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‘Politics for profit’ or ‘pure fiction’: Opening statements aired in corruption trial of former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao
Ex-Mayor Sheng Thao betrayed Oakland by making herself “open for business” to illegal bribes before stepping foot into the mayor’s office, federal prosecutors declared Wednesday at the start of a federal corruption trial…
‘Politics as Profit’ or ‘Pure Fiction’: Bribery Trial of Ex-Oakland Mayor Kicks Off
In the federal corruption trial of former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao, prosecutors claimed Thao put her political power up for sale, while defense attorneys attempted to impeach the government’s star witness.
Huang Qifan, China’s political tumbler, falls after a decade of close corruption calls
Until this week, Huang had appeared to weather scandals that had ripped through Chongqing over the years.
Trump, Epstein and corruption allegations loom over Senate debates in Maine and Georgia
Republican Senate candidates in the battleground states of Maine and Georgia tried to turn the tables on their Democratic foes in Tuesday night’s debates as the GOP faces increasing headwinds in the final sprint before Election Day with control of the chamber on the line.
Businesses Risk Wave of Democratic Probes on Costs, Corruption
Private businesses risk an onslaught of congressional investigations if Democrats prevail in midterm elections as the opposition party prepares to concentrate sweeping oversight powers on allegations of Trump administration corruption and public anger over the cost of living.
Malaysian PM Anwar’s new budget tackles graft, but critics ask: is it too late?
Facing coalition pressure, Anwar has targeted anti-corruption in his 2027 budget, but analysts warn laws alone won’t restore trust.
Annette Taddeo targets Blaise Ingoglia with corruption claims in new ad for CFO race
'I’ll lower the insurance rates crushing our families and make sure guilty politicians go to prison.'
Ben Affleck says political 'hypocrisy, corruption and failure' left him 'disillusioned'
The actor, who once campaigned for Al Gore and Barack Obama, says he's now 'averse' to politics due to corruption.
The United Auto Workers tries to reassert political power in Michigan as it faces internal divisions
The United Auto Workers is working to regain political influence in closely contested Michigan. The UAW generally supports Democrats, but its members are divided over whether Democrats or Republicans better represent working-class interests. Internal divisions and past corruption scandals have er...
Bets on midterm endorsements, rallies, dropouts and debates raise insider trading concerns
Super-specific midterm “knowable” markets have attracted more than $20 million in trading volume, according to an analysis from the Anti-Corruption Data Collective.
Polls close in Bosnia in race where pro-Russia politician looms large and ethnic tensions simmer
Polls have closed evening in Bosnia after an election shaped by economic pressures, a youth exodus and concerns over corruption. Some leading politicians stoked ethnic tensions that have divided the
Juan Luis Arsuaga, paleontologist: ‘Corruption is very Paleolithic, very chimpanzee-like’
The co-director of the Atapuerca archaeological site shares with EL PAÍS the key points of his new book, ‘The Answer,’ a luminous text that exudes admiration for our own species and love for nature
More Americans are concerned about political corruption
89% of Americans believe government corruption is widespread, a Gallup poll found.
More Americans are concerned about political corruption
89% of Americans believe government corruption is widespread, a Gallup poll found.
How Anti-Corruption Politics Destroyed Brazil
Brazil’s upcoming election pits President Lula da Silva, eighty, against Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, forty-five. If he wins, Lula will serve a record fourth (non-consecutive) term.
How Mainers are weighing the pay-to-play allegation involving Susan Collins
Tom McShane of Windham will likely split his ticket in November. He likes a Republican candidate running for his legislative district but plans to vote for Democrat Troy Jackson for Senate, although reluctantly since his first choice dropped out. His choice in the Senate race is irrespective of the recent corruption allegations against incumbent Republican […]
Why Trump's crypto business wants to become a bank
Elizabeth Warren decries the first family's latest crypto play as a "clear conflict of interest and corruption."
Argentina's Kirchner challenges fraud conviction at UN, seeking political return
Former Argentine President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, who is under house arrest, has asked the United Nations Human Rights Committee to review her corruption conviction and suspend the lifetime ban on holding public office that currently prevents her from running for election in 2027, her lawyer said on Tuesday.
Spain Prime Minister Speaks on Future of AI, Corruption at IOP Forum
Spain Prime Minister Speaks on Future of AI, Corruption at IOP Forum
Analysis | Democrats coalesce around a message about the cost of corruption
Their message accuses Republicans of flagrant corruption, tying the attack to the billions President Donald Trump has made during his second term.
