CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss pulls a 60 Minutes investigative segment about deportee abuse at El Salvador’s CECOT prison approximately three hours before its scheduled Sunday night broadcast. The segment, reported by veteran correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi, featured interviews with …
Bari WeissCBS News60 MinutesSharyn AlfonsiStephen Miller+3 moremedia-captureself-censorshipimmigrationcecot-prisondeportation+3 more
The Trump administration has dropped, withdrawn, or halted enforcement actions against over 100 corporations in its first year, establishing a systematic pattern of protection for companies that donated to Trump’s inauguration. Regulatory enforcement against financial services fell 37% in the …
Trump AdministrationDepartment of JusticeSecurities and Exchange Commission (SEC)Federal Trade Commission (FTC)corporate-impunityregulatory-captureenforcement-collapsecorruptionpay-to-play
On November 20, 2025, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit granted an emergency administrative stay blocking the release of up to 615 immigrants detained in the Chicago area, just one day before they were scheduled to be freed under a federal district court order. The appellate …
7th Circuit Court of AppealsJudge Jeffrey CummingsTrump AdministrationDepartment of Homeland SecurityImmigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)+2 morejudicial-oversightappeals-courtimmigration-enforcementconsent-decreeoperation-midway-blitz+4 more
On October 25, 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement deported Chanthila “Shawn” Souvannarath, 44, to Laos in direct violation of a federal court order issued just one day earlier. Chief Judge Shelly D. Dick of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana had issued a …
Chanthila "Shawn" SouvannarathChief Judge Shelly D. DickImmigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)ACLU of LouisianaTrump Administration+1 moreicecourt-defiancerule-of-law-erosiondeportationtorture+5 more
Florida officials concealed a $608 million federal funding request for an immigration detention facility nicknamed ‘Alligator Alcatraz,’ misleading courts about federal involvement to bypass environmental safeguards and legal challenges. The DeSantis administration’s secrecy …
The Trump administration established a pattern of targeting political adversaries through the Federal Housing Finance Agency with mortgage fraud investigations. Beyond Letitia James’s indictment, the pattern includes investigations against Fed Governor Lisa Cook and Senator Adam Schiff, all …
Federal Magistrate Judge Zia Faruqui reveals an unprecedented collapse in prosecutorial standards under U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro’s leadership in Washington D.C. Of the over 4,000 cases charged by complaint between 2014 and 2024, DOJ moved to dismiss fewer than 20—less than 0.5%. In just …
Jeanine PirroZia FaruquiDepartment of JusticeTrump Administrationprosecutorial-misconductinstitutional-capturedoj-politicizationfourth-amendment-violationsgrand-jury-rejections+1 more
OMB Director Russ Vought systematically used government shutdown planning to execute mass federal purges, cancel funding, block oversight, and reclassify workers across agencies according to the Project 2025 framework. This represents a deliberate conversion of the Office of Management and Budget …
Russ VoughtOffice of Management and Budget (OMB)Trump AdministrationCongressinstitutional-capturesystematic-corruptionexecutive-overreachproject-2025-implementation
Pope Leo XIV delivered a powerful critique of American political hypocrisy on October 1, 2025, declaring that support for harsh immigration enforcement is fundamentally incompatible with pro-life values. Speaking in the context of the controversy surrounding Senator Dick Durbin receiving an award …
Pope Leo XIVTrump AdministrationWhite HouseSenator Dick DurbinCatholic Churchpope-leo-xivimmigrationpro-lifecatholic-churchchicago+4 more
The DOJ Antitrust Division and Federal Trade Commission announced they had identified over 125 federal regulations for review and potential elimination under Trump’s Executive Order on Reducing Anti-Competitive Regulatory Barriers. The initiative represents a systematic dismantling of …
Department of JusticeFederal Trade Commission (FTC)Trump Administrationderegulationantitrustregulatory-capturecorporate-welfare
On September 16, 2025, former Special Counsel Jack Smith delivered his first public remarks since leaving the Department of Justice in a speech at George Mason University, warning that “the rule of law is under attack like in no other period in our lifetimes.” NPR exclusively obtained a …
Jack SmithDepartment of JusticeGeorge Mason UniversityTrump Administrationdojrule-of-lawinstitutional-capturepolitical-prosecutionspecial-counsel+1 more
