Remember “Drain the Swamp”? That slogan was everywhere during President Trump’s first term, reflecting the new leader’s vow to kick special interests out of Washington. It was a fantasy even then, but now even the slogan is gone — in favor of what can only be described as naked self-dealing.
This week in OtherWords, Public Citizen’s Craig Holman details what he calls President Trump’s “unprecedented corruption.” From suing his own IRS for $10 billion of taxpayer money to creating a slush fund to reward supporters and banning the government from auditing his companies, Craig writes, “Trump is now clearly acting purely for his own selfish interest. Voters see it, the courts see it, and even congressional Republicans are beginning to question Trump’s leadership.”
Outside the White House, things are feeling a little leaner. Trump’s war on Iran has now cost Americans an extra $50 billion at the pump, Jeff Holgan calculates. “Even if a peace deal reopens the Strait of Hormuz soon, prices won’t drop immediately,” he explains. “The tab from this conflict will be paid by working families for months, regardless of what happens next… That’s a fact voters this year are unlikely to forget.”
Also this week, Paul Gordon argues that Supreme Court reform is no longer optional. And as some Southern states experiment with nitrogen gas executions, Furonda Brasfeld says there’s no ethical way for a state to kill people.
New This Week…
Trump’s Corruption Is Unprecedented | Craig Holman
The president just created a slush fund to pay off supporters with our tax dollars — and barred the IRS from ever auditing himself or his businesses.
There’s No ‘Moral’ Death Penalty | Furonda Brasfield
The death penalty has evolved for nearly two centuries, but there’s only one real measure of progress: whether we finally choose to stop killing.
Don’t Expect Cheap Gas Anytime Soon | Jeff D. Colgan
The Iran War has cost Americans nearly $50 billion at the pump. We should hold the leaders responsible for that pain accountable.
The Need for Supreme Court Reform Is Clearer Than Ever | Paul Gordon
We need a code of ethics, term limits, and more judges on the Supreme Court.
In Case You Missed It…
You Paid for Trump’s Tariffs. Corporations Get the Refund. | Alex Jacquez
Trump’s tariff refunds are going to corporations — not the consumers who got stuck with the higher prices.
I Fled the USSR. That’s Why I Support Taxing Billionaires. | Igor Volsky
Taxing extreme wealth in order to reduce the influence of a tiny, ultra-rich elite isn’t how democracies fall. It’s how they survive.
We’ve Survived Homelessness. Here’s What Helps People Escape. | Tony Carter, Sandra Scott, and Marianne Dolan
Cities across the country are considering permanently affordable housing. That’s good — but we’ll keep more people off the streets if we also invest in supportive services.
Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos Want Your Water | Jim Hightower
Tech CEOs have decided they’re entitled to exploit the scarce water resources of millions of Americans, especially in rural areas, for data centers.