US revokes visas from Latin American officials, including Bolivia’s top prosecutor
The Trump administration is revoking the visas of 27 Latin American officials and their families, including Bolivia’s attorney general, over accusations of corruption. The officials and their families come from
House Democrats plan vast oversight of Trump administration. Impeachment is an option
“There is a cost to the American people of the out-of-control corruption,” said Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York, who is in line to become House speaker if Democrats win control at the Capitol.
Characteristics of Leadership: Corruption
Knowledgeable Alaskans share methods of effective leadership. This month: when corruption spoils the whole organization.
PLA chiefs’ downfall eliminated ‘political danger’, military mouthpiece says
Ousting of Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli was a ‘major victory’ in the Chinese military’s war on corruption: PLA Daily.
Pete Buttigieg Slams ‘Corruption’ in US Politics: ‘Corporate Money Is Flooding the Election’ and Big Pharma Will ‘Get Their Way’
Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg criticized what he described as corruption in U.S. politics, arguing that corporate money and political incentives have left Americans without a system t...
Democrats accuse Susan Collins of 'corruption' following report on alleged pay-to-play scheme
Collins' office as well as FBI officials have said the allegations — contained in an investigative report from ProPublica — are completely false. But Democrats clearly hope to convince voters otherwise in the final six weeks of the fall election campaign.
People Are Tired of the Corruption the Supreme Court Enabled In Citizens United
As it turns out, normal people do not like political corruption as much as the conservative legal movement does.
Republican senator calls for Don Jr. and Hunter Biden to be subpoenaed over business dealings
Sen. John Curtis (R-UT) called for Donald Trump Jr. and Hunter Biden to be subpoenaed over their business dealings, citing corruption concerns. In an open letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee, Curtis cited growing concerns from the public about corruption by the families of members of Congress and the president, who use their proximity to […]
Is DSAer Gonzalez any better than corrupt Griswold?
The good news is the interminable eight years of corruption and incompetence of Jena Griswold as secretary of state will end in January 2027. The bad news is Griswold might be elected to destroy the office of attorney general unless voters elect the far superior El Paso County District Attorney Michael Allen, who is actually […]
Talarico hit with ‘blatant corruption’ allegation over hefty salary from consulting firm, campaign pushes back
James Talarico drew a hefty salary from MAYA Consulting while overseeing the Texas Education Agency that awarded the firm millions in contracts.
Banking scandal rocks Brazil’s politics and the country’s presidential election in October
On the night of November 17 2025, Brazilian federal agents pulled banker Daniel Vorcaro off the tarmac at Sao Paulo’s Guarulhos airport as he prepared to board a private jet. He was initially detained as a flight risk and arrested a few months later on multiple charges of bank fraud, corruption and money laundering. He currently awaits judgment. Now, less than a month before Brazil’s national elections, the so called “Banco Master crisis” threatens to shake the country’s democracy to its core.
Donald Sherman testifies on Trump’s foreign business interests and conflicts of interest - CREW | Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington
CREW President Donald Sherman testifies on the impact of Trump’s foreign conflicts of interest and how this corruption harms Americans.
PODCAST: Lamont, Fazio trade blame over political corruption
WSHU's Ebong Udoma and CT Mirror's Mark Pazniokas discussed the governor candidates' recent focus on political corruption.
Flavio Bolsonaro faces graft probe weeks before Brazil vote
Brazilian Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, Lula's top rival in next month's election, is under investigation for alleged corruption linked to financing a biopic about his father, former President Jair Bolsonaro.
