Pilgrim’s Pride, a meat processor that paid over $100 million in antitrust fines, made the largest single $5 million donation to the Trump-Vance Inaugural Committee. Senator Elizabeth Warren launched an investigation into potential quid pro quo, highlighting the company’s simultaneous …
Donald TrumpTrump AdministrationPilgrim's PrideSenator Elizabeth Warrengovernment-contractscorporate-donationsantitrustinaugural-fund
As part of complex 2025 diplomatic negotiations, the Kremlin reportedly considered offering Trump a 150-story Moscow skyscraper to entice him into restoring US-Russia relations, revealing the intricate and potentially compromising nature of international diplomacy
Donald TrumpVladimir PutinTrump Administrationmedia-controldiplomatic-relationsrussia-us-relations
Circle, Paxos, BitGo, and Coinbase are preparing to apply for national bank charters or trust bank licenses, reflecting the Trump administration’s aggressive pro-cryptocurrency stance. This move represents a significant shift in crypto firms’ strategy, seeking deeper integration with the …
Donald TrumpTrump AdministrationCircle Internet FinancialBitGo Inc.Coinbase+1 morecryptobankingtrump-administrationfinancial-regulationfinancial-capture
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 …
JD VancePope FrancisVaticanTrump Administrationjd-vancevaticanpope-franciseastercatholic-church+1 more
The Trump administration’s Office of Personnel Management (OPM) sets a critical April 20 deadline for federal agencies to submit recommendations for Schedule Policy/Career (formerly Schedule F) worker reclassifications. This initiative targets an estimated 50,000 positions (approximately 2% of …
Office of Personnel ManagementFederal AgenciesTrump AdministrationFederal Workforceschedule-ffederal-workforcesystematic-implementationinstitutional-capturecivil-service-elimination+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
Trump Treasury appointee David Eisner attempted to intervene in an IRS audit of MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, a known Trump ally. The incident suggests potential misuse of government resources to assist a political supporter, raising concerns about tax enforcement impartiality.
Donald TrumpTrump AdministrationMike LindellDavid Eisnerkleptocracytrump-administrationtax-interferencepolitical-manipulation
The Trump administration initiated massive layoffs at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), targeting approximately 1,500 employees (90% of staff), but faced immediate judicial challenges blocking the mass terminations.
Donald TrumpTrump AdministrationAmy Berman JacksonGavin KligerNational Treasury Employees Unionregulatory-capturegovernment-restructuringjudicial-intervention
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
Trump and business partner Bill Zanker announced a blockchain-based real estate video game resembling Monopoly, expanding the Trump family’s crypto ecosystem. The game allows players to build digital real estate using blockchain tokens, representing Trump’s continued push into …
Donald TrumpBill ZankerKevin MercuriTrump Administrationcryptoblockchainvideo-gamestrump-ventures
The U.S. Press Freedom Tracker documented on April 15, 2025, how the White House wrested control of the presidential press pool from journalists, eliminating the permanent wire service position days after a court ordered restoration of AP access. This unprecedented move allows the administration to …
White HouseU.S. Press Freedom TrackerWhite House Correspondents' Association (WHCA)Associated PressTrump Administrationmedia-accesspress-freedomwhite-house
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
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene purchased $21,000 to $315,000 in stocks across 19 companies on April 8-9, 2025, just before and during President Trump’s surprise 90-day tariff pause. The market surge saw the S&P 500 rise 9.5% and Nasdaq jump 12.2%. Greene bought stocks in companies like Apple, …
Donald TrumpTrump AdministrationMarjorie Taylor Greenekleptocracytrump-administrationcongressional-corruptionmarket-manipulation
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
President Trump issued a Presidential Memorandum directing federal agencies to review and repeal regulations deemed unlawful based on recent Supreme Court decisions, bypassing normal notice-and-comment procedures. The directive allows agencies to use the ‘good cause’ exception in the …
Donald TrumpTrump AdministrationLee ZeldinOffice of Information and Regulatory Affairskleptocracytrump-administrationderegulationadministrative-lawregulatory-capture
Trump announced agreements with five major law firms to provide a combined $600 million in pro bono legal services to causes he supports, pushing the total pledged to nearly $1 billion
Donald TrumpTrump Administrationgovernment-contracts
Trump has disbanded the DOJ’s National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team and deprioritized prosecutions of crypto firms, effectively greenlighting regulatory violations like money laundering and unlicensed exchanges
Donald TrumpTrump Administrationcryptoregulatory-captureethics-violationjustice-weaponization
