Vietnam approved a Trump Organization plan to invest $1.5 billion in golf courses, hotels, and other real estate projects in the country as it negotiates tariff rates with the Trump administration
Donald TrumpTrump Administrationkleptocracycorruption
Donald Trump Jr. has amassed significant wealth and power through cryptocurrency ventures like World Liberty Financial and American Bitcoin, establishing himself as a major Washington power broker. His ventures include a World Liberty Financial stablecoin USD1 that became the fifth-largest globally, …
Donald TrumpDonald Trump Jr.Eric TrumpZach Witkoffcryptotrump-familyfinancial-capturecorporate-board
While Trump touted multi-billion dollar foreign investments in the US during his state visits across the Persian Gulf, a sizable portion of those investments were steered towards Trump family businesses like the Trump Organization and World Liberty Financial
Donald TrumpTrump Administrationcryptoforeign-influencegovernment-contracts
An extensive financial investigation revealed a sophisticated insider trading scheme involving the $MELANIA memecoin. 24 crypto wallets purchased $2.6 million in tokens just moments before the public launch, with one wallet tied to cryptocurrency entrepreneur Hayden Davis generating a $39 million …
Donald TrumpTrump AdministrationHayden DavisMelania Trumpcryptogovernment-contractsinsider-tradingfinancial-fraud
Warren Stephens’s, the US ambassador to the UK, family-owned investment firm holds at least $250 million worth of stock in agricultural and food companies that will benefit from the US-UK trade deal Trump announced this week
Donald TrumpTrump Administrationkleptocracycorruption
Qatar gave Donald Trump a $400 million Boeing 747 as a replacement for Air Force One, which Trump plans to keep as part of his presidential library after leaving office. The gift was certified as legal by Attorney General Pam Bondi, herself a former lobbyist for Qatar.
Donald TrumpQatarPam Bondipam-bondicorruptionqatarkleptocracyair-force-one+1 more
Trump is using his super PAC, which has raised more than $400 million, to consolidate even more control over the Republican party–stocking congressional Republican special interest groups with loyalists
Donald TrumpTrump Administrationkleptocracycorruption
Large institutional investors have increased their stakes in Trump Media to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars, despite the firm posting massive losses in 2024, in a possible attempt to curry favor with the president
Donald TrumpTrump Administrationkleptocracycorruption
The Trump administration has rapidly transformed the Securities and Exchange Commission through targeted staff reductions, with approximately 15% of staff already departed and plans for further contract cuts. The administration has implemented a $50,000 voluntary separation offer and imposed a …
Donald TrumpTrump AdministrationSEC Chairmanregulatory-capturegovernment-contractsinstitutional-transformationworkforce-reduction
Trump said he will pressure CEOs the same way he put the screws to Jeff Bezos after Amazon announced it would indicate the cost of tariffs in customer billing, if their business decisions are seen as unfriendly to his administration
At the Token2049 crypto conference in Dubai, World Liberty Financial (WLF) announced a landmark $2 billion investment from Abu Dhabi’s MGX sovereign fund, using their USD1 stablecoin. The deal involves Binance and features Eric Trump and Zach Witkoff as key participants, highlighting complex …
MGX sovereign fundTahnoun bin Zayed Al NahyanWorld Liberty FinancialDonald TrumpEric Trump+2 moreforeign-influencesovereign-wealthcryptouaestablecoin+2 more
Commissioner Allen Dickerson resigned on April 30, 2025, leaving the FEC with only three members and no quorum. Combined with Trump’s February firing of Ellen Weintraub and Sean Cooksey’s January resignation, the FEC cannot investigate complaints, conduct audits, levy fines, issue rules …
Federal Election Commission (FEC)Commissioner Allen Dickerson (resigned)Commissioner Ellen Weintraub (fired by Trump)Commissioner Sean Cooksey (resigned)Donald Trump+3 moreelection-oversightfec-quorumenforcement-shutdownregulatory-capturecampaign-finance
Paramount’s board–which is pursuing a merger deal with Skydance that would need DOJ’s signoff–cleared the path to settle Trump’s lawsuit that accuses 60 Minutes of “deceptively” editing its pre-election interview with Kamala Harris
Donald TrumpTrump Administrationkleptocracycorruption