Postpartum politics: What it means to run for government as a new mum
Victorian Greens candidates Nina Crawley and Lini Fernando reflect on their experiences running a political campaign just months after giving birth. From the challenges and compromises to the support networks that wrapped around them, and why showing up vulnerably in public space matters. Subscribe In 2024, when my second child was four months old, I decided to run for local government. Fast forward two years, I am again four months postpartum, with my third child, and this time running in the state election. But this time has hit differently. Going through pregnancy, birth and postpartum while being a political candidate has had a more profound and personal impact than I ever expected. I reached out to my fellow Greens candidate for the state election, Lini Fernando, who gave birth 20 days before me, and her experience closely mirrored mine. Postpartum has its own unique challenges that we’ve not seen reflected in stories about women running for office. When people discuss the “juggle”, they’re usually talking about the practical mechanics of looking after small children - childcare arrangements, pumping schedules and logistics. As mums of multiple children, we were both aware of the logistical changes and difficulties that accompany giving birth and the months after. We assumed that combining this with running for election would be hard, but that we could organise our way out of any problems. What neither of us anticipated was the intense vulnerability that comes with putting yourself into the spotlight of a state election campaign at a time when you are physically exhausted and navigating things like breastfeeding and feeling like a stranger in your own body. There have been challenges that neither of us anticipated. Firstly, needing to buy new clothes because the supportive leggings that are a staple of the postpartum wardrobe weren’t going to cut it for community events. Lini held her first fundraiser - a trivia night - just three weeks postpartum. A business-casual wardrobe, several sizes bigger than pre-baby, was needed, and fast. As women, how we look is closely scrutinised, and the internalised fatphobia is loud. We are conditioned from our earliest days to believe that our appearance is tied to our worth, and taught how we are allowed to show up in public. Women who dare to put themselves into the spotlight also receive more abuse than their male counterparts, including criticism of their appearance. To stand in front of members of your community and try to convince them that you’re the best person to represent them in parliament is a challenge in and of itself. To do it with leaking breasts, a pelvic floor that could betray you at the first sign of a sneeze, a body that still feels unfamiliar, and with half your hair falling out (hello postpartum hair loss!) is another thing altogether. It requires courage, allowing yourself the grace to be vulnerable in public, and the belief that showing up, however imperfectly, matters. And the vulnerability isn’t just physical; it also includes factors like having to ask a campaign team to accommodate the realities of having a baby. Asking for help is hard, and it’s a skill that both new parents and hopeful political candidates need to become comfortable with. Parents understand the disappointment that comes when a call for help or connection is rebuffed, like a friend cancelling a much-needed coffee. That rejection is amplified for political candidates calling dozens of people each week. Many people don’t realise running for Parliament, when you aren’t the incumbent, is a volunteer role supported largely by other volunteers who have to squeeze volunteering in around their paid work. Calls need to be made and meetings held after work hours - usually during “witching hour” (5-8 pm), that special time of night when babies cry for no reason. I found that I was struggling to make these commitments, or having to tap out and ask for them to be rearranged. When I spoke to Lini, we realised that she had had a similar experience, this push-pull of being the candidate and wanting to show our faces at meetings and help recruit new volunteers at ‘calling parties’, but also being the only people who could settle our newborns. Sometimes we could merge the two worlds; Lini and I realised that we had both attended 7:30pm meetings online, sitting in a dark room, struggling though breastfeeding and settling our babies. Although we’re both committed to breaking the stigma around breastfeeding, it can be hard to keep your composure while trying to feed a young baby as they try to latch, spew and fuss. Ultimately, Lini and I agreed that showing up vulnerably in public space matters. Leaders should possess empathy and understanding for those who feel raw and in transition; from the dad who just got evicted to the teen who acquired a disability - anyone who feels they aren’t the version of themselves they expected right now. The patriarchy tries to tell us otherwise, but women shouldn’t have to wait until they’re ‘recovered’, no longer vulnerable, before they feel entitled to participate in public life. In fact, we could all benefit from our leaders being a little more vulnerable. *This piece was cowritten, but has been presented in the first person for the sake of style. About the authors Nina Crawley is former teacher and community organiser who now works in human rights and inequality advocacy for a non-profit. She’s a mother of three keen to get back to running as soon as her pelvic floor allows! She’s contesting the seat of Ivanhoe for the Greens in this year’s state election. Lini Fernando is a lawyer working in diverse areas of law including anti corruption and public law. She’s a mother of two and a gardening and good policy enthusiast. She is currently contesting the seat of Croydon for the Greens in this year’s state election. Thanks for reading Cheek Media Co. ! This post is public so feel free to share it. Share
Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley, U.S. Rep. Val Hoyle, raise concerns about corruption in Springfield townhall
Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley and U.S. Rep. Val Hoyle held a “stop the corruption” town hall in Springfield Thursday. The town hall was a part of a tour focusing on concerns about corruption in politics.
Singapore’s Prime Minister Gets a Big Raise
Singapore’s prime minister, Lawrence Wong, got the bump as part of a longstanding policy to pay high salaries to public servants in order to attract top talent and prevent corruption.
