special interest

plural special interests

1. A particular political issue that is the focus of political advocacy.
2. A self-serving group with political power; especially, a shadowy one.

   Near-synonym: lobby

   2 more examples

   And they're going to get the news--the true news--quickly and simply and entertainingly. And no special interests will be allowed to interfere with the truth of that news.

   1941, Citizen Kane

   Next week, the Senate Appropriations Committee will decide whether to allow special interests rather than science — to determine which foods can be provided through the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC).

   2014, Renee E. Fox, “Support science, not potato special interests”, in Baltimore Sun

   Synonyms: lobby

3. A particular highly focused interest of an autistic person.

   I'm dating a boy called Nick whose special interest is video games; he won't stop talking about Pokémon.

   Synonyms: spin, spinterest

4. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see special, interest.