How Bad Is It?: Trump’s Self-Dealing and the Question of Kleptocracy

The New Yorker staff writer Andrew Marantz joins Tyler Foggatt for the latest installment of “How Bad Is It?,” a monthly series on the health of American democracy. Their guest is David D. Kirkpatrick, whose new investigation details the many ways President Donald Trump has profited during his second term—from a reported private jet gifted by Qatar to soaring valuations of Trump Media and a flood of crypto ventures. They discuss whether these attempts at self-enrichment amount to ordinary political corruption or whether they represent tools for consolidating power which could accelerate democratic backsliding in the United States, much like in kleptocracies and oligarchies abroad.

This week’s reading:

• “How Much Is Trump Profiting Off the Presidency?,” by David D. Kirkpatrick
• “Can Donald Trump Police the United States?,” by Christian Fairas 
• “Pam Bondi’s Power Play,” by Ruth Marcus
• “The Troubling Lines That Columbia Is Drawing,” by Eyal Press
• “The Texas Democrats’ Remote Resistance” by Peter Slevin

Tune in to The Political Scene wherever you get your podcasts.

The Political Scene draws on the reporting and analysis found in The New Yorker for lively conversations about the big questions in American politics. Join the magazine’s writers and editors as they put into context the latest news—about elections, the economy, the White House, the Supreme Court, and much more. New episodes are available three times a week.