CAA, an Agency for the Political Left

The Creative Artists Agency (CAA) is considered one of the most impactful and largest talent agencies both nationally and internationally. It features a renowned clientele and significant influence across the various sectors of the entertainment industry. Among its clients are major Hollywood personalities Ariana Grande and Will Smith. Additionally, on March 2, 2025, CAA client Adrien Brody received critical acclaim: winning the Oscar for Best Actor for his performance in The Brutalistclin.

Moreover, the agency recently expanded its roster by signing former Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Joe Biden in early 2025. The Hollywood Reporter reported that the firm’s goal in working with Harris was to create “strategic opportunities that expand her platform in support of the issues she has championed throughout decades-long career in public service.”

This move provides further evidence of the for-profit agency’s support for Democratic politicians and left-of-center policies, particularly in light of the current political and cultural shifts in the United States.

Political Left Clients

Since its founding in the mid-1970s, Creative Artists Agency has evolved from focusing on the television and film industries to expanding its reach into sports and theater.

CAA’s involvement in politics is not new. While its signings of Harris and Biden reinforced its position as a key player in shaping public figures’ media presence, the agency’s relationship with politicians dates back decades. For example, in 1993 the agency hosted a speech about the role of entertainment by then-President Bill Clinton.

CAA also owned a minority stake in SS&K, during which .

During the 2016 presidential campaign, CAA managing partner Bryan Lourd hosted a fundraiser for Hillary Clinton, and CAA agents Michael Kives and Darnell Strom were prominent donors to her campaign.

The agency had to 2020, handling his book tour for Promise Me, Dad and supporting his speaking engagements. Biden’s return to CAA continued the agency’s involvement in shaping the public image of political figures, positioning them alongside A-list celebrities such as  .

In 2025, Richard Lovett, co-chairman of CAA, in partnering again with former President Biden, highlighting what he characterized as Biden’s status as “one of America’s most respected and influential voices in national and global affairs.”

Financial Support

CAA’s political influence extends beyond representation, providing financial contributions to candidates and causes that are aligned with the agency’s beliefs.

According to OpenSecrets, the firm has been associated with political contributions totaling $5,679,501 since 1990, with over 90 percent directed to Democratic candidates. Notably, from 2014 to 2022, CAA’s support for Republican candidates decreased from 9.46 percent to 0.17 percent. For example, individuals associated with CAA contributed $284,327 to Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign and $127,837 to Joe Biden’s 2020 presidential run. From 2012 to 2022, CAA personnel contributed $228,311 to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.

According to TheWrap, citing a Bloomberg report, CAA emerged as Hillary Clinton’s “go-to institutional donor in Hollywood” during the 2016 presidential campaign, reporting that more than 50 staffers had contributed over $80,000 combined by mid-2015.

The CAA Foundation, CAA’s philanthropic grantmaking arm, further reflects the group’s left-of-center ideological bent by supporting initiatives focused on race and gender-specific social policies, environmental and climate change advocacy, and other issues. In 2020, the foundation contributed $90,000 to the Entertainment Industry Foundation, a left-leaning grantmaking organization that receives funding from the broader entertainment sector. Additionally, in recent years the CAA Foundation has given to left-of-center groups such as the .

Cultural Shifts?

Although both the political and cultural landscapes have recently shifted more toward the right-of-center, CAA’s influence continues to grow stronger. Whether through high-profile political signings, Hollywood stars, philanthropy, or cultural impact, the agency has solidified its position as a powerbroker capable of shaping the future of both Hollywood and Washington. The grip that left-of-center institutions maintain on Western popular culture remains strong, and it is unlikely to change due to just one election.

Source: https://capitalresearch.org/article/caa-an-agency-for-the-political-left/