The Daily Populous Friday November 15th, 2024 evening edition
Authored by newrepublic.com and submitted by Fluffy-Photograph592

Then there’s Trump’s decision to tap billionaire Elon Musk to head the grandiosely and misleadingly titled Department of Government Efficiency, a nongovernmental body that will push substantial cuts in regulations, spending, and personnel. As The New York Times reports, Musk has grown infuriated with oversight on his SpaceX company, yet he will now be in a position to get Trump to consider regulatory rollbacks that benefit him, even as he enjoys lucrative federal contracts. That, plus government oversight on his other companies, creates the potential for serious conflicts of interest.

Trump has suggested Musk’s role will only be advisory. But even if that proves true, it’s ominous that Trump would so conspicuously hand Musk so much public influence over decisions that could heavily impact Musk’s own bottom line, especially with Trump so heavily indebted to Musk for transforming Twitter into a pro-Trump propaganda and MAGA disinformation machine. At minimum, Trump is basically declaring that his administration will be open for business to those who boost and assist him politically.

“Trump is showing that he will reward people who help him by giving them tremendous influence over his administration,” Noah Bookbinder, president of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, told me. “This will encourage more people to direct their largesse Trump’s way. We expect government to look out for the public interest. Trump is open about the fact that government is meant to serve his supporters, business partners, and friends.”

foamy_da_skwirrel on November 15th, 2024 at 12:48 UTC »

His first administration was insanely corrupt but apparently no one paid attention or remembered

FOTW-Anton on November 15th, 2024 at 12:01 UTC »

There already was the first time around. Some in the cabinet went from failing developer drowning in debt to an estimated 3 billion richer and somewhat successful Middle East real estate developer.

grixorbatz on November 15th, 2024 at 11:33 UTC »

That's always been Trump's end goal. Line his pockets and the pockets of his billionaire friends via tax breaks for the rich, while MAGA suckers walk away broke with nothing but scapegoats.