McKinsey consultants propose controversial ‘detention savings opportunities’ to ICE that include reducing spending on food for migrants, medical care, and supervision of detainees. An internal ICE email dated March 30, 2017 documents that McKinsey is ’looking for ways to cut or …
McKinsey & CompanyImmigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)ICE career staffMigrant detaineesmckinseyimmigration-enforcementconsulting-scandalshock-doctrinedetention-conditions+3 more
President Trump signed a sweeping executive order at the EPA that effectively dismantled Obama’s climate change policies, targeting the Clean Power Plan and lifting restrictions on carbon emissions. The order represented a significant regulatory rollback, prioritizing fossil fuel industry …
Donald TrumpScott PruittLee ZeldinMurray Energy Corporationepa-rollbackclimate-changeregulatory-capturefossil-fuel-industryenvironmental-policy
On March 23, 2017, the General Services Administration (GSA) announced that its contracting
officer found the Trump Old Post Office LLC in compliance with the lease’s Section 37.19
(the “no elected official” clause). In January 2019, the GSA Inspector General reported that
the …
General Services AdministrationTrump Old Post Office LLCEmily MurphyGSA Office of Inspector Generalemolumentsgsaleaseoversight
House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes made a secret visit to the White House grounds on March 21, 2017—the night before he dramatically announced he had seen intelligence suggesting Trump associates were “incidentally collected” in surveillance. Nunes viewed classified …
On March 17-20, 2017, a Times of London investigation exposed that major brands’ advertisements were appearing on YouTube videos supporting terrorism, promoting hate speech, and featuring extremist content—triggering the largest advertiser boycott in digital platform history and exposing …
YouTubeGoogleTimes of LondonMajor advertisersBritish government+1 moreyoutubeadvertisingterrorismhate-speechbrand-safety+3 more
Reuters investigation revealed at least 63 Russian nationals invested $98.4 million in
Trump-branded properties in South Florida, primarily in Sunny Isles Beach. The buyers
purchased units at Trump Grande, Trump Towers, and Trump Hollywood, with about one-third
of all units owned through LLCs that …
Donald TrumpTrump OrganizationRussian buyersReutersrussian-moneyreal-estatemoney-launderingsunny-isles-beachshell-companies
The Financial Oversight and Management Board unanimously approved a brutal 10-year fiscal austerity plan (2017-2026) developed with McKinsey’s strategic consulting, imposing severe cuts to pensions, education, and healthcare to prioritize debt repayment to bondholders. The plan’s key …
McKinsey & CompanyFinancial Oversight and Management Board for Puerto RicoPuerto Rico GovernmentRafael Torregrosamckinseypuerto-ricoausterityshock-doctrinepension-theft+5 more
President Trump fired U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara on March 11, 2017, after Bharara refused to resign when ordered to do so—breaking Trump’s direct promise made just months earlier at Trump Tower to allow Bharara to keep his position. Bharara, the highly respected U.S. Attorney for the Southern …
Donald TrumpPreet BhararaMarc KasowitzJeff SessionsRoger Ailes+1 moreobstruction-of-justicecorruptionabuse-of-powerconflicts-of-interestfox-news
On March 7, 2017, Michael Flynn belatedly filed Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) paperwork with the Department of Justice, revealing his consulting firm received $530,000 from August through November 2016 for work that could be construed to have principally benefited the Republic of Turkey. …
Michael FlynnDonald TrumpRecep Tayyip ErdoganEkim AlptekinFethullah Gulenflynnforeign-agentconflicts-of-interestturkeycorruption+1 more
President Trump signed Executive Order 13780 on March 6, 2017—“Travel Ban 2.0”—revising his original Muslim ban after federal courts blocked Executive Order 13769. The new order placed a 90-day restriction on entry to the U.S. by nationals of Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and …
Donald TrumpDerrick WatsonDoug ChinRudy Giulianimuslim-banreligious-discriminationauthoritarianismimmigrationrule-of-law
