So you dislike the word lobbying being used here, based on a seemingly pretty specific understanding of what that means.
Lobbying can happen in many ways, and have many different implications. It certainly sounds like it didn’t happen as a result of company/executive action (and at least Tavis believes that), and neither parent, gp or ggp claim so (in fact they agree the opposite is the case).
I rarely have casual discussions with friends working at regulatory agencies that come back to haunt other people. I also don’t think the word “lobbied” was used in a harmful or particularly egregious way, especially considering the context in which it was used (and explained).