On August 6, 2020, then-President Donald Trump issued an executive order "addressing the threat posed by TikTok," the popular social network run by ByteDance, a Chinese company. According to Trump's executive order, TikTok "automatically captures vast swaths of information from its users," which allows "the Chinese Communist Party access to Americans’ personal and proprietary information — potentially allowing China to track the locations of Federal employees and contractors, build dossiers of personal information for blackmail, and conduct corporate espionage." According to Trump, TikTok "may also be used for disinformation campaigns that benefit the Chinese Communist Party." As a result, Trump concluded, "the United States must take aggressive action against the owners of TikTok to protect our national security."
Yeah, but. We have always had money in politics. Since 2010 it there has been a ginormous flow to politicians who back the causes of pharma, guns and social media...
And even so, this is new. A man so desperate to become president, he doesn't give a f about who knows. He has his bloody hands out for any filthy lucre that you can put there. Who are you? Does it matter?
This is different, something so horribly corrupt made to look like "it's okay, if you're a star they let you do it."
Judd, great work! You and your team have been hitting home-runs for months now.
I’m a little surprised that Trump is involved in a questionable business deal!🙄 While the US House continues to search for even a morsel of evidence to justify impeaching President Biden, this clown will sign any corrupt deal to help pay his fines and legal expenses. Ironically, this deal will inflate his net worth by $3B on paper , but he’ll still need donors to pay his expenses. When will the Republicans realize that Trump is bad for everyone, including them! Plus, when he’s finished bleeding them dry, he will walk away and never look back. The results of this year’s election become more important by the minute.
The connection you discussed between Yass and Trump seems very thinly reported in major media sources. As others here have stated in so many words, 'follow the money' and you rarely miss the mark. Thanks to SCOTUS's Citizens-United decisions and others of that ilk the US executive branch of government is for sale to the highest bidder more so than at any other time in recent memory.
This started with Reagan and trickle down economics. Making the wealthy richer and more powerful has done nothing to enrich the rest of the country. The Democratic party must regain majorities in both houses in November. H.R. 3422 must be passed in January without further delay, and Citizens United must be reversed.
What a shock! Trump is bowing to pressure from someone connected to a communist country with whom we have a tenuous and potentially volatile relationship - for money. And he's willing to sell his soul along with our national security for same. It's almost like he is a conman devoid of principle or decency. Oh wait...
Judd, you are, hands down, the most important investigative journalist of our time. ❤️
Thanks for "following the money." But where does that take us? For Trump it's all about the money; for billionaires like Jass it's all about where to make the most money; and for the voters it's all about their financial well-being. [Why am I bored by these people?]
Has Trump ever truly made anyone happy? His supporters and rally goers spend their mental energy arguing for his policies, and defending his outrageous offenses. I would think that all levels of Trump interest would become bored. How this shallow man can energize voters deserves a study of how human beings form beliefs. When beliefs do not derive from actual experience, we live a life with no meaning or heart.
Citizens United precipitated this debacle of billionaire governance and we are just beginning to see the sad results. Trump would be the greatest security risk to the US if he were an elected again. Maybe he already is.
Aren’t there any laws against him using foreign money to pay this bond? Could the judge or person monitoring his accounts for the court ask for details about the source of the money? Sort of like a bank robber robbing another bank to pay his bond? Where are the NSA and CIA in tracking his foreign conflicts? I realize they won’t tell us but it just seems insane that he can get away with all of this.
You knew it was there, the thread of corruption sometimes obvious and sometimes we need Judd Legum to find it and pull it. You just knew there was something about money that made Trump change his mind. A man with no morals is so easily persuaded by the rustle of paper money and the clink of gold.
Trump is the ultimate cockroach, you try everything short of an elephant gun and you just can't get rid of him. We wear pointed toes and flat heels and keep stomping.
Trump motto, of the rich, by the rich and for the rich so help myself. His small donors are fleeing after the scam of making it weekly or monthly donations (he knows his cult doesn’t read the fine print). Many have donation fatigue and many realize he’s guilty of his crimes. When the story came out of using his campaign funds to pay his lawyers it seems to have resonated and nobody wants to pay for a so called billionaire’s legal fees.
The numbers on the valuation are really crazy. I understand the potential that Yass’ 2% is critical to keeping this nonsense going. But did they drive it?
I can’t help but wonder whether there are playing a role in the creation of the meme stock valuation. Is this really a lot of MAGA US people, or is the share price driven by other foreign interests?
In case we needed a reminder why billionaires shouldn't be a thing and why money in politics is bad for democracy, here we are.
Also why trying to get the ultra-wealthy to pay the same tax rate as the rest of us is such a vertical climb.
Yeah, but. We have always had money in politics. Since 2010 it there has been a ginormous flow to politicians who back the causes of pharma, guns and social media...
And even so, this is new. A man so desperate to become president, he doesn't give a f about who knows. He has his bloody hands out for any filthy lucre that you can put there. Who are you? Does it matter?