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick announced plans to extract government equity stakes from major corporations like Intel and Lockheed Martin in exchange for federal support, using tariffs and export licenses as pressure tools through a secretive ‘Investment Accelerator’ initiative. …
Howard LutnickDepartment of CommerceIntelLockheed MartinTrump Administrationinstitutional-capturecorporate-coercionregulatory-extortionsystematic-corruption
The EPA terminated all union contracts on August 8, 2025, immediately after the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals stayed a lower court injunction blocking Trump’s March executive order. EPA became the second federal agency (after VA) to cancel collective bargaining for its employees, affecting …
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)AFGE Council 238 (8,000+ EPA workers)Justin Chen (AFGE Council 238 President)Ninth Circuit Court of AppealsNAGE, ESC, NAIL unions+1 morelabor-suppressionepaunion-bustingcollective-bargainingappellate-stays+2 more
MAGA Inc., a pro-Trump super PAC, raised $177 million in the first half of this year from donors who have exchanged their patronage for access to the president–and, at times, policy outcomes, pardons, and ambassadorships
Donald TrumpTrump Administrationkleptocracycorruption
Nicholas Kent, formerly a policy officer at for-profit college association CECU, was sworn in as Under Secretary of Education, signaling potential deregulation and reduced oversight of higher education institutions. The Senate confirmed his nomination with a narrow 50-45 vote, amid concerns about …
Donald TrumpNicholas KentTrump Administrationcorruptionregulatory-captureeducationtrump-administrationfor-profit-colleges
Trump Media and Technology Group purchased $2 billion worth of bitcoin and related securities in an effort to become a crypto treasury company– –joining other Trump-family linked businesses pursuing the same strategy
Donald TrumpTrump Administrationcryptomedia-controlregulatory-capturegovernment-contracts
The Supreme Court issued a 6-3 stay allowing the Trump administration to proceed with mass federal workforce reductions at 22 agencies, overturning a preliminary injunction issued by Judge Susan Illston. The decision enabled immediate implementation of layoffs that had been blocked as likely …
Supreme CourtTrump AdministrationAmerican Federation of Government Employeessupreme-courtcivil-serviceinstitutional-dismantlingjudicial-enablement
Donald Trump’s second inaugural fund received over $19 million from fossil fuel companies, including $2 million from Chevron and $1 million donations from ExxonMobil, ConocoPhillips, and Occidental Petroleum. These donations came after Trump promised oil executives at a Mar-a-Lago meeting …
Donald TrumpTrump AdministrationChevronExxonMobilConocoPhillips+1 moreregulatory-capturegovernment-contractsfossil-fuelscampaign-finance
Trump administration’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” signed July 4, 2025 expanded SNAP work requirements to ages 18-64, affecting parents with children 14+, veterans, homeless individuals, and former foster youth. CBO projects 2.4-3 million Americans will lose benefits. Simultaneously …
Trump AdministrationUSDADepartment of Health and Human Servicessnapfood-assistancework-requirementshead-startproject-2025
In Trump v. CASA de Maryland, the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 to significantly restrict the ability of federal district courts to issue nationwide injunctions blocking executive branch policies. The decision represents a major expansion of presidential power and reduction in judicial checks on executive …
Supreme CourtTrump AdministrationCASA de Marylandsupreme-courtexecutive-powerjudicial-reviewnationwide-injunctions
Brookings June 26, 2025, analysis warned Trump’s deployment of 700 Marines and 4,000 federalized National Guard to LA violates Posse Comitatus Act. Trump invoked 10 USC §12406 (not Insurrection Act) claiming “inherent constitutional authority” to protect federal property. …
Brookings InstitutionLegal scholarsDepartment of DefenseDepartment of Homeland SecurityTrump Administrationanalysiscivil-militaryinsurrection-actposse-comitatuslegal-analysis+2 more
Trump’s net worth has doubled to $5.4 billion since returning to office as he commercializes the presidency through luxury product sales, foreign real estate deals, and cryptocurrency ventures
Donald TrumpTrump Administrationcryptoforeign-influencegovernment-contracts
On June 18, 2025, a Department of State cable delivered guidance to consulates worldwide requiring implementation of new expanded screening protocols within five business days, after which they could begin reopening visa appointments that had been halted since May 27, 2025. The fifth business day …
Department of StateTrump Administrationimmigrationvisa-processingtravel-restrictionsbureaucratic-obstacles
