The Most Corrupt Presidency in American History, by the Numbers
Looking back through the biggest scandals in American history through the lens of Trump 2.0.
Corruption
Trump's 'Anti-Weaponization Fund' Marks a Pattern of Trying To Profit From the Presidency
Since the beginning of his first term, the president has repeatedly used his office for personal gain.
Trump's World Cup Intervention Shows His Sore Loser Philosophy
In sports as in foreign policy, he treats cheating as a virtue. And it doesn’t even work.
Can You Hate the Government and Still Love America?
Plus: World Cup tourists embrace America, the Supreme Court expands gun rights, and Europe's resistance to air conditioning
Casino Lobbyists Wrote a Letter Attacking Prediction Markets. Maryland Copied It and Sent It to Federal Regulators.
The cronyism committed by the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency is a little too obvious.
35 Retired Federal Judges Slam Trump's 'Laughable' Defense of His 'Obviously Collusive' IRS Settlement
The DOJ's unilateral abandonment of the Anti-Weaponization Fund "makes it crystal clear that these parties were never adverse," the former judges argue.
Trump's Lawyers Insist There Is 'No Evidence' of 'Collusion or Fraud' in His 'Settlement With Myself'
The sweet deal that resolved the president's fatally flawed lawsuit against the IRS was business as usual at the DOJ, his attorneys told a federal judge.
A DOJ Brief Preposterously Insists That Trump's 'Anti-Weaponization Fund' Was Politically Neutral
The president himself has repeatedly contradicted that claim.
Todd Blanche Hates 'Weaponization' of Government Unless It Benefits His Boss
Blanche is happy to pervert justice in service of the president's personal agenda. No wonder Trump wants to keep him as attorney general.
Trump's Immunity Deal Stinks Even More Than His Blatantly Corrupt 'Anti-Weaponization Fund'
An addendum to the president's "settlement" of his lawsuit against the IRS shields him and his family from liability for any federal offenses they committed prior to May 19.
Bernie Sanders' AI Wealth Fund Bill Shows That He Doesn't Understand AI or Wealth
Sanders' plan would impose a one-time tax of 50 percent of AI companies' stock and give the government voting shares and the power to block corporate decisions.
Trump Is Reportedly Reconsidering His Politically and Legally Contentious 'Anti-Weaponization Fund'
The Justice Department signals a retreat from defending the blatantly corrupt scheme, which provoked vigorous objections from Republican lawmakers.
Indiana Police Misplace More Than $30,000 Seized in Massage Parlor Raids
The raids took place after a detective with the state Protection for Abused and Trafficked Humans Law Enforcement Task Force got four penis massages.
Trump's Corrupt 'Settlement' With the IRS Hits Two Judicial Roadblocks
One order temporarily blocks money for the president's "Anti-Weaponization Fund." The other asks whether the agreement is a fraudulent "product of collusion."
Republicans Shrug at Trump's Outrageous Corruption
Any self-styled advocate for limited government should be furious about Trump's $1.8 billion slush fund, but few Republicans are willing to denounce it.
Ken Paxton's Primary Victory Shows How Trump's Grudges Undermine His Party's Interests
The president's last-minute endorsement of Paxton was driven by his petty grievances against incumbent Sen. John Cornyn, who was clearly the safer bet to retain the seat.
Even Republicans Are Rebelling at Trump's Blatantly Corrupt 'Anti-Weaponization Fund'
Using taxpayer money to reward the president’s allies has nothing to do with the president's claims against the IRS.
Does Anyone Know What's Happening in Iran?
Plus: Spencer Pratt’s mayoral campaign rattles Los Angeles, Trump’s “Anti-Weaponization Fund" sparks backlash, and the editors revisit Project 2025
The DOJ's Flimsy Legal Theories To Support Trump's 'Anti-Weaponization Fund'
Despite the administration's arguments, a multibillion-dollar settlement fund with no judicial oversight is fairly unprecedented.
Trump's Corruption Is Brazen, Obvious, and Costly. Will Enough Republicans Try To Stop Him?
Impeachment is the appropriate remedy for this type of outright violation of the public trust.
Andy Serkis: What Orwell Understood About Tyranny
Andy Serkis discusses the corrupting nature of power, what Animal Farm says about modern authoritarianism, and whether technology expands or diminishes human creativity.
Afroman on Becoming the 2028 Libertarian Presidential Nominee
Afroman discusses his free speech court victory, why he thinks he could unite America, and whether he feels pressure to always be high.
The White House Ballroom's Imported Steel Shows How Tariffs Encourage Cronyism
Any time government has greater control over commerce, there is an increased incentive to buy off officials or lobby for special treatment.