On March 4, 2017, President Trump tweeted a series of explosive and completely false accusations that former President Barack Obama had wiretapped his phones at Trump Tower “just before the victory.” Trump claimed he had “just found out” about the wiretapping but provided …
Donald TrumpBarack ObamaJames ClapperJames Comeydisinformationobama-attacksauthoritarianismfalse-accusationsabuse-of-power
Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced on March 2, 2017, that he would recuse himself from any investigations related to the 2016 presidential campaign, including Russian interference, following The Washington Post’s revelation that Sessions had lied under oath about his contacts with …
Jeff SessionsDonald TrumpSergey KislyakDana BoenteRod Rosensteinperjuryrussia-investigationrecusalobstruction-of-justicesessions
Peter Thiel brings J.D. Vance into his global investment firm Mithril Capital as an investor, marking a significant moment in Vance’s early professional career. This relationship positioned Vance within Thiel’s influential tech and venture capital network, setting the stage for …
Peter ThielJ.D. VanceAjay Royanthiel-networkventure-capitalsilicon-valleymentorshippolitical-networks
During his first address to Congress on February 28, 2017, President Trump orchestrated an emotional moment honoring Carryn Owens, widow of Navy SEAL William “Ryan” Owens who died in the botched Yemen raid Trump approved on January 29. The chamber gave a standing ovation lasting 1 minute …
Donald TrumpCarryn OwensWilliam OwensRyan OwensJames Mattismilitary-incompetencepolitical-theateryemenaccountabilitypropaganda
Private prison companies CoreCivic and GEO Group saw their stock prices surge 100% and 98% respectively after donating nearly $2.8 million to Trump’s campaign and inauguration. Attorney General Jeff Sessions immediately reversed Obama’s order to phase out private prisons, declaring …
CoreCivicGEO GroupJeff SessionsDonald TrumpImmigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)+1 moreprivate-prisonspay-to-playimmigration-detentioncampaign-financecorruption
The Washington Post introduced “Democracy Dies in Darkness” as its first official slogan in the newspaper’s 140-year history, launching it on the website on February 22, 2017 and adding it to print editions a week later. The slogan positioned the Bezos-owned newspaper as a defender …
Jeff BezosWashington PostBob Woodwardmedia-capturebillionaire-controlironybranding
Attorney General Jeff Sessions issues a one-paragraph memorandum rescinding the August 18, 2016 directive from Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates to phase out federal use of private prisons. Sessions claims the Obama policy “changed long-standing policy and practice, and impaired the …
Jeff SessionsDepartment of JusticeDonald TrumpCoreCivicGEO Group+1 moreprivate-prisontrump-administrationjeff-sessionsdojprison-industrial-complex+2 more
Burisma Holdings, the Ukrainian energy company, announced the appointment of Joseph Cofer Black to its board of directors on February 15, 2017, less than one month after Donald Trump’s presidential inauguration. Black, the former vice chairman of Blackwater (the private military contractor …
Joseph Cofer BlackErik PrinceNikolay ZlochevskyiHunter BidenMitt Romneyconflicts-of-interestforeign-influenceprivate-intelligenceregulatory-captureukraine
The day after National Security Advisor Michael Flynn resigned for lying about his contacts with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak, President Trump cleared the Oval Office of other officials—including Attorney General Jeff Sessions and senior advisor Jared Kushner—and asked FBI Director James Comey …
Donald TrumpJames ComeyMichael FlynnJared KushnerJeff Sessionsobstruction of justicemueller investigationcomey firingflynn investigationpresidential abuse of power+1 more
National Security Advisor Michael Flynn resigned on February 13, 2017, after just 24 days in office—the shortest tenure in the 63-year history of the position. Flynn’s resignation came after revelations that he had lied to Vice President Mike Pence, other White House officials, and the FBI …
Michael FlynnDonald TrumpMike PenceSally YatesSergey Kislyak+1 morerussia-investigationobstruction-of-justiceflynnperjurynational-security-risk