Meta has strategically appointed Dina Powell McCormick, a former Trump administration national security advisor and Goldman Sachs executive with extensive government experience, to its board of directors, effective April 15, 2025. This move is seen as part of Meta’s efforts to strengthen its …
Donald TrumpTrump AdministrationDina Powell McCormickMark Zuckerbergmedia-controlregulatory-capturecorporate-governancestrategic-appointments
The CFPB dismissed a lawsuit against Comerica Bank that had accused the bank of systematically mistreating 3.4 million federal benefits cardholders through disconnected customer service, illegal fees, and mishandled fraud complaints. The lawsuit, originally filed in December 2024 by then-Director …
Donald TrumpTrump AdministrationRohit ChopraComerica BankBank of New York Mellonregulatory-capturegovernment-contractsjustice-weaponizationcfpbtrump-administration
Binance executives met with Treasury officials to request removal of U.S. monitor overseeing anti-money-laundering compliance while simultaneously negotiating deals with Trump’s World Liberty Financial crypto venture
Donald TrumpTrump Administrationcryptoregulatory-capturegovernment-contracts
The Trump White House negotiated deals with top law firms—including Latham & Watkins, Simpson Thacher, Kirkland & Ellis, and A&O Shearman—to provide approximately $500 million in pro bono legal work. In exchange, these firms would avoid potential sanctions targeting organizations with …
Donald TrumpTrump AdministrationLatham & WatkinsSimpson ThacherKirkland & Ellis+3 moregovernment-contractsexecutive-powerlegal-captureregulatory-leverage
The Trump administration initiated unprecedented moves to remove federal judges deemed obstructionist, invoking rarely used judicial review procedures. Multiple federal circuit courts issued emergency injunctions, creating a complex legal standoff that threatened judicial independence and separation …
Trump AdministrationFederal JudiciaryDepartment of JusticeWhite House Press Secretary Karoline Leavittjudicial-independenceconstitutional-crisisexecutive-overreachfederal-judiciaryseparation-of-powers
The AFL-CIO and former OSHA officials filed a lawsuit warning that Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) operatives are embedded at the Department of Labor, potentially gaining access to sensitive whistleblower files. Musk’s companies—Tesla, SpaceX, and The Boring …
Donald TrumpTrump AdministrationElon MuskAFL-CIODepartment of Laborregulatory-captureethics-violationcorporate-influencetech-industrylabor-rights
Democratic FTC Commissioners Slaughter and Bedoya warned that the Trump administration’s ‘Department of Government Efficiency’ (DOGE) was seeking access to highly sensitive, confidential business records that could potentially manipulate markets. They emphasized that under no …
Donald TrumpTrump AdministrationElon MuskRebecca SlaughterAlvaro Bedoyaregulatory-capturetrump-administrationftcmarket-manipulation
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced on April 9, 2025, that it would screen immigrants’ social media activity for antisemitic content when adjudicating immigration benefits. The policy allows denial of visas, green cards, and citizenship based on social media posts deemed …
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)Department of Homeland SecurityTrump AdministrationCivil liberties groupsimmigrationscreeningsocial-mediafirst-amendmentviewpoint-discrimination+2 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
The Trump Administration’s Justice Department, led by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, disbanded the National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team (NCET), effectively ending federal prosecutorial oversight of complex crypto-related financial crimes. The move represents a significant …
Donald TrumpTodd BlancheTrump Administrationcryptoregulatory-capturejustice-weaponizationtrump-administrationfinancial-deregulation
A federal judge on April 8, 2025, ordered the White House to restore Associated Press access to cover presidential events, finding that the administration’s February ban constituted viewpoint-based discrimination in violation of the First Amendment. The ruling came after AP was barred from …
U.S. District CourtAssociated PressThe White HouseTrump Administrationcourtspress-freedomfirst-amendmentmedia-accessassociated-press+1 more
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche issued April 7 memo dissolving NCET “effective immediately,” ending Biden-era crypto enforcement unit established 2021-2022. DOJ shifted from “regulation by prosecution” to crypto-friendly approach, explicitly stating it won’t pursue …
Department of JusticeTodd Blanche (Deputy Attorney General)National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team (NCET)Trump AdministrationComputer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS)cryptoenforcementregulatory-captureoversight-elimination
Trump’s sweeping 10% universal tariffs unveiled Wednesday exempt many fossil fuel products—including LNG imports, Canadian crude, and petrochemical inputs—which came after the fossil fuel industry contributed $96 million to Trump’s re-election effort
