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August 20, 2025

Blog Post Campaign FinanceCryptocurrencyTrump 2.0

Oligarchs and the Trump Admin: John Wu

Since 2020, John Wu has served as president of the crypto company Ava Labs. On April 2, 2025, Ava Labs donated $1 million to MAGA Inc, President Trump’s Super PAC. According to the New York Times, the donation got Wu a spot at a fundraising event just two days later—a “candlelight dinner” featuring Trump as a guest speaker.

August 14, 2025

KJ Boyle

Blog Post Campaign FinanceCryptocurrencyFinancial RegulationFintech

Oligarchs and the Trump Admin: Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss

Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss are billionaires who made their initial fortune from a 2004 lawsuit against Mark Zuckerberg, accusing him of stealing their idea in the creation of Facebook. The Winklevoss twins have since expanded their fortunes through an $11 million purchase of Bitcoin in 2013, founding the venture capital firm Winklevoss Capital, and founding cryptocurrency exchange Gemini. In June 2024, the Winklevoss’ each tweeted an endorsement of Trump’s candidacy and donated $1 million in bitcoin to his campaign.

May 30, 2025 | Watchdog Weekly

Kenny Stancil

Newsletter Climate and EnvironmentCorruption CalendarCriminal JusticeCryptocurrencyDOGEElon MuskExecutive BranchHousingImmigrationRevolving DoorTrump 2.0

Corruption Calendar Week 19: “We Reject Regulators.” Pardon Me?

This week the Trump administration deepened its wildly corrupt and lucrative crypto grift, sought to further enrich wealthy supporters at the direct expense of working households, and continued to pardon white-collar criminals who don the red MAGA cap.

May 09, 2025 | Watchdog Weekly

Xaver Clarke

Newsletter Consumer ProtectionCorruption CalendarCryptocurrencyDOGEElon MuskEthics in GovernmentRevolving DoorTechTrump 2.0

Corruption Calendar Week 16: The Grift That Keeps On Giving

This week, the Trump brothers Eric and Don Jr. embarked on a world tour to make real estate deals while the administration used the threat of tariffs to push Starlink into other countries. Trump allies engaged in price fixing and fraud were given a pass seemingly as a reward for their donations to the president, our retirement savings were placed under the eye of a greedy insurance executive, and consumer protections were targeted by House Republicans eager to find tax breaks for the rich.