The Al Franken Podcast BEST OF: David Kirkpatrick on Trump’s Shameless Profiteering
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May 3, 2026 
David Kirkpatrick, New Yorker staff writer who tracks political finance, breaks down how the Trump family monetized public office. He outlines vast revenue streams: real estate deals, merchandise, crypto tokens, and lucrative foreign licensing. Short, sharp takes on legal-fee transfers, blockbuster Gulf deals, and the mechanics of token sales.
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Corporate Settlements Linked To Presidential Power
- Trump used litigation threats to extract settlements from media and corporate targets.
- Kirkpatrick notes companies like ABC and CBS paid millions partly because they had business before the government and couldn't risk regulatory fallout.
Trump-Branded Stock Value Is Largely Association
- Public market valuations tied to Trump brands are unreliable because much of the value depends on his personal association.
- Kirkpatrick gives Truth Social a conservative valuation of about $25 million despite inflated share prices.
Crypto Is A Ledger Prone To Speculation And Abuse
- Kirkpatrick reframes 'crypto' as a digital ledger and warns its primary proven uses are speculation and money laundering.
- That framing explains why presidential endorsement creates outsized perceived credibility for Trump-linked crypto ventures.