When North Korea test-fired a ballistic missile on February 11, 2017, President Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe conducted national security deliberations in full view of Mar-a-Lago club members and guests at Trump’s private resort. As wealthy club members looked on from their …
Donald TrumpShinzo AbeSean Spiceremolumentsconflicts-of-interestmar-a-lagonational-security-riskcorruption
President Trump used his official presidential Twitter account on February 8, 2017, to attack Nordstrom department store for dropping daughter Ivanka Trump’s clothing and shoe line, writing: “My daughter Ivanka has been treated so unfairly by @Nordstrom. She is a great person — always …
Donald TrumpIvanka TrumpNordstromSean SpicerRichard Painteremoluments-violationsabuse-of-officeconflicts-of-interestivanka-trumpcorruption
Vice President Mike Pence cast a historic tie-breaking vote on February 7, 2017, to confirm Betsy DeVos as Education Secretary—the first time in American history that a vice president’s tie-breaking power was used to confirm a Cabinet nominee. The Senate vote split exactly 50-50, with two …
Just days after President Trump takes office in January 2017 and issues executive orders to shift ‘all legally available resources’ to border detention facilities and hire 10,000 new immigration officers, ICE quickly redirects McKinsey & Company - originally brought on under the …
McKinsey & CompanyImmigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)Donald TrumpDepartment of Homeland Securitymckinseyiceimmigration-detentiontrump-administrationcost-cutting+2 more
The Federalist Society, funded by $250 million in dark money from anonymous donors, orchestrated the most systematic judicial capture in U.S. history. Trump outsourced judicial selection to the Society, appointing 231 federal judges including 3 Supreme Court justices, all from their pre-approved …
President Trump fired Acting Attorney General Sally Yates within hours of her instructing Justice Department attorneys not to defend Executive Order 13769 (the Muslim ban). Yates had sent a letter to DOJ staff stating she was “not convinced that the defense of the Executive Order is consistent …
Donald TrumpSally YatesDana BoenteJeff SessionsRudy Giulianirule-of-lawdoj-politicizationobstruction-of-justiceauthoritarianismmuslim-ban+1 more
President Trump authorized his first military operation—a raid on the Yemeni village of Yakla targeting al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula—resulting in the death of Navy SEAL Chief William “Ryan” Owens, at least 23 civilians including nine children and six women, and an 8-year-old …
Donald TrumpWilliam OwensNawar al-AwlakiCarryn Owensmilitary-incompetencecivilian-casualtieswar-crimesaccountabilityyemen
President Trump signed Executive Order 13769, titled “Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States,” banning citizens from seven predominantly Muslim countries—Syria, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen—from entering the United States for 90 days. …
Donald TrumpRudy GiulianiJim MattisState Departmentmuslim-banauthoritarianismreligious-discriminationimmigrationrule-of-law+1 more
Just four days after taking office, President Donald Trump signed an executive memorandum on January 24, 2017, directing the Army Corps of Engineers to expedite approval and review of the Dakota Access Pipeline, reversing the Obama administration’s December 2016 decision to halt construction …
Donald TrumpEnergy Transfer PartnersKelcy WarrenArmy Corps of EngineersStanding Rock Sioux Tribeenvironmentalregulatory-capturecorporate-corruptionlobbyingenvironmental-justice+2 more
President Donald Trump designates Ajit Pai as Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, elevating the sitting Republican commissioner and former Verizon Communications associate general counsel to lead the agency responsible for regulating his former employer and the broader …
Donald TrumpAjit PaiVerizon CommunicationsFederal Communications Commission (FCC)Tom Wheelerrevolving-doorregulatory-capturefccnet-neutralityverizon+2 more
Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club doubled its membership fee from $200,000 to $400,000 immediately after his election, selling access to the president for profit. Members gained direct access to Trump during his 142 visits as president, with the club becoming known as the ‘Winter White …