Senate Democrats released a report detailing how Elon Musk’s companies could avoid more than $1.19 billion in potential legal and regulatory fines, highlighting systemic regulatory capture under the Trump administration. The report specifically focuses on Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) …
Donald TrumpElon MuskRichard BlumenthalEdward Markeygovernment-contractsregulatory-capturetech-industryfederal-investigation
Trump eliminated the independent board overseeing Hatch Act violations by removing Special Counsel Hampton Dellinger and replacing OSC leadership with partisan appointees like Doug Collins and Jamieson Greer. The administration rescinded prior enforcement policies, weakening accountability for …
Donald TrumpTrump AdministrationHampton DellingerPaul IngrassiaDoug Collins+2 morekleptocracytrump-administrationdemocratic-erosionhatch-actinstitutional-capture
President Trump announced a private dinner for the top 220 holders of his memecoin, causing the token’s price to spike 58% within an hour. The event raised significant concerns about potential market manipulation and foreign influence, prompting calls for DOJ and congressional investigations …
Donald TrumpTrump AdministrationCryptocurrency InvestorsSean CastenAdam Smith+4 morecryptomarket-manipulationpresidential-conflictsforeign-investment
In a landmark ruling on April 22, 2025, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals established unprecedented guidelines for presidential authority to federalize state National Guard troops. The decision significantly expanded executive power by upholding the president’s ability to deploy 4,000 …
Federal Appeals CourtGavin NewsomDepartment of DefenseCharles BreyerDonald Trump+1 morenational-guardfederalismmilitary-authorityconstitutional-crisisexecutive-power+1 more
For the first time in White House history, the Easter Egg Roll is sold to corporate sponsors, with tech giants Meta, Amazon, and YouTube purchasing sponsorships ranging from $75,000 to $200,000, raising significant ethical concerns about monetizing public events.
Donald TrumpMelania TrumpAmazonMetaYouTube+1 morekleptocracytrump-administrationexecutive-powercorporate-influencemonetization
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) underwent a massive restructuring under the Trump administration, with approximately 90% of its workforce (1,482 employees) laid off, reducing staff to around 200. A federal appeals court ruled in favor of these workforce reductions, despite challenges …
Donald TrumpElon MuskRussell VoughtNational Treasury Employees UnionMark Paoletta+2 moremedia-controlregulatory-capturegovernment-downsizingfinancial-oversightlegal-challenges
The Trump administration lifted US sanctions against Antal Rogán, a top Hungarian government official previously sanctioned for corruption, signaling a significant shift in diplomatic approach toward Hungary and potentially demonstrating geopolitical leverage.
Donald TrumpTrump AdministrationAntal RogánViktor OrbánMarco Rubiokleptocracysanctionsforeign-policytrump-administration
The Department of Justice announced a strategic realignment of white-collar crime enforcement, introducing a new framework with 10 targeted priority areas. While not a complete reduction, the policy involves resource constraints, shifting investigative focus, and implementing more efficient …
Donald TrumpTrump AdministrationMatthew GaleottiJames McHenry IIIcryptocorruptionforeign-influencejustice-weaponizationcorporate-crime+4 more
In an unprecedented move, the Trump family launched a multi-pronged cryptocurrency empire in 2025, establishing ventures including American Bitcoin Corp (a Bitcoin mining company), World Liberty Financial token, and multiple cryptocurrency projects spanning mining, NFTs, and stablecoins. The family …
Donald TrumpEric TrumpDonald Trump Jr.Trump Administrationcryptotrump-familyfinancial-capturebitcoinnft
Former Democratic donor and Silicon Valley investor Chamath Palihapitiya bragged on a podcast that his donations to Trump now grant him direct access to top White House officials, including the deputy chief of staff, citing a recent call made on behalf of a friend affected by tariffs
Donald TrumpTrump Administrationkleptocracycorruption
In a landmark series of rulings spanning multiple federal appeals courts and culminating on April 10, 2025, federal judges significantly reaffirmed and expanded legal frameworks for holding the executive branch accountable. The decisions centered on critical constitutional issues including …