FBI Goes After Whistleblower Who Helped Unmask the 'Fort Bragg Cartel'
The feds have arrested an Army staffer who spoke to a journalist for a book about special operations. The journalist says it's retaliation for exposing corruption.
Cesar Chavez's Other Crimes
Accused of rape and sexual abuse, the late labor organizer's UFW mercilessly bilked its members and taxpayers for years.
DHS Spent $220 Million on Ads Featuring Kristi Noem. Both Parties Grilled Her About It in the Senate.
Noem faced tough questions about an ad campaign that secretly awarded millions to a company with close ties to the homeland security secretary.
Fight Government Corruption With Deregulation
The world is growing simultaneously more corrupt and bound in red tape. That’s not a coincidence.
Ex-Prince Andrew's Arrest Shows the Epstein Scandal Isn't Just About Sex
The king's brother is under investigation for old-fashioned corruption—something Epstein excelled in.
When Police Can Keep Seized Cash, Abuse Follows
An Oklahoma City scandal highlights how civil forfeiture incentives undermine accountability and public trust.
DOJ's Antitrust Chief Resigns Amid Accusations of Corruption Among Top Officials
Gail Slater resigned from her position as Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department's Antitrust Division after butting heads with Attorney General Pam Bondi over merger enforcement.
Cop-Assisted Extortion of DWI Arrestees in New Mexico Included Getting Them Drunk
A recent guilty plea reveals a new wrinkle in a long-running corruption scheme that involved bribing police officers to make drunk driving cases disappear.
How Politicians and Cops Tried To Dodge Responsibility in 2025
Presidents, legislators, and police officers were desperate to blame anyone but themselves.
Another New Mexico Cop Lauded for Nabbing Drunk Drivers Admits Taking Bribes To Let Them Off the Hook
A guilty plea by a retired Albuquerque officer who served in law enforcement for more than 30 years illustrates the extent of the biggest police scandal in the state's history.
If FIFA Doesn't Want People To Think It's Corrupt, It Should Stop Doing Things That Look Corrupt
Plus: Are college football bowl games dead, and can the playoff be fixed?
Trump Pardoned Gobble and Waddle. He Should Pardon More Deserving People, Too.
The president loves freeing people. His controversial clemency grants should not obscure the fact that the pardon power is incredibly important.
The 'Emergency' That Demanded Huge Tariffs on Swiss Imports Is Now Over. So What Was the Emergency?
Trump's decision to reduce the tariffs on Swiss goods came just days after a Swiss delegation lavished the president with a variety of expensive gifts.
The Government Shut Down His Dallas Small Business—for Someone Else's Crime
"Look at the corruption," says Dale Davenport. "Look how many city councilmen have gone to jail."
The NBA's Integrity Problem Is a Cultural Issue—Regulating Sports Betting Won't Fix It
Plus: World Cup ticket prices and more government meddling in soccer
Free Speech Means You Can Criticize Anyone
Plus: Fallout from the Tom Homan bribery probe, U.S. forces strike Venezuelan drug boats, and Trump considers sending troops back to Afghanistan
The Government Was Lying to You About Afghanistan. Dan Krauss Has the Receipts.
Reason is sharing an exclusive clip from Bodyguard of Lies, an upcoming documentary about the failed war in Afghanistan.
The Nearly Free Markets of Guatemala
Guatemalans don't wait for the government's permission. They build their own markets through voluntary exchange.
Bitcoin in Retirement Accounts Could Be a Good Idea
Trump’s executive order directs the Labor Department to loosen rules on retirement accounts, potentially shifting trillions in savings toward higher-return, but riskier assets like bitcoin.
He Took a Bus To Watch His Soccer Team. Instead, He Ended Up in a Venezuelan Prison.
Fans of Deportivo Táchira wanted to see their team play in the league final. The mafia state made sure most never made it.
How Elite Special Operations Troops Created a Drug Cartel
A bizarre criminal conspiracy in the ranks of the U.S. Joint Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg
Trump Is Openly Using the Presidency To Enrich the Trump Brand
And generations of allegedly anti-corruption Republicans just don't care.
MAGA's Epstein Files Fight Shows the Long Tail of QAnon
Like sex trafficking panic more broadly, the Epstein files are a useful political tool—as long as they remain hidden.
Argentina's Former President Gets 6 Years and a Lifetime Political Ban
Cristina Fernández de Kirchner’s six-year prison sentence and lifetime political ban mark a historic victory for accountability—and a public eager to believe that no one is above the law.
DMV Officials Issued Driver's Licenses for Cash. Why Will REAL ID Be Any Different?
Bureaucratic requirements impose burdens only on people not inclined to break the law.
