Grand Theft America

Briefs

6 min read

Five Ways Trump Makes Money From the Presidency

By our count, $2.5 billion in cash and cash-like value has gone to the Trump family, its businesses and his library foundation. About $193 billion more in deals, stakes and contract ceilings sits around them. Each of the five ways is a power the office already has.

$2.5 billion to the family by our count, and $193 billion more around them.

13 min read

How Trump Turned the Presidency Into a Profit Center

He has taken in more money in one year than any president in history. It’s not even close. And we’re the ones footing the bill.

More money in one year than any president in history. You’re footing the bill.

8 min read

Five Tried-and-True Moves to Capture a Democracy and Make a Killing

Rising strongmen want money and power, and they do predictable things in a democracy to get them. What’s shocking here is how fast Trump is doing them in America.

Strongmen run the same five moves to take a democracy. Trump is running them fast.

8 min read

How Republicans Could Steal the Midterms

There are 12 levers between Election Day and the seating of a new Congress that Republicans can pull. They’ve pulled 11 so far.

11 min read

Trump and Big Tech Are Building a Surveillance State and Getting Rich Doing It.

A deportation machine built by Palantir, Anduril, and Clearview is now being pointed at poll workers, protesters, and voter rolls. Meanwhile, the officials ordering this expansion are getting rich off of owning the stock of these companies.

A deportation machine from Palantir, Anduril and Clearview, now pointed at voter rolls.

6 min read

The Many Ways Russ Vought Could Rig the Midterms

Russ Vought can pay for the ads, fund the fraud claims, hold back the money that counts the votes, pay for agents at the polls, and use the December shutdown to pressure the result.

Russ Vought can hold back the money that counts your vote.

7 min read

Who Stood Up to Trump, and Who Folded

Some people showed true courage, standing up to abuses of power. Others caved and tried to join the gravy train.

Some people stood up to abuses of power. Others caved.