Federal JudiciarySupreme CourtDepartment of JusticeRebecca SlaughterLisa Cook+2 morepresidential-accountabilityconstitutional-crisisjudicial-reviewlegal-precedentexecutive-power+1 more
Hours before announcing a 90-day tariff pause that sent markets soaring, Trump posted “THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO BUY!!! DJT” on Truth Social; the S&P 500 jumped 9.5%, with Trump Media stock skyrocketing 22.7%, netting Trump—via his 53% stake—over $400 million in a day
Donald TrumpTrump Administrationcorruptionkleptocracy
Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft was pressured by the Trump White House to provide $100 million in pro bono legal services to avoid punitive executive orders. The firm negotiated under threat, joining other major law firms capitulating to similar White House demands. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse …
Donald TrumpCadwalader, Wickersham & TaftSenator Sheldon WhitehouseTodd Blanchegovernment-contractslegal-system-captureexecutive-power-abuse
President Trump declared a national emergency under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977 (IEEPA) to impose sweeping ‘reciprocal tariffs,’ marking the first time in IEEPA’s 48-year history that a president used the emergency statute—designed for genuine national …
Donald TrumpSupreme Courtemergency-powersexecutive-overreachtrade-policyconstitutional-crisisinstitutional-capture
The State Department announced plans to pay Tesla $400 million for unspecified services, coming weeks after Trump systematically fired federal officials investigating Elon Musk’s companies. The payment followed the removal of FDA staffers reviewing Neuralink, EEOC leaders investigating Tesla …
State DepartmentTeslaElon MuskDonald Trumpelon-muskteslastate-departmentgovernment-contractsquid-pro-quo+1 more
Trump has granted full pardons to BitMEX co-founders Arthur Hayes, Benjamin Delo, and Samuel Reed, who were convicted of violating the Bank Secrecy Act for failing to implement anti-money laundering controls
Donald TrumpTrump Administrationcryptopardonregulatory-capture
On March 27, 2025, after posting an AI-generated image in Studio Ghibli anime style showing a crying Dominican woman being arrested by ICE, White House Deputy Communications Director Kaelan Dorr responded to criticism by establishing what would become the administration’s defining …
Kaelan DorrAbigail JacksonWhite HouseDonald Trumpwhite-housekaelan-dorrabigail-jacksontroll-culturegovernment-communications+4 more
World Liberty Financial, a cryptocurrency venture co-founded by Trump’s associates, announced the launch of USD1, a stablecoin pegged 1-to-1 to the U.S. dollar. The launch involves a strategic partnership with Binance and a $75 million investment from Justin Sun, raising significant concerns …
Donald TrumpZachary FolkmanChase HerroZach WitkoffJustin Sun+1 morecryptostablecoinfinancial-capturetrump-network
The 2025 White House Easter Egg Roll marked an unprecedented moment of corporate capture, with tech giants Meta, YouTube, and Amazon purchasing sponsorship packages ranging from $75,000 to $200,000. These packages included branded activation spaces, event brunch tickets, and potential meet-and-greet …
Donald TrumpTrump AdministrationMetaYouTubeAmazon+2 moregovernment-contractscorporate-accesstrump-administrationinstitutional-capturecorporate-sponsorship
Federal District Court in D.C. issued a landmark ruling challenging Trump administration’s unilateral National Guard deployment powers. U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer ruled that Trump violated the Posse Comitatus Act by sending National Guard troops to Los Angeles for immigration …
Federal District CourtDepartment of DefenseState GovernorsDonald Trump9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals+5 morenational-guardmilitary-authorityconstitutional-interpretationexecutive-powerjudicial-review+2 more
Elon Musk’s America PAC launched a controversial campaign offering Wisconsin voters $100 to sign a petition against ‘activist judges’, directly targeting the April 1 Wisconsin Supreme Court election. The campaign involves a $1 million voter outreach strategy, including $100 per …
World Liberty Financial, a crypto venture backed by Trump’s family, announced it raised $250 million in its second token sale, bringing total sales to $550 million. The project demonstrates potential conflicts of interest and regulatory capture in the cryptocurrency sector.
