Rep. Jamie Raskin, Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, released a comprehensive staff report revealing that President Donald Trump and his family earned more than $800 million from cryptocurrency ventures in the first half of 2025 alone, with total crypto holdings valued at up to $11.6 …
Jamie RaskinDonald TrumpTrump OrganizationTrump FamilyPaul Atkins+21 morecryptocurrencycorruptionself-dealingforeign-influenceemoluments+13 more
President Trump signs executive order revoking previous competition and antitrust enforcement policies, clearing path for increased corporate consolidation and monopolistic practices without federal oversight.
Donald TrumpDepartment of Justice Antitrust DivisionFederal Trade Commissionmonopoly-powerantitrusteconomic-policyreward-alliescorporate-consolidation+3 more
The Trump administration, led by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), began a comprehensive dismantling of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). Key actions included firing most of its 1,700 employees, closing its Washington headquarters, and effectively …
Donald TrumpElon MuskLinda YaccarinoRussell VoughtElizabeth Warren+4 moreregulatory-capturetech-monopolyconsumer-protectionx-platformfinancial-services+1 more
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau employees were ordered to “stand down from performing any work task” as headquarters was shuttered through February 14. Acting Director Russell Vought and chief legal officer Mark Paoletta halted all CFPB operations unless specifically cleared, …
Russell VoughtMark PaolettaGavin KligerDOGECFPBcfpbconsumer-protectionagency-shutdowndogemass-layoffs
While no specific FTC investigation was definitively confirmed in 2024, xAI’s Grok AI faced increasing regulatory attention from multiple agencies. The AI chatbot encountered potential regulatory challenges related to content generation practices, data privacy, and AI safety, particularly in …
Elon MuskxAIFTCIrish Data Protection CommissionAI Regulatory Bodiesai-regulationtech-oversightconsumer-protectiondata-privacyregulatory-capture
U.S. District Judge William Young blocked JetBlue Airways’ $3.8 billion acquisition of low-cost rival Spirit Airlines on January 16, 2024, handing the Biden administration a significant victory in preserving airline competition. Judge Young ruled that the merger would harm competition and …
Department of JusticeJetBlue AirwaysSpirit AirlinesJudge William Youngantitrustdojairline-industrymerger-enforcementbiden-administration+1 more
The Trump administration finalized regulations expanding short-term, limited-duration health insurance plans from a maximum 3-month term (set by Obama in 2016) to 364 days with renewability up to 3 years total. These plans—derided by critics as ‘junk insurance’ and ’the Trump …
Trump AdministrationDepartment of Health and Human ServicesDepartment of LaborDepartment of TreasuryAmerica's Health Insurance Plans+2 morehealthcareaca-sabotagetrump-administrationinsurance-regulationjunk-insurance+2 more
U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel issued a final order on April 10, 2018 concluding the Trump University litigation and authorizing distribution of the $25 million settlement to approximately 3,730 victims who would receive at least 90 percent of their money back. The finalization came more than a …
Trump-appointed Acting CFPB Director Mick Mulvaney effectively shuts down the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s investigation into the Equifax data breach that exposed 147 million Americans to identity theft. After former Director Richard Cordray authorized a full-scale investigation in …
Mick MulvaneyConsumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)EquifaxDonald TrumpRichard Cordraycorruptionregulatory-capturecfpbtrump-administrationcorporate-impunity+2 more
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos systematically blocked debt relief for over 200,000 students defrauded by for-profit colleges, overruling internal Education Department career staff who had recommended full loan forgiveness. Internal memos from the department’s Borrower Defense Unit dated …
Betsy DeVosU.S. Department of EducationCorinthian CollegesITT Technical Instituteregulatory-capturepredatory-lendingeducationstudent-debtconsumer-protection+1 more
President Trump installed Mick Mulvaney, his Office of Management and Budget director, as acting director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in a contested appointment that triggered a legal battle. As a congressman, Mulvaney had been a top recipient of payday lending campaign cash and once …
Mick MulvaneyDonald TrumpConsumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)regulatory-capturepredatory-lendingconsumer-protectioncorruptionpayday-lending+1 more
Hackers begin systematically exfiltrating personal data of 147.9 million Americans from Equifax systems through an unpatched Apache Struts vulnerability (CVE-2017-5638). The breach, which Equifax would not disclose until September 7, 2017, represents one of the largest cybercrimes related to …
EquifaxRichard SmithApache Software FoundationConsumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)corruptionregulatory-capturetechcybersecuritydata-breach+2 more
U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel approved the $25 million Trump University settlement on March 31, 2017, clearing the way for approximately 3,730 victims to receive refunds of at least 90 percent of the money they spent on Trump University courses. The approval came four months after Trump agreed …
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
