In the 11 months since Trump's return to power, he's orchestrated a mad dash to empower elites and reorient the economy towards a state-centered mafia.

The Pacific Northwest is still reeling from catastrophic flooding. Trump's attacks on FEMA have relief and recovery even more difficult for flood victims.

Democrats won big last month in NJ, VA, and GA by embracing the growing populist backlash against AI. But House Dems' new AI commission seems more interested in appeasing Big Tech billionaires than listening to their own voters.

The Trump administration has wasted no time gutting fuel efficiency standards and consumer protections in the auto industry, thanks to strong lobbying support from the National Automobile Dealers Association.

The latest Biden alum to spin through the corporate revolving door is former Comptroller of the Currency Michael Hsu, who just joined a VC firm backing crypto and fintech companies.

"[Abundance] has predictably morphed into an all-encompassing politics of deregulation and anti-Left populism that dovetails with the political needs of Silicon Valley, and the ultrawealthy in general." [email protected]

- Trump's FTC kills an investigation into Pepsi price-gouging. - Musk minion Jared Isaacman takes the reins at NASA. - The EPA weakens formaldehyde regulations at the chemical lobby's behest. All that and more in this week's Corruption Calendar!

WE'RE HIRING: Apply for our paid remote research internship by January 9, 2026.

"There is a substantial public interest in ensuring that Secretary Lutnick, a billionaire, is not violating federal ethics law to propel data centers that will be profitable for his family while making life more expensive for working Americans."

NEW Corruption Calendar: When it comes to decreasing prices for everyday Americans, Trump is failing miserably. But when it comes to handing free rein of the economy over to his corporate benefactors, Trump continues to outdo himself. READ MORE:

Biden's head of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency Michael Hsu just joined a venture capital firm with several crypto clients that were under legal trouble during the Biden administration. Sheesh. From our friends at @revolvingdoordc.bsky.social: prospect.org/2025/12/18/a...

As recently as February, Michael Hsu was one of the most powerful regulators of the financial industry Last week, he joined a VC firm whose portfolio is littered with concerning companies that have faced a # of enforcement actions, including some from Hsu’s (now former) employer

In today's edition of the Watchdog Weekly newsletter, our @dylangyauchl.bsky.social writes about the savage cuts to regulatory agencies that leave Americans more vulnerable to disease, disaster, exploitation, and more. revolvingdoorproject.substack.com/p/cutting-cr...

As the Pacific Northwest reels from catastrophic flooding, it's worth revisiting how the Trump administration's ongoing attacks on FEMA have undermined disaster preparedness and effective responses.

Last month, Democrats surged to victories in NJ, VA, and GA, in part driven by anger over AI data centers driving increased energy costs. But the House Democrats' new commission on AI seems more interested in winning back Big Tech billionaires than it does winning over voters.

The National Automobile Dealers Association likes to pretend it has customer's interests in mind, but they've spent millions opposing environmental regulations and consumer protections.

Trump's FEMA Review Council is reportedly poised to recommend privatization of the National Flood Insurance Program. We explain why that would be bad here: www.levernews.com/amid-the-shu...

We're hiring a research intern! If you're interested in monitoring corporate influence on and within the federal government, oversight of state and federal disaster response infrastructure, ethics, and accountability in government, apply by January 9, 2026. Learn more:

Americans are fed up with AI, data centers and they hate federal preemption of state AI regulations. But House Democratic leadership seems to be prioritizing winning back Silicon Valley oligarchs over voters with their new commission on AI.

That Trump and his allies, many of whom are openly authoritarian, don’t seem worried about a negative political fallout is ominous.

NEW: Trump Has Already Shattered FEMA Without Eliminating It Today's FEMA Review Council meeting was abruptly canceled. Our @kennystancil.bsky.social explains how, even if the council doesn't recommend abolishing FEMA, the Trump administration is still actively destroying the agency.

This meeting was supposed to happen today from 1-3 pm ET. Registrants did not receive links as they were supposed to, then the meeting was abruptly canceled with no explanation. The Trump administration doesn't take emergency management seriously, exhibit 2,345.

Essential reporting from @marisakabas.bsky.social FEMA's Office of Response and Recovery will soon be led by Gregg Phillips, an election-denying conspiracy theorist with no relevant experience. "Americans will lose their lives because this administration refuses to put in competent leadership." 🧵

Since Aug the Tenant Union Federation has organized 9 unions in 6 states, repping 1500+ tenants Capital Realty Group properties. This is the most significant portfolio organizing ever. CRG has responded by ripping pages out of the labor union-busting playbook... inthesetimes.com/article/tena...

Trump said the quiet part loud in his press conference on CAFE standards: He's rolling back regulations because industry asked him to. Our @kjboyle.bsky.social writes about a quiet but powerful player in these lobbying efforts: the National Automobile Dealers Association.

