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March 07, 2025 | Watchdog Weekly

Timi Iwayemi

Newsletter Corruption CalendarCryptocurrencyEthics in GovernmentFinancial RegulationHealthRevolving Door

Corruption Calendar Week Seven: One Nation Under God, Indivisible

The seventh week of Trump’s presidency was a stark reminder of how little the public’s wellbeing factors into his administration’s decisions. This week, the administration reiterated its position that it’s open season for corporate predators, RFK Jr. moved to abolish public input into public health regulations, co-president Elon Musk found new ways to exploit the federal contracting system, banking regulators chose Wall Street over Main Street, and a corporate lobbyist stepped in to facilitate the sale of precious public lands to lumber companies.

February 28, 2025 | Watchdog Weekly

Fatou Ndiaye

Newsletter Climate and EnvironmentConsumer ProtectionCorruption CalendarEthics in GovernmentJudiciaryTechTrump 2.0

Corruption Calendar Week Six: A dying CFPB, Musk’s business boom, conflicts of interest, and blatant favoritism. 

This week, the Trump administration is moving fast to dismantle the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), abandoning several active enforcement cases against financiers ripping off consumers. The SEC paused its case against Trump ally Justin Sun and handed the crypto industry another victory. Elon Musk continues to have field day after field day, slashing agencies he doesn’t like and watching his businesses balloon in value since the election. Several Trump appointees (like CFTC Chair Nominee Brian Quintenz and acting administrator of the PHMSA Ben Kochman) have major conflicts of interests which will likely skew agency action towards the interests of corporations at the expense of the public. We also witnessed an instance of blatant bias in how legal actions are handled, with leniency toward Republicans.

February 21, 2025 | Watchdog Weekly

Jacob Plaza

Newsletter Corruption CalendarEthics in GovernmentLaborSECTrump 2.0

Corruption Calendar Week Five: Musk, Crypto, Tax Fraudsters, Fossil Fuel Cash In While Workers Lose Out

This week, we’ll focus on how DOGE’s priorities seem to reflect Musk’s grudges and interests in a less efficient government. Trying to be thorough without being totally thorough (the reign of ignorant terror is as vast as it is deep and consequential), here are several of the most salient examples of the Trump’s administration’s prioritization of corporate interests at the expense of the public. 

February 14, 2025 | Watchdog Weekly

Chris Lewis

Newsletter Corruption CalendarEthics in GovernmentExecutive BranchTrump 2.0

Corruption Calendar Week 4: Messrs.Trump And Musk Want You To Know The Presidency Is For Sale 

Week 4 of Trump’s presidency proves yet again that Trump is only in it for his billionaire buddies. This past week, Trump and Musk repeatedly reminded us that the federal government is ready to serve the interests of their wealthy friends. In fact, in one case, Trump managed to pair this ongoing corruption with another core theme of his administration: demonization of immigrants. As our Jeff Hauser noted, by reassigning Internal Revenue Service agents to the immigration crackdown, Trump has essentially granted billionaires a “get out of taxes free card.”Let’s take a look at some other recipients of Trumpworld’s largesse (Spoiler alert: The biggest is of course Elon Musk):

January 31, 2025 | Watchdog Weekly

Andrea Beaty

Newsletter Corruption CalendarCryptocurrencyExecutive BranchTrump 2.0

Corruption Calendar Week Two: Trump Moves To Gut Exec Branch And Make Way For Loyalists

In just Week Two of his administration, Trump lodged a full-on attack aimed at gutting the federal civil service and disrupting the many critical functions of the federal government. The goal is obvious: to elevate figures who are first and foremost loyal to the Trump agenda, which is mostly about accommodating the rich people who matter to Trump.