Berman campaign: “We’re going fishing” – ER nurse and Democrat Mitchell Berman launches first ad of general election in Wisconsin’s First District Congressional race
Spot features Berman fishing and focuses on ending corruption in Washington, contrasting Berman’s working class background and Republican Bryan Steil’s corporate special interests RAYMOND, Wis. — Today, Mitchell Berman, ER nurse and Democratic candidate for Wisconsin’s First Congressional District, launched...
Gov. Gavin Newsom's former chief of staff seeks to delay sentencing because of health issues
Dana Williamson, Newsom's onetime chief of staff, is seeking to delay her sentencing date for political corruption because of health issues, according to documents.
The New York Times
Seven of Ukraine’s top 10 military contractors won new business despite open criminal investigations for fraud, failures to deliver on earlier deals or the arrest of chief executives for corruption,...
How 2026 candidates are targeting health care "corruption"
They're accusing opponents of being in the pockets of drugmakers or health insurers.
Ukraine war briefing: New political turmoil in Kyiv as prosecutor general resigns
Anti-corruption agencies raid offices and arrest a deputy of Ruslan Kravchenko in case linked to alleged laundering of phone scam proceeds. What we know on day 1,658
Ukraine's chief prosecutor resigns over call centre corruption scandal
In his resignation letter, Ruslan Kravchenko denied the allegations against him, saying he did not want his office "to be used as a tool in political confrontation".
Pa. election results, Shapiro’s speeches, and state laws are all prediction market bets. Could this lead to corruption?
Some ethics experts are raising concerns that prediction markets are ripe for abuse from government insiders or bad faith actors looking to sway elections.
‘Costs and corruption’: Democrats hone midterm attacks on data centers
Democrats are coalescing around their top attack lines as public opinion of data centers turns rapidly negative.
Democrats vow aggressive investigations into Trump ‘corruption’ and ‘grift’ if they win the House
Rep. Robert Garcia would most likely chair the Oversight Committee, while Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., is in line to chair the Judiciary Committee. Here’s how they would use that power.
Americans’ ‘government corruption’ problem is in a new league
It is not news, or surprising, that Americans are worried about government corruption.
Poll shows nearly 90% of Americans believe government corruption is widespread
The belief increased by 10 percentage points compared with last year, a Gallup poll found.
Jena Griswold’s record: corruption, incompetence
There is no statewide elected official going back decades who is as breathtakingly corrupt and incompetent as Secretary of State Jena Griswold, who is now running for attorney general of all things. And compliant ruling Democrats know it. Their silence is nothing short of complicity with Griswold’s shameful political grift. CBS Colorado’s political reporter Shaun […]
While Ukraine is under fire, corruption and political chaos abounds
Is a reckoning close at hand?
Bolivia arrests political adviser to Latin American right-wingers
Arrest comes after attack on activist Nadia Beller, who says she was targeted for her opposition to corruption.
Eric Jones Calls for a New Politics to Fight Corruption, Corporate Power and Rising Costs
Democratic challenger Eric Jones has initiated a campaign for Congress against longtime incumbent Representative Mike Thompson, with his platform emphasizing political reform, the mitigation of corporate influence, and the amelioration of economic inequality.
Three takeaways from Joe Mitchell at the Register Political Soapbox
Republican Iowa 2nd Congressional District candidate Joe Mitchell laid out his anti-corruption platform during the Register's political Soapbox.
Mayor Brian DePeña's arrest a 'step back' for Lawrence
Mayor Brian DePeña’s arrest Friday on federal fraud and money laundering charges marked yet another entry in Lawrence's long history of political scandals and corruption.
Josh Turek talks costs, corruption at Iowa State Fair Political Soapbox
Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Josh Turek kicked off the Des Moines Register's Political Soapbox talking about taking on high costs and corruption.
America's sunk so low, dishonor and disgrace don't end political careers. Ohio politicians prove it.
Dishonor should be disqualifying in politics. It is not. Scandalous behavior or public corruption should end political careers. They do not. Ohio politicians proved the point last week.
ND Expert on democracy: Can better civics education restore voter dissatisfaction over political corruption?
This summer, America celebrated the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, widely recognized as the formal founding of our nation and one of the early stages of establishing a democratic government. Over the past two decades, however, democracies all over the world have struggled with a lack of clear support. Democracy scholars have referred to these challenges as evidence of backsliding, a phenomenon that has many political and social scientists concerned, including Notre Dame development economist Enrique Seira Bejarano.