Donald TrumpMar-a-LagoChris RuddyYujing ZhangSecret Servicepay-for-accessemoluments-clausecorruptionmar-a-lagoinfluence-peddling
Just days after Trump takes office in January 2017, he issues executive orders directing ‘all legally available resources’ to be shifted to border detention facilities and calls for hiring 10,000 new immigration officers. ICE quickly redirects McKinsey’s existing organizational …
McKinsey & CompanyImmigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)Donald TrumpEnforcement and Removal Operations (ERO)mckinseyimmigration-enforcementconsulting-scandalcorporate-captureice-contracts+4 more
President Barack Obama commuted the sentence of Chelsea Manning, reducing her 35-year prison term to seven years served with a release date of May 17, 2017. The commutation came after Manning attempted suicide twice in 2016 while serving her sentence as a transgender woman in a men’s military …
Barack ObamaChelsea ManningDepartment of Justicewhistleblower-prosecutionclemencylgbtqtortureaccountability
By early 2017, 28 U.S. states have right-to-work laws, with eight traditionally industrial and union-strong states adopting the legislation since 2010 using American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) model legislation: Indiana and Michigan (2012), Wisconsin (2015), West Virginia (2016), and …
American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC)Koch brothersAmericans for ProsperityU.S. Chamber of CommerceNational Association of Manufacturers+1 morelabor-suppressionalecright-to-workunion-bustingstate-capture+4 more
Rex Tillerson, Trump’s nominee for Secretary of State, faced aggressive Senate questioning about massive conflicts of interest stemming from his 41-year career at ExxonMobil, particularly the company’s extensive Russia dealings and opposition to sanctions. Tillerson had served as …
Rex TillersonDonald TrumpIgor SechinVladimir PutinExxonMobil+1 moreconflicts-of-interestrussia-connectionssanctions-violationsstate-capturefossil-fuel-industry
In January 2017, diabetes patients filed a federal antitrust class action lawsuit alleging that the three pharmaceutical manufacturers controlling 99% of the U.S. insulin market—Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, and Sanofi—conspired to raise insulin prices in near-lockstep coordination, increasing prices by …
Eli LillyNovo NordiskSanofiCVS CaremarkExpress Scripts+1 morehealthcarepharmaceutical-price-gougingantitrustcorporate-crimeregulatory-capture
The Kentucky Legislature passes House Bill 1, an ALEC-inspired right-to-work measure, making Kentucky the 27th right-to-work state just one week into the 2017 legislative session. Governor Matt Bevin signs the legislation swiftly, fulfilling what ALEC describes as “one of the most repeated …
Matt BevinKentucky LegislatureAmerican Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC)Kentucky House Committeelabor-suppressionright-to-workaleckentuckyunion-busting+2 more
On January 6, 2017, the U.S. Intelligence Community released a comprehensive assessment concluding that Russian President Vladimir Putin personally ordered an extensive influence campaign aimed at undermining the 2016 U.S. presidential election. The Intelligence Community Assessment (ICA), titled …
Vladimir PutinCIAFBINSADonald Trump+2 morerussia interferenceintelligence communityelection securityputinforeign interference+1 more
In 2017, Google’s secret “Project Bernanke” was in full operation—a systematic auction manipulation scheme that used insider information and algorithmic deception to advantage Google’s own ad-buying platform while harming both publishers and competing advertisers. The …
GoogleTexas Attorney General Ken PaxtonPublishersAdvertisersGoogle Ads platformgooglead-techauction-manipulationproject-bernankefraud+2 more
VEB Chairman Sergey Gorkov (FSB Academy graduate) met with Kushner at Trump Tower in December 2016 meeting arranged by Ambassador Kislyak. Conflicting explanations given - VEB claimed business meeting, White House claimed diplomacy. Kushner failed to disclose meeting on security clearance …
Retired General Mark Welsh joined Northrop Grumman’s board of directors just five months after retiring as Air Force Chief of Staff and barely one year after the company won the $21.4 billion initial contract to build the B-21 Raider next-generation stealth bomber, exemplifying the revolving …