This is different, something so horribly corrupt made to look like "it's okay, if you're a star they let you do it."
Judd, great work! You and your team have been hitting home-runs for months now.
I’m a little surprised that Trump is involved in a questionable business deal!🙄 While the US House continues to search for even a morsel of evidence to justify impeaching President Biden, this clown will sign any corrupt deal to help pay his fines and legal expenses. Ironically, this deal will inflate his net worth by $3B on paper , but he’ll still need donors to pay his expenses. When will the Republicans realize that Trump is bad for everyone, including them! Plus, when he’s finished bleeding them dry, he will walk away and never look back. The results of this year’s election become more important by the minute.
Short term thinking "trumps" long term thinking in the minds of the weak.
Right you are, sir!
The connection you discussed between Yass and Trump seems very thinly reported in major media sources. As others here have stated in so many words, 'follow the money' and you rarely miss the mark. Thanks to SCOTUS's Citizens-United decisions and others of that ilk the US executive branch of government is for sale to the highest bidder more so than at any other time in recent memory.
This started with Reagan and trickle down economics. Making the wealthy richer and more powerful has done nothing to enrich the rest of the country. The Democratic party must regain majorities in both houses in November. H.R. 3422 must be passed in January without further delay, and Citizens United must be reversed.
What a shock! Trump is bowing to pressure from someone connected to a communist country with whom we have a tenuous and potentially volatile relationship - for money. And he's willing to sell his soul along with our national security for same. It's almost like he is a conman devoid of principle or decency. Oh wait...
Judd, you are, hands down, the most important investigative journalist of our time. ❤️
Thanks for "following the money." But where does that take us? For Trump it's all about the money; for billionaires like Jass it's all about where to make the most money; and for the voters it's all about their financial well-being. [Why am I bored by these people?]
Has Trump ever truly made anyone happy? His supporters and rally goers spend their mental energy arguing for his policies, and defending his outrageous offenses. I would think that all levels of Trump interest would become bored. How this shallow man can energize voters deserves a study of how human beings form beliefs. When beliefs do not derive from actual experience, we live a life with no meaning or heart.
It’s a cult
It's entertaining to the masses, like watching a human being torn apart by lions. Fun! More!
Getting pretty tired of reading about yet another US billionaire deciding American public policy. But doubt it’s changing anytime soon.
The only way (s) to change the mind of trump involves use of one of the following:
1). Money
2). Sledgehammer
3). Ice pick
Take your pick but the latter 2 choices would be the most effective.
A severe stroke would work nicely, too.
Oh? Me like this selection verry verry much, indeed!.
Number 2 please!
Cholesterol clogged arteries causing a blood clot to the brain works for me.
Hahahaha! Hahahaha! GD son, that's funny. Hahahaha! Thanks Randy. Hahahaha!
4. Lobotomy
Hahaha! That's what the ice pick is for. Back in the 50's that is what the Dr used for a full frontal lobotomy.
As ever, thank you for doing the research required to follow the money. Your work and posts are very important to me. And I share on social media.
I'm sure Trump's ardent followers will not figure out that Yass will be telling Trump what to do. Yass + China. Hmmm.
Citizens United precipitated this debacle of billionaire governance and we are just beginning to see the sad results. Trump would be the greatest security risk to the US if he were an elected again. Maybe he already is.
Arguably, the worst thing ever done by any SCOTUS.
Thank you Judd for your investigative writings.
Aren’t there any laws against him using foreign money to pay this bond? Could the judge or person monitoring his accounts for the court ask for details about the source of the money? Sort of like a bank robber robbing another bank to pay his bond? Where are the NSA and CIA in tracking his foreign conflicts? I realize they won’t tell us but it just seems insane that he can get away with all of this.
The monitor does have access to that information, from what I read recently. Sorry not to have a link.
You knew it was there, the thread of corruption sometimes obvious and sometimes we need Judd Legum to find it and pull it. You just knew there was something about money that made Trump change his mind. A man with no morals is so easily persuaded by the rustle of paper money and the clink of gold.
Trump is the ultimate cockroach, you try everything short of an elephant gun and you just can't get rid of him. We wear pointed toes and flat heels and keep stomping.
Trump motto, of the rich, by the rich and for the rich so help myself. His small donors are fleeing after the scam of making it weekly or monthly donations (he knows his cult doesn’t read the fine print). Many have donation fatigue and many realize he’s guilty of his crimes. When the story came out of using his campaign funds to pay his lawyers it seems to have resonated and nobody wants to pay for a so called billionaire’s legal fees.
The numbers on the valuation are really crazy. I understand the potential that Yass’ 2% is critical to keeping this nonsense going. But did they drive it?
I can’t help but wonder whether there are playing a role in the creation of the meme stock valuation. Is this really a lot of MAGA US people, or is the share price driven by other foreign interests?
Buying elections. This is what happens every year, we've just finally started paying attention to it.