Live Results: Hawaii midterm primaries
An ongoing corruption scandal involving Hawaii’s lieutenant governor looms over Saturday’s state primary as nine candidates jockey to replace her.
In ancient Rome, tax fraud was punishable by death
Stone tablets recount a corruption case so widespread that it became a capital offense in 480 CE.
Victoria’s anti-corruption report reveals more grubby ‘whatever it takes’ politics than bombshell revelations
There has been no finding of corrupt conduct, but a corrosive abuse of power, trashing of good governance and the abandonment of proper processes
Michael Gates explains why he should be California's next Attorney General
Michael Gates, a Republican attorney from Huntington Beach, is running for California attorney general, emphasizing his extensive legal experience and a commitment to addressing crime, corruption, and what he calls compliance with federal laws.
Bangladesh’s future depends on the military distancing itself from politics
The generals’ pursuit of wealth and civilian power fuelled corruption while leaving the army hollowed out
Support Schumer's Anti-Corruption Bill; Reverse the Corrosion of American Politics
July 31, 2026 – In response to Sen. Schumer’s announcement of new legislation to create an Anti-Corruption Bureau, the Center for International Policy Senior Nonresident Fellow Casey Michel issued the following statement: “We welcome Sen. Schumer’s push to place anti-corruption efforts front and center for Democratic reforms. We also commend the bill for taking aim far […]
Citing Trump, Schumer announces bill to create anti-corruption bureau
The bill would allow Americans to file a claim to recover money stolen from the public through government corruption
Turkish politician hit by rent-a-crowd scandal
Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, court-appointed head of Turkey’s oldest party, denounced corruption during party event
Trump shattered ethics norms. Will voters trust Democrats to fix them?
Democrats are making the case that now is the time to tackle anti-corruption reforms — to serve as a check on Donald Trump and to overhaul a system voters say is co-opted against their interests.
Morning news brief
President Trump to meet with the leaders of Ukraine and Israel, Work permits for thousands of TPS holders set to expire, survey finds many Americans believe corruption is a problem in politics.
Survey finds most Americans believe corruption is a problem in politics
Voters indicate they're increasingly concerned about corruption in public office. A new survey indicates that concern spans the political spectrum.
Oahu grand jury hears evidence in state’s political corruption probe
Hawaii Department of the Attorney General investigators and prosecutors are presenting evidence to an Oahu grand jury today in their criminal public corruption investigation that has ensnared Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke and some of her supporters.
U.S. sports executive buys minority stake in second-tier Bolton after Donald Trump pardon
The stake in the Championship club is Tim Leiweke's latest venture into sport since the Department of Justice accused him of corruption.
Voters Think All Politicians Are a Little Corrupt, but Trump Might Be Pushing It
There’s a difference between ordinary influence peddling and the first family’s outright self-enrichment.
The Trump Family Sparks a Revolution in Albania
A luxury development planned by Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump has spurred anti-corruption protests.
Schiff calls out Trump's corruption, warns against complacency
In a floor speech, California's senator plans to assay the president's conflicts of interest and offer a prescription for cleansing once Trump leaves office. He warns against numbness or complacency.
Duran: Political Corruption, Personal Gain, Negligence, and Public Deception
It’s evident that the supervisors don’t want to recognize and/or prioritize saving lives of the infants, children, disabled, veterans, seniors, and critically ill who are trying to survive living on the streets in Orange County…
NC political corruption probe: Warrant says group spent big on strip clubs, golf
The new warrant highlights nearly $80,000 in spending from 2022 to 2024 on strip clubs, sports and a beach rental.
Congress Must Stop Enabling Trump's Crypto Corruption
With the CLARITY Act, Washington is cashing in on the crypto industry. Americans will pay the price.
Texas attorney general candidates have plans to fight corruption if elected
In the race to be the state’s top lawyer, there’s no love lost between the Republican and Democratic candidates.
China Expels Former Politburo Member Over Graft and Sex Charges
China expelled former Politburo member Ma Xingrui from the ruling Communist Party, accusing him of a wide range of offenses including corruption, abuse of power and trading political favors for sex.