Mark WelshNorthrop GrummanU.S. Air ForceWes BushDonald Trumprevolving doormilitary-industrial complexdefense contractorscorruptionpentagon contracts+2 more
Senate Banking Committee Chairman Richard Shelby (R-AL) became instrumental in advocating for the Financial CHOICE Act, legislation aimed at significantly restructuring financial regulation by repealing major parts of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. Shelby, who had …
Richard ShelbySenate Banking CommitteeWall StreetDodd-Frank Actregulatory-capturefinancial-sectorbanking-committeederegulationcongressional-corruption
Amazon Web Services announced the launch of Amazon Rekognition at its re:Invent developer conference in Las Vegas on November 30, 2016. The cloud-based facial recognition service marked Amazon’s entry into surveillance technology, offering image and video analysis capabilities including face …
AmazonAWSAndy Jassysurveillancefacial-recognitionamazonrekognitionlaw-enforcement+2 more
Morton County Sheriff’s Department and allied law enforcement agencies attack approximately 400 peaceful water protectors attempting to cross Backwater Bridge near the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation with water cannons, tear gas, rubber bullets, and concussion grenades in temperatures as low …
Morton County Sheriff's DepartmentStanding Rock Sioux TribeMandan Rural Fire DepartmentStanding Rock Medic and Healer CouncilEnergy Transfer Partners+3 morepolice-violenceindigenous-rightsenvironmental-justicecorporate-powerexcessive-force+2 more
Donald Trump agreed on November 18, 2016 to pay $25 million to settle all three Trump University fraud lawsuits—two class actions and the New York Attorney General civil suit—just 10 days after winning the presidential election and less than two weeks before the San Diego class action was scheduled …
Donald TrumpGonzalo CurielEric Schneidermantrump universityfraudsettlementconsumer protectionaccountability
The day after Donald Trump is declared winner of the 2016 presidential election, private prison stocks experience massive gains. CoreCivic (formerly CCA) jumps from $14.19 to $20.31 per share (43% increase) and GEO Group rises from $23.88 to $28.96 per share (21% increase). According to Bianca …
Donald TrumpCoreCivicGEO GroupWall Street investorsWorth Risesprivate-prisontrump-administrationwall-streetprison-industrial-complexstock-market+1 more
After Wall Street Journal calls about McDougal payment, Dylan Howard orders staff to “get everything out of the safe” and shred documents, destroying evidence days before election. The Enquirer’s leadership, including CEO David Pecker, maintained a ‘catch and kill’ safe …
Dylan HowardDavid PeckerNational Enquirer/AMIWall Street JournalKaren McDougal+1 moredocument-destructionevidence-tamperingpecker-vaultobstructioncatch-and-kill+2 more
Boeing obtained FAA approval to exclude the MCAS (Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System) from pilot manuals, flight crew operations manuals, and all pilot training materials for the 737 MAX. This deliberate concealment meant that pilots flying the aircraft had no knowledge that a powerful …
BoeingFederal Aviation AdministrationBoeing pilotsAirline pilotsFAA certification officialsboeingmcasfaapilot-trainingregulatory-fraud+1 more
Corrections Corporation of America announces it is rebranding as CoreCivic, claiming the name change reflects a “multi-year strategy to transform our business from largely corrections and detention services to a wider range of government solutions.” The rebranding comes two months after …
Corrections Corporation of America (CCA)CoreCivicDamon T. HiningerBoard of Directorsprivate-prisoncorporate-rebrandpublic-relationsprison-industrial-complexgreenwashing
A federal jury in Portland acquits Ammon Bundy, Ryan Bundy, and five co-defendants of conspiracy to impede federal officers through force, threats, or intimidation, despite their 41-day armed occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge headquarters beginning January 2, 2016. The twelve-person …
Ammon BundyRyan BundyJeff BantaShawna CoxDavid Fry+4 moremilitia-movementsfederal-landsprosecutorial-failureindigenous-rightsanti-government-extremism+1 more