Episode 39: Corruption: A Presidency for Sale

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In this episode, Bella Goode traces how Donald Trump didn’t just dip into corruption—he turned the presidency into a personal business empire. By comparing his actions to past scandals like Watergate and Teapot Dome, we see just how far Trump has pushed the boundaries of ethics, law, and public trust. From meme coins and luxury jets to regulatory rollbacks and foreign gifts, this episode breaks down the machinery of self-enrichment that defines Trump’s presidency. This isn’t just corruption. It’s a system. And it’s changing the American presidency forever.

Key Takeaways To Listen For

• How Trump monetized political access through crypto dinners, executive club memberships, and branded merchandise
• The launch of meme coins and stablecoins backed by foreign investment and the regulatory rollbacks that enabled them
• Why Trump’s $16M settlement from Paramount over a “baseless” lawsuit is being called a bribe tied to an $8B merger
• The ethical collapse of oversight: Small-dollar PAC donations used to fund Trump’s legal fees, while pardons went to political allies and investors
• A historical comparison of presidential corruption and how Trump’s conduct marks a sharp and dangerous break from past norms
  
  

Resources Mentioned In This Episode

• Reuters 
• Politico 
• ProPublica
• Bloomberg
• The Washington Post
• Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington Inc.
• World Liberty Financial
• Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) | USAGov
• Federal Communications Commission

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Host: Bella Goode

Bella is a former Republican turned democracy advocate raised by middle class parents in Pennsylvania. She is a graduate of Syracuse University and the University of Pennsylvania with a masters of business administration from Wharton and a Masters Degree in Positive Psychology.

Career wise, Bella spent 20 years with American Express in New York and 20 years as an entrepreneur. She started and sold a fitness business that grew to 180 locations worldwide.

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