The Quintessential Trump-era Politician
In 2020, I wrote an article about collaboration and collaborators. The title was History Will Judge the Complicit, and it started with the story of two famous East Germans, Markus Wolf and Wolfgang Leonhard, who both landed in East Berlin just after the end of the war. Although they came from very similar backgrounds, the former stuck with the regime, eventually becoming its spy boss; the latter, horrified by the brutal reality of Soviet-style communism, escaped. By way of juxtaposition, I also wrote about Lyndsey Graham and Mitt Romney. These two men also made very different decisions when confronted by Donald Trump’s assault on the ideals that they had both grown up believing: A glance at their biographies would not have led many to predict what happened next. On paper, Graham would have seemed, in 2016, like the man with deeper ties to the military, to the rule of law, and to an old-fashioned idea of American patriotism and American responsibility in the world. Romney, by contrast, with his shifts between the center and the right, with his multiple careers in business and politics, would have seemed less deeply attached to those same old-fashioned patriotic ideals. Most of us register soldiers as loyal patriots, and management consultants as self-interested. We assume people from small towns in South Carolina are more likely to resist political pressure than people who have lived in many places. Intuitively, we think that loyalty to a particular place implies loyalty to a set of values. But in this case the clichés were wrong. It was Graham who made excuses for Trump’s abuse of power. It was Graham—a JAG Corps lawyer—who downplayed the evidence that the president had attempted to manipulate foreign courts and blackmail a foreign leader into launching a phony investigation into a political rival. It was Graham who abandoned his own stated support for bipartisanship and instead pushed for a hyperpartisan Senate Judiciary Committee investigation into former Vice President Joe Biden’s son. It was Graham who played golf with Trump, who made excuses for him on television, who supported the president even as he slowly destroyed the American alliances—with Europeans, with the Kurds—that Graham had defended all his life. By contrast, it was Romney who, in February, became the only Republican senator to break ranks with his colleagues, voting to impeach the president. “Corrupting an election to keep oneself in office,” he said, is “perhaps the most abusive and destructive violation of one’s oath of office that I can imagine.” In the wake of Graham’s unexpected death on Saturday, I wrote about him again. He was, in many ways, the quintessential politician of Trump’s Washington, a man who shifted 180 degrees. Graham had been a fervent American patriot, proud reserve officer and military lawyer; he became one of the most important defenders of a president who believes soldiers are “suckers and losers” and shows no respect for law of any kind. As his politics changed, his language grew coarser and his behavior grew worse: He urged Israel to “level the place” in Gaza, and insulted the Danish prime minister in Munich, prompting a colleague, Senator Elissa Slotkin, to issue an apology. Here’s an excerpt from the article, which you can read in The Atlantic (gift link here) Like his close friend John McCain, Graham believed that America should stand at the center of a broad democratic alliance. The few times I met him were in that context, at the Munich Security Conference or at other European-American gatherings, which he once attended with great regularity. He also took seriously the practice of American democracy at home. In a 2014 conversation with The Atlantic, he described himself as a pragmatic politician who eschewed populist slogans. “I know Washington is broken, but what’s broken about it is everybody yelling and nobody trying to fix it,” he said. “I’m trying.” When Donald Trump first appeared in U.S. politics, Graham recognized him immediately for what he was: the spokesman for an alien ideology, one radically different from the idealistic patriotism that Graham had practiced and preached since childhood. Trump privately mocked the military that Graham loved as nothing but “suckers and losers.” He put falsehoods, cynicism, and personal greed at the center of his politics, while expressing disdain for transparency, accountability, and democracy itself. In 2015, Graham described Trump as a “race-baiting, xenophobic, religious bigot” who should “go to hell.” Also as a “nutjob.” When Trump won, Graham understood, as did so many others, that he would have to make some important choices. For a while, he went silent. In the spring of 2016, I saw him at one of those conferences in Europe. He seemed too depressed to speak. But then, like many other Republicans—and, more important, like many other people who have lived under political occupation or experienced radical regime change—he made the decision to abandon his previous ideals, to bury the patriotism that was once so important to him, and to become, instead, a loud, opportunistic collaborator. As I wrote in 2020, it’s very hard to look in to anyone’s heart and to understand their motivations from the outside. But it does seem that Graham had a deep need to be relevant, to be in the game, to be a player, at any cost. And that, rather than any particular achievement, is what he will be remembered for. Continuing to monitor conflicts of interest, ostentatious emoluments, outright corruption and policy changes that will facilitate outright corruption. (Read my original article, Kleptocracy Inc and check out the SNF Agora Institute chart) June 27 Trump diverted funds from more than 900 projects nationwide—including safety upgrades at national parks—to finance beautification projects around Washington, including $700,000 used to fix a White House walkway. June 28 After a years-long Department of Justice investigation into Abbott Laboratories over its management of a baby formula facility where potentially deadly bacteria turned up enough evidence to criminally charge the firm, top department officials instead opted for a financial