Donald TrumpTrump Administrationgovernment-contracts
President Trump unveiled ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs on April 2, 2025, imposing a baseline 10% tariff on all imports and specific higher rates on key trading partners like China (34%) and the EU (20%). Describing the global trade system as having ’looted, pillaged, raped and …
Donald TrumpTrump Administrationcorruptiongovernment-contractstariffstrade-policyeconomic-manipulation
Kirkland & Ellis, the largest U.S. law firm by revenue, is negotiating with the Trump White House to avoid becoming the next target of an executive order
Donald TrumpTrump Administrationcorruptionkleptocracy
Mark Zuckerberg lobbied President Trump to settle a 2020 FTC antitrust case that
seeks to unwind Meta’s acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp for allegedly maintaining
an illegal monopoly. The case was set for trial on April 14, 2025. According to WSJ,
negotiations failed and the trial …
Mark ZuckerbergMetaDonald TrumpTrump AdministrationFederal Trade Commissionantitrustbig-techregulatory-captureconflict-of-interest
The US Treasury Department quietly removed Karina Rotenberg, wife of Russian oligarch and Putin confidant Boris Rotenberg and a US citizen suspected of shielding her oligarch husband’s wealth, from its sanctions list
Donald TrumpTrump Administrationforeign-influenceregulatory-capture
Law firm Milbank LLP reached a $100 million pro bono settlement with Trump to avoid punitive executive orders, part of a broader trend of law firms making strategic agreements to maintain government contracts
Donald TrumpTrump AdministrationScott EdelmanMilbank LLPgovernment-contractsexecutive-powerlegal-services
Trump issued a full pardon to HDR Global Trading, the parent company of crypto exchange BitMEX, which had pleaded guilty to violating anti-money laundering laws and was fined $100 million
Donald TrumpTrump Administrationcryptopardongovernment-contracts
Multiple law firms entered into controversial pro bono settlements with the Trump administration, agreeing to provide services after facing potential executive orders threatening their federal contracts and access. These settlements, totaling approximately $1 billion in pro bono work, raised …
Donald TrumpTrump AdministrationLaw Firms Targetedgovernment-contractsexecutive-orderslegal-system
Long-serving SEC Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) leaders Charles Cain and Tracy Price retired following the Trump administration’s February 2025 order pausing anti-bribery enforcement. Their departure represents a significant shift in anti-corruption regulatory oversight, occurring amid a …
Donald TrumpTrump AdministrationCharles CainTracy Pricecorruptionforeign-influenceregulatory-capturesectrump-administration+1 more
Shares in Trump Media and Technology Group dropped about 5% after the company filed paperwork with the SEC that could allow Trump’s trust to sell up to 115 million shares, worth more than $2.3 billion, raising concerns about a potential insider selloff
Donald TrumpTrump Administrationmedia-controlregulatory-capturegovernment-contracts
The SEC restructures its enforcement and examination divisions under the Trump administration, consolidating regional offices from 10 to 4, reducing senior leadership positions, and implementing a more focused approach to regulatory enforcement
Donald TrumpTrump AdministrationPaul AtkinsSamuel WaldonKatherine Zoladz+2 moreregulatory-capturesec-restructuringtrump-administrationinstitutional-transformation
DOT Secretary Sean Duffy announced April 2, 2025, sweeping suspension of greenhouse gas emissions enforcement, rescinding Biden-era GHG measurement rule that required states to track/reduce highway emissions. Following Trump’s “Woke Rescission” memo, DOT eliminated climate change …
Department of TransportationTrump Administrationguidancedotenforcementemissionsenvironmental-rollback+2 more
Trump announced a White House agreement with Willkie Farr & Gallagher, the firm employing Doug Emhoff, to provide at least $100 million in pro bono legal services
Donald TrumpTrump Administrationcorruptionkleptocracy
Trump administration pauses the $42 billion Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program to implement ’tech-neutral’ approach, potentially allowing Elon Musk’s Starlink to receive $10-20 billion in federal grants instead of the original $4.1 billion. Critics argue this …
Donald TrumpTrump AdministrationElon MuskDepartment of CommerceHoward Lutnickgovernment-contractsstarlinkbroadbandfederal-grantsmusk-benefits
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is lobbying Trump to intervene against an impending European Union ruling that could fine Meta and force it to offer Facebook and Instagram without personalized ads
Trump administration continued systematic purge of Department of Justice personnel in March 2025, firing and demoting multiple prosecutors who previously investigated Trump or participated in high-profile cases. While initial reports suggested 50 total prosecutors were fired, verified sources …
Trump AdministrationDepartment of JusticeJames McHenryCareer Prosecutorsdoj-weaponizationprosecutor-purgemass-firingstrump-administrationinstitutional-destruction+1 more