A Popular Information investigation revealed that since taking office for a second time, President Trump has promoted his family’s business interests 110 times through social media posts, on-camera remarks, and official events held at Trump-owned properties.
Promote the family business 110 times because the cost of noticing is zero to him and full-time to a journalist. Blame No Kings for an assassination attempt because the cost of the lie is zero to him and reputational to the protesters. Fund Objection AI because the cost of reporting needs to become personal.
The pattern is not corruption plus lies plus intimidation. It is one strategy in three registers.
"This week, a group of Senate Republicans introduced legislation to authorize spending $400 million to build Trump’s ballroom."
At first, Trump told us this "ballroom" would cost $100 million and that American tax payers would pay none of it. Then it went up to $200 million and he told us not to worry because all his friends (like the Qataris) were chipping in, still wasn't going to cost the tax payers anything. Now, at that his overruns have brought him up to $400 million he wants the taxpayers to pay for a ballroom they never wanted, at a time when many cannot afford to pay their rent.
But what I'd really like them to dig into more deeply is what all those law firms he blackmailed into pledging millions of dollars of work for him are doing to work it off.
This is cost asymmetry as governance.
Promote the family business 110 times because the cost of noticing is zero to him and full-time to a journalist. Blame No Kings for an assassination attempt because the cost of the lie is zero to him and reputational to the protesters. Fund Objection AI because the cost of reporting needs to become personal.
The pattern is not corruption plus lies plus intimidation. It is one strategy in three registers.
Johan 🐌
"This week, a group of Senate Republicans introduced legislation to authorize spending $400 million to build Trump’s ballroom."
At first, Trump told us this "ballroom" would cost $100 million and that American tax payers would pay none of it. Then it went up to $200 million and he told us not to worry because all his friends (like the Qataris) were chipping in, still wasn't going to cost the tax payers anything. Now, at that his overruns have brought him up to $400 million he wants the taxpayers to pay for a ballroom they never wanted, at a time when many cannot afford to pay their rent.
Maybe something for Judd to dig into and revisit: https://fortune.com/article/who-has-donated-trump-white-house-ballroom/
That's a good article. Thanks.
But what I'd really like them to dig into more deeply is what all those law firms he blackmailed into pledging millions of dollars of work for him are doing to work it off.
The Civil War never ended. The Supreme Court has taken up the Lost Cause.
He is the personification of a grifter
But the cult doesn’t see it. 🙄
Cheers to formation of popinfo! Superb idea!
Report on the prices of diesel too. This affects our costs of products that are hauled around the states.
You are Paying for the Ballroom (with receipts)
https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fopen.substack.com%2Fpub%2Fthedreydossier%2Fp%2Fyoure-paying-for-trumps-ballroom%3Futm_campaign%3Dpost%26utm_medium%3Dweb&data=05%7C02%7C%7C4d921e73bd1343c1613608deaa9844e1%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C639135768127252068%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=wJxmJdza%2BT76IlhsnaV3QRPia6qGPvU6Gco3eJQllX4%3D&reserved=0