penalty—illustrating the department’s move away from strict corporate enforcement under the Trump administration. June 29 Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stacked the Defense Policy Board—which is charged with providing independent national security recommendations to the Office of the Secretary of Defense—with Trump allies, including tech billionaire Marc Andreessen, who has invested in defense contractors like OpenAI and SpaceX, after purging the panel last year. Trump purchased between $1 million and $5 million worth of stock in Axon—which makes about 90% of US tasers—two weeks before ICE solicited bids for a $220 million taser contract. The White House unveiled limited-edition US passports for America’s 250th birthday, featuring a portrait of Trump overlaid on the Declaration of Independence. June 30 Trump made around $1.2 billion from his various crypto companies last year, including more than $500 million from World Liberty Financial and $600 million from sales of his meme coin. Trump is considering issuing 250 pardons to commemorate America’s 250th birthday. These are expected to be largely doled out through the Office of the Pardon Attorney’s informal network of intermediaries. White-collar defense attorneys say they can typically win pardons for clients for $2 million. Last year, Trump administration officials awarded a no-bid contract worth up to $500 million to Clark Construction for the White House ballroom—negotiations in which the president was directly involved. July 1 The Amazon MGM Studios documentary about Melania Trump earned the First Lady more than $10 million. Trump made hundreds of individual stock purchases worth as much as $12.8 million the day before his announcement pausing “Liberation Day” tariffs for 90 days sent the S&P 500 soaring nearly 10%—one of the largest single-day gains ever. Mar-a-Lago and Trump National Doral saw record surges in revenue during Trump’s first year in office, earning $77.5 million and $121.9 million respectively, compared to average annual revenues of $25 million and $75 million during Trump’s first term. Entities across the Persian Gulf paid more than $300 million to Trump’s businesses last year, including $263 million from the sale of half his stake in World Liberty Financial to a firm backed by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, a top UAE royal and brother of the country’s president. Kash Patel failed to properly disclose his stock purchase of a Department of Justice contractor, MicroStrategy, worth up to $250,000 last year, despite laws requiring disclosure within 45 days of the trade. July 2 Trump has been directing administration officials to steer more government contracts—so far worth more than $2.4 billion—to Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin aerospace firm, after Amazon gave $1 million to Trump’s inaugural fund, donated to the White House ballroom project, and reached a $40 million deal to license a Melania Trump documentary. Alongside the billions he made from cryptocurrency last year, Trump earned millions of dollars from real estate licensing fees, including $21 million from organizations in the UAE and $9.2 million in Saudi Arabia, along with smaller sums from merchandise sales, including $4.7 million from Trump Watches and $35,920 from 45 Guitar, a guitar brand endorsed by the president. House Democrats accused consultants tied to the Trump administration of financial fraud, alleging they gave prospective donors to America250—the bipartisan committee created by Congress to celebrate the nation’s semiquincentennial—the banking and routing numbers for Freedom 250, the White House’s fund for events like the UFC cage fight. Democrats also allege that Freedom 250’s CEO traveled to the World Economic Forum in Davos to solicit donations from foreign government officials and business leaders. The Trump administration’s proposed rollback of gun regulations would lift the prohibition on mailing handguns to individuals, a significant win for GrabAGun—the direct-to-consumer firearm retailer on whose board Donald Trump Jr. sits and in which he holds a 1.1% ownership stake. GrabAGun currently must rely on a middleman to transfer firearms to customers. Trump’s financial disclosure revealed that he made more than 21,000 securities trades during his first year back in office, growing his investment account to at least $858 million across stakes in around 1,600 companies, compared to the 13 total trades Joe Biden made during his entire presidency. July 4 Nearly 1 million people who bought the president’s meme coin—Trump Coin—collectively lost $3.8 billion on the token, while he walked away with $636 million. July 6 Shares of Dell closed up 4.4% after Trump recommended people buy the firm’s computers during a speech announcing the launch of Trump investment accounts for children, boosting the more than $1 million worth of shares the president owns in the company. July 9 Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh named crypto investor and Trump ally Marc Andreessen to a task force aimed at modernizing the Federal Reserve, including rethinking its approach to inflation—a key factor keeping interest rates elevated. Palm Beach International Airport has officially changed its name to Trump International Airport—a move that will require Florida to pay royalties to the president’s family for licensing his name. I was there a few months ago, during a trip to Barcelona. The sculptures were a revelation, I’d never seen so many together before. Each one has its own personality. Enjoy the good weather, if you are lucky enough to have it. History Will Judge the Complicit The Quintessential Politician Autocracy Inc Open Letters, from Anne Applebaum is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe
The Ugly Politics of the Beautiful Game
Alex Shephard on greed, corruption, and the enduring magic of the World Cup
Turkey's Erdogan hosts NATO summit as political rival Imamoglu defends himself in court
ISTANBUL (AP) — As Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hosted NATO leaders in Ankara on Wednesday, his main political rival defended himself against corruption charges in court.