More than a third of FEMA staff have been fired, and Kristi Noem has left the rest unable to do their jobs. Kenny Stancil argues that it's worse than negligence — it’s evidence for “the Trump administration’s disdain for human life itself.” trib.al/qetyhzU

The #SupremeCourt is about to consider whether the President can fire govt agency heads despite Congress having said the President cannot. Critics of the President and the Court are saying the Court wants the President to be all powerful. And some hope to seize those reins in 2029. Not so fast.

“The Trump administration has effectively outsourced soaring disaster costs to ill-equipped states, profit-seeking insurers, and, ultimately, helpless individuals.” When the next hurricane hits, these cuts will prove disastrous. From Kenny Stancil: trib.al/OAJD6Ij

We're hiring! Apply for our paid Research Internship by January 9, 2026. therevolvingdoorproject.org/research-int...

Here are eight ways that Senate Democrats should be holding Trump and corporate wrongdoers accountable — one for each member of the Cave Caucus.

The American Economics Association may have banned Larry Summers for life, but some companies have been less conclusive about their ongoing ties to the disgraced Epstein pal.

"Trump’s approach is completely unprecedented. With him, there seems to be a clear streak of vengeance in some of these decisions." [email protected]

In the latest edition of Watchdog Weekly, we examine what the priorities of a government that acted decisively to meet people’s needs and combat crises would look like.

For the first time in a decade, no hurricanes made landfall in the U.S. this year. We won’t always be this lucky — and when the next big storm hits, Trump's hollowed-out FEMA won't be able to respond.

People will pay for this corrupt, pro-pollution administration with their lives. Read more about how the Trump's "energy dominance" agenda threatens our safety in Week 46 of Corruption Calendar.

We're hiring a Research Intern! If you're interested in: - corporate influence on and within the federal government - state & federal disaster response infrastructure - government ethics and accountability Apply by January 9, 2026.

The U.S. was lucky to avoid any hurricanes this year as Trump guts FEMA and fires a third of its staff. His policies have already cost lives, and they’ve guaranteed the next disaster will be worse. From Kenny Stancil: trib.al/rRTPFBt

For the first time in a decade, no hurricanes made landfall in the US this year. However, we won’t always be this lucky, and when the next disaster hits, a FEMA gutted by Trump will not be equipped to respond. From Kenny Stancil: trib.al/4dTp8sK

NEW: Our latest Corruption Calendar highlighting how the Trump administration is all-in on corruption, pollution, and depredation. This edition covers the alleged double-tap strike in the Caribbean, Silicon Valley's inside man David Sacks, the admin's efforts to revive coal pollution, and more.

NEW: Fortunately, the U.S. escaped the 2025 hurricane season mostly unscathed. But a major storm will almost certainly hit in the next few years. When it does, the lethal effects of Trump's FEMA assault will be fully exposed. Our @kennystancil.bsky.social surveys the damage in @prospect.org. 🧵⬇️

We're hiring a research intern! If you're interested in monitoring corporate influence on and within the federal government, oversight of state and federal disaster response infrastructure, ethics, and accountability in government, apply by January 9, 2026. Learn more:

When the Biden administration attempted to regulate crypto, billionaires like Marc Andreessen organized a $200 million+ effort to oust crypto opponents and elect industry allies. It worked. Now they’re trying the same thing, but to ensure AI goes completely unregulated. My piece for Rolling Stone:

In today's newsletter, part of a joint series with @cplusc.bsky.social on what a just digital transition during an era of accelerating climate crises could look like, @hannahstoryb.bsky.social critiques Trump's abundance agenda for fossil fuel-powered AI and points to an alternative roadmap.

The AI industry already has influence in the Trump White House, but they want even more power over the halls of Congress. To accomplish this, Marc Andreessen has decided to rerun the crypto model that was so successful in 2024, with near total impunity for the AI industry as the goal

Some companies are trying to downplay their associations with disgraced Epstein pal Larry Summers.

Our Toni Aguilar Rosenthal: "One of the best ways to protect public lands [from being sold off for drilling] is basic ethics reforms and preventing policymakers from profiting off of their office."

The DOJ's slap-on-the-wrist settlement with RealPage is yet another example of Trump's pay-to-play justice system in action.

It's been a real turkey of a month. Catch up on the elite corruption that should give everyone indigestion in our latest newsletter.

Another unconscionable move from the Trump administration to cause thousands of premature deaths in order to line polluters' pockets. We are keeping track of the administration's relentless sacrifices of environmental and human health to benefit toxic industry. Each week the list grows longer.

NEWSLETTER: In the spirit of Thanksgiving, this week’s newsletter is stuffed with fresh recaps of the Trump 2.0's latest corrupt policymaking — plus our top publications from the past month. Dig in!