Donald TrumpTrump AdministrationWorld Liberty FinancialJustin Suncryptoworld-liberty-financialgovernment-contractscrypto-ventureregulatory-capture+3 more
Evan Feinman, who led the Commerce Department’s $42.5 billion broadband program, resigned warning that Trump is restructuring the initiative to benefit Elon Musk’s Starlink
Donald TrumpTrump Administrationregulatory-capturegovernment-contracts
Attorney General Pam Bondi threatened Tesla vandals with severe federal charges, characterizing the property destruction as potential ‘domestic terrorism’. The investigation targets coordinated attacks on Tesla vehicles and infrastructure across multiple states, with potential 20-year …
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick’s deep ties to the cryptocurrency industry have raised concerns about potential regulatory capture. Through his firm Cantor Fitzgerald and personal investments, Lutnick has significant financial interests in crypto firms while leading the Trump …
Donald TrumpHoward LutnickElizabeth WarrenTrump Administrationcryptoregulatory-capturetrump-administrationfinancial-corruption
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced on March 12, 2025, that the agency will undertake 31 sweeping deregulatory actions targeting decades of environmental and public health protections. Zeldin described it as “the biggest deregulatory action in U.S. history” and “the greatest and …
Lee ZeldinEPAEnvironmental Protection Agency (EPA)Donald TrumpNancy Beck+2 moreepaenvironmental-rollbackclimate-crisispollutionpublic-health+4 more
The Department of Transportation placed the $24 billion Verizon FAA contract under review, with Elon Musk positioning Starlink as a potential alternative vendor. This review comes amid claims about the existing communication system’s reliability and potential performance issues in air traffic …
Department of Government Efficiency attempted to dismantle the Consumer Financial Protection
Bureau through mass firings, but federal judges blocked the action and ordered reinstatement
of workers. The attempted dismantling affected 1,500 CFPB employees before court intervention.
Multiple judges …
Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)CFPBDonald TrumpTrump AdministrationFederal judgesregulatory-captureagency-dismantlingcourt-interventionworker-rights
The Justice Department fired Adam Cohen, director of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, continuing the Trump administration’s pattern of sidelining career civil servants. The dismissal occurred shortly after the DOJ announced a reorganization combining the task force with the …
Donald TrumpAdam CohenTodd Blancheregulatory-capturejustice-weaponizationcivil-service-purge
Cryptocurrency Tether went from target of government scrutiny to ally of Trump; it’s backed by Commerce Secretary Lutnick and now holds $140 billion in US Treasury bonds—making it the 17th-largest holder of US debt
Donald TrumpTrump Administrationcryptoregulatory-capturegovernment-contracts
President Trump signs Executive Orders 14231 and 14232 amending earlier tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports, citing illicit drug flows across northern and southern borders as justification. The orders expand February 1 tariff regime, using border security and drug enforcement rhetoric to justify …
Donald TrumpTrump Administrationexecutive-overreachtrade-policyborder-security-pretexteconomic-manipulation
President Trump issues executive order doubling tariffs on Chinese imports from 10 to 20 percent, citing synthetic opioid supply chain concerns. The tariff increase follows pattern of using national security and public health rhetoric to justify protectionist economic measures that benefit specific …
Donald TrumpTrump Administrationexecutive-overreachtrade-policyeconomic-manipulationnational-security-pretext
President Trump signed an executive order establishing a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, committing the U.S. government to stockpile Bitcoin, Ether, XRP, Solana, and Cardano. The reserve will be capitalized through forfeited assets and aims to position the U.S. as a global leader in cryptocurrency …
Donald TrumpTrump AdministrationTreasury DepartmentU.S. Department of Commercecryptostrategic-reservedigital-assetstrump-administration