Trump Media sought SEC approval to launch a combined Bitcoin and Ethereum ETF, with a proposed asset allocation of 75% Bitcoin and 25% Ethereum. The ETF, to be listed on NYSE Arca, will be custodied by Crypto.com and sponsored by Yorkville America Digital, representing an expansion of Trump’s …
Donald TrumpTrump AdministrationCrypto.comYorkville America Digitalcryptomedia-controlregulatory-capturefinancial-servicesetf+1 more
A federal district judge in Northern California ruled on June 12, 2025, that the Trump administration’s federalization of California National Guard and deployment of 700 active-duty Marines to Los Angeles likely violated the Posse Comitatus Act and principles of federalism. The judge found the …
U.S. District CourtState of CaliforniaGovernor Gavin NewsomDepartment of Defense2nd Battalion, 7th Marines+2 morecivil-militarycourtsemergency-powersposse-comitatusfederalism+2 more
Trump has made $1.2 billion from cryptocurrency ventures—including NFTs, $TRUMP memecoins, token sales from World Liberty Financial, and a $2.2 billion stablecoin—across his 2024 presidential campaign and deals in his second term
Donald TrumpTrump Administrationcryptoregulatory-capturegovernment-contracts
President Trump signed an executive order expanding travel restrictions to 19 countries, while simultaneously ordering that students and scholars from Harvard University be barred from entering the United States. The Harvard ban represented an unprecedented use of immigration authority to punish a …
Donald TrumpTrump AdministrationHarvard UniversityDepartment of Statetravel-banimmigrationacademic-freedomretaliationexecutive-overreach
Major donors to Trump’s inaugural fund, like Pilgrim’s Pride and Ripple Labs, have already seen benefits from the government–Ripple settled a $2 billion SEC case for just $50 million and Pilgrim’s Pride’s parent company won USDA approvals
Donald TrumpTrump Administrationregulatory-capturegovernment-contracts
Federal workforce reduced by 59,000 positions with additional 154,000 employees on paid administrative leave through deferred resignation program designed to accelerate exodus of career officials, implementing Project 2025’s government reduction goals. OMB Director Russell Vought explicitly …
Federal WorkforceTrump AdministrationRussell VoughtOffice of Management and Budget (OMB)Office of Personnel Management (OPM)workforce-reductionfederal-employeesgovernment-shrinkageadministrative-exodusproject-2025+2 more
In a systematic display of political patronage, Trump granted executive clemency to a series of convicted individuals, prioritizing wealthy campaign contributors and ardent MAGA loyalists. These pardons represent a dramatic expansion of Trump’s first-term pardon strategy, transforming the …
Donald TrumpTrump AdministrationEd MartinMichele FioreTodd Chrisley+3 morepardonregulatory-capturepolitical-patronageexecutive-power-abusewhite-collar-crime
Trump pardoned reality TV couple Todd and Julie Chrisley, who were convicted in 2022 for defrauding banks of over $30 million and evading federal taxes, after their daughter—an RNC speaker and Trump supporter—lobbied for their clemency
Donald TrumpTrump Administrationcorruptionpardongovernment-contracts
Trump and his family have monetized the presidency to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars without significant public outcry and institutional pushback after his early purge of federal ethics watchdogs
Donald TrumpTrump Administrationgovernment-contractsethics-violation
President Trump hosted a memecoin dinner where top cryptocurrency investors, including Justin Sun, a Chinese billionaire, paid over $145 million to attend, with Democratic lawmakers raising serious concerns about foreign influence and potential corruption
Donald TrumpTrump AdministrationJustin SunCongressmen Sean CastenCongressman Adam Smithcryptoforeign-influenceexecutive-corruptionblockchain
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy sold stocks in 34 companies worth up to $650,000 just before Trump’s market-moving tariff announcement, representing a pattern of potential insider trading among Trump administration officials. The sales occurred on February 11, two days before the tariff …
Donald TrumpTrump AdministrationSean DuffyTransportation Departmentregulatory-capturestock-salestrump-administrationfinancial-exploitation
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
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
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
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
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
Vice President JD Vance met with Pope Francis at the Vatican on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025, in what would tragically become one of the Pope’s final official acts before his death the following day. The meeting, which took place during the holiest day of the Christian calendar, saw the …
J.D. VancePope FrancisVaticanTrump Administrationjd-vancevaticanpope-franciseastercatholic-church+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