Walgreens formally terminates its partnership with Theranos after discovering that 31,000 Walgreens customers had received voided test results from the blood-testing company’s faulty devices. The termination follows months of deteriorating relations after the October 2015 Wall Street Journal …
WalgreensTheranosElizabeth HolmesFDACMScorruptionfraudregulatory-capturetechhealthcare+3 more
Court documents and victim testimony released in June 2016 revealed the devastating human cost of Trump University’s fraudulent scheme, with students testifying they lost retirement savings, disability income, and home equity after being pressured into purchasing courses costing up to $35,000. …
Donald TrumpRonald SchnackenbergGeorge Hanustrump universityfraudconsumer protectionvictim testimonyelder abuse
U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel ordered the unsealing of over 400 pages of Trump University documents on May 31, 2016, revealing internal sales “playbooks” that detailed aggressive, predatory tactics designed to extract maximum money from vulnerable consumers. The documents exposed …
Gonzalo CurielDonald TrumpRonald Schnackenbergtrump universityfraudconsumer protectioncourt documentssales tactics+1 more
New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman filed a $40 million civil lawsuit against Donald Trump, The Trump Entrepreneur Initiative (formerly Trump University LLC), and Michael Sexton on August 24, 2013, alleging “persistent fraudulent, illegal and deceptive conduct.” Schneiderman …
Eric SchneidermanDonald TrumpMichael Sextontrump universityfraudconsumer protectionnew york attorney generaleric schneiderman+1 more
President Barack Obama signed the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, establishing the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to regulate consumer financial products and protect Americans from predatory lending practices. The CFPB was the brainchild of Harvard Law …
Barack ObamaElizabeth WarrenRichard CordrayConsumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)consumer-protectionregulatory-capturepredatory-lendingfinancial-reformelizabeth warren+1 more
The Better Business Bureau issued Trump University a D- rating in 2010, the lowest rating the enterprise received during its active operations. The rating resulted from multiple consumer complaints the BBB received documenting deceptive practices, high-pressure sales tactics, and unfulfilled …
Donald TrumpMichael Sextontrump universityfraudconsumer protectionbetter business bureaueducation fraud
Private equity firm Ares Management acquired Aspen Dental in 2006, launching an aggressive roll-up strategy that would help consolidate the fragmented dental industry and establish the template for private equity’s systematic monopolization of healthcare sectors including dental, veterinary, …
Aspen DentalAres ManagementLeonard Green & PartnersAmerican Securitiesantitrustconsolidationprivate-equitydentalhealthcare+4 more
Donald Trump formally launched “Trump University” on May 23, 2005, a real estate training program that operated without proper academic licensing or accreditation. The enterprise, incorporated in 2004 with Trump owning 93% of the company, conducted three- and five-day seminars marketed …
Donald TrumpMichael Sextontrump universityfraudconsumer protectioneducation fraudbusiness ethics
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) under John Hawke Jr. issues sweeping federal preemption rules that override state consumer protection laws targeting predatory lending practices. This regulatory capture systematically dismantles state-level safeguards that attorneys general like …
OCCJohn Hawke JrJulie WilliamsEliot SpitzerNational City Bank+2 moreocc-preemptionstate-law-overridepredatory-lendingregulatory-race-to-bottomconsumer-protection+1 more
Congress passes two major housing consumer protection laws in 1974: the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) prohibiting discrimination in lending based on sex and marital status (race added in 1976), and the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) requiring disclosure of closing costs. …
U.S. CongressPresident Gerald FordAmerican Bankers AssociationMortgage Bankers AssociationFederal Reservefair-lendingconsumer-protectionhousing-policyindustry-lobbyinghousing
On September 9, 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act, establishing the first federal safety standards for automobiles and creating what would become the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The legislation passed unanimously after …
President Lyndon B. JohnsonRalph NaderGeneral MotorsJames RocheSenator Abraham Ribicoffconsumer-protectioncorporate-lobbyingregulatory-reformautomotive-industrywhistleblower
On November 30, 1965, attorney Ralph Nader published “Unsafe at Any Speed: The Designed-In Dangers of the American Automobile,” a meticulously researched indictment of the auto industry’s prioritization of styling and profits over passenger safety. The book documented how …
Ralph NaderGeneral MotorsFord Motor CompanyChrysler CorporationAmerican Automobile Manufacturers Associationconsumer-protectioncorporate-disinformationautomotive-industryregulatory-capture
President Theodore Roosevelt signed the Pure Food and Drug Act and Meat Inspection Act on June 30, 1906, marking a major achievement in federal regulation of the food industry. The legislation arose from public education and exposés by muckraking journalists like Upton Sinclair and Samuel Hopkins …
Theodore RooseveltHarvey Washington WileyUpton SinclairU.S. Congressregulatory-enforcementpublic-healthconsumer-protectionprogressive-erafood-safety