Democrat Gina Hinojosa wants to send $1,500 to every Texas household
The so-called “Corruption Tax Refund” checks are the latest effort by the Austin Democrat to brand Gov. Greg Abbott as beholden to big donors.
Envisioning Federal Scientific Integrity as a Tool to Protect Democracy and Fight Corruption
How can we preserve scientific integrity policies in the next administration when they've proven to be subject to political whims?
Crypto, red cards and Trump’s corruption problem
Last week, President Donald Trump’s financial disclosures showed he earned more than $2 billion in 2025 — including an astonishing more than $1 billion from his family’s entry into the largely unregulated world of cryptocurrency.
'Fighter for everyday Floridians': Tina Polsky becomes latest lawmaker to endorse Alex Vindman
'Alex has called out corruption at the highest levels of government.'
'Playing politics with public safety': Budget makes Wake County prosecutors NC's most understaffed
GOP leaders say the simply forgot to fund more prosecutors in Wake County. Democrats are skeptical of that, pointing to the county's central role in prosecuting political corruption cases.
James Carville breaks with famous ‘It’s the economy, stupid’ slogan because of Trump
James Carville says his famous 1992 catchphrase "It's the economy, stupid" now haunts him because of what he calls Trump's corruption today.
Trump's reported $2.2 billion in 2025 income sets off ethics alarms
Critics described President Trump's money-making ventures as "bribery" and "corruption." The White House denied any conflicts of interest.
Milei Taps Lifetime Politician to Lead His Cabinet After Scandal
Argentine President Javier Milei tapped a seasoned politician he once openly insulted on the campaign trail to become the fourth cabinet chief of his government plagued by corruption scandals.
Iraqi Officials Arrested in Green Zone Corruption Raid, Deepening Political Tensions
Iraqi security forces arrested several senior political figures in a series of overnight raids inside Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone.
Iraq detains politicians, officials in anti-corruption crackdown
Iraqi security forces arrested politicians and senior officials early on Sunday as part of a broader anti-corruption campaign ordered by Prime Minister Ali al‑Zaidi, a government spokesperson said.
Texas Democrats welcome Bernie Sanders and plunge into economic populism
In speeches and conversations throughout the convention, Texas Democrats embraced affordability and anti-corruption themes championed by the Independent senator from Vermont.
Isha Johansen on the promise and politics of football
The first female president of the Sierra Leone Football Association discusses her new memoir, corruption in the game, and rebuilding through sport.
Why JD Vance is downplaying Richard Nixon’s corruption
It’s not every day that you see the would-be frontrunner for a major party’s presidential nomination extolling the virtues of Richard Nixon and downplaying his corruption.
EVA HENRY: Corruption resurfaces in Adams, Arapahoe County politics linked to One Main Street
Corporate dark money groups are funneling millions into eleven different races statewide.
Platner, Collins’ campaign spar over federal contracts
Platner released a multi-point plan he calls “a corruption crackdown,” which covers issues such as big money in politics, lobbying activities by former members of Congress, and making it more difficult for presidents to cash in on their position while in office.
Hungary’s PM launches drive to free country from Orban’s ‘mafia’
The raft of proposed changes includes a new constitution and anti-corruption office, and the ousting of the president.
Puerto Rico roiled by widening political crisis as top official comes under fire
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — The administration of Puerto Rico Gov. Jenniffer González is mired in a new political crisis, with allegations of public corruption, government interference and conflicts of interest.
Local History: Kefauver calls out corruption in Tennessee politics
Chattanooga's Estes Kefauver was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1939, after campaigning as a progressive supporting President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal.