana
President Joe Biden despised marijuana despite promissing medicinal benefits
Gov. Ricketts isn’t Alone in Spreading Marijuana Myths – Here are Some Facts
Marijuana’s More Popular than Politicians
AOC and Matt Gaetz Allies in New Front in War on Marijuana
Cannabis. By Lizzy Oakley Photography
Presidential Debate Reveals the Stigma Around Addiction in US
The worst part was that the nearly half a million lives lost to the opioid epidemic over the past two decades were only brought into the debate as dueling punchlines. So too were the millions of Americans still struggling with addiction to opioids – a bipartisan, government subsidized killer.
AOC and Pressley Say Dem Leaders Caved to McConnell on Marijuana Vote
Progressive “Squad” members Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ayanna Pressley accuse Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her leadership team of merely playing into Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s hands on drug and marijuana policy
RBG’s Criminal Justice Legacy has Dems Fearing Trump’s SCOTUS Pick
The death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has upended Washington just weeks ahead of the 2020 election. President Donald Trump and Senate Republicans – led by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell – are rushing to replace her, even as her dying wish was to have the winner of the election pick her replacement. And Democrats are scrambling to try and delay replacing her.
BREAKING — VICE News: Musicians are begging Mitch McConnell to save live music before it’s too late
During COVID pandemic, LCB founder Matt Laslo broke national news for VICE News through his connections with Kentucky’s band scene, local venue owners nationwide and then-Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnnell