Case Studies

The American Kleptocracy Clearinghouse pulls together narratives to help you understand the players and interest groups affecting your life.

While we do not do original reporting, we synthesize the excellent work from newsrooms around the globe to tell the story of American Kleptocracy and to help stop it before it is too late.

Check out the cases below to see how the Trump administration and its allies are using kleptocratic strategies to erode democracy and the rule of law.

Build a Protection Racket

“Clouded Vision: When Budget Cuts and Conflicts of Interest Turn Deadly”

Over the July 4 weekend, more than 130 Texans drowned in a flash flood, many of them young girls. While the flood was a natural disaster, the scale of this tragedy was not inevitable. Of course many courageous individuals tried to do their best, but they were working against the grain of a system that had been intentionally hollowed out…

Get Rid of Independent Checks on Power

“Why the Trump Administration’s Attacks on Inspectors General Matter“

In the federal government, inspectors general (IGs) are public officials who serve as independent and objective watchdogs within federal agencies. Created by Congress in the aftermath of Watergate, IGs act as a first line of defense against corruption, waste, and self-enrichment in government. They have the power to access all agency records, issue subpoenas, and, at many agencies, make arrests and execute search warrants. In this week’s update, we explore the Trump administration’s attacks on this critical source of oversight…

Drive Division

“Putting on a Show: Turning the Kennedy Center into a Cult of Personality“

The John F. Kennedy Center was established in 1971 as a nonpartisan national cultural center. Since its inception, the Kennedy Center had been managed by a bipartisan board. This changed in February, when President Trump fired18 board members appointed by former President Joe Biden, including Chair David M. Rubenstein. Prior to the Trump takeover, the US government had not played a major role in the Kennedy Center board member appointments…

Control the Media and Suppress Free Speech

“Democracy in the Balance: The Supreme Court May Give Trump the Keys to the Media Kingdom”

Since last September, the Supreme Court has been weighing Trump v. Slaughter, a case that could sharply undermine the independence of the media and regulatory landscape by granting the president sweeping new power to fire members of so‑called independent agencies. Instead of fixed‑term, partially insulated officials, the president seeks to treat the leaders of dozens of these agencies like at‑will employees in a family business (or contestants on his former TV show)…

Manipulate Elections

“How the Trump Administration is Manipulating the Electoral System”

From 1982 to 2015, David Letterman was a staple of late night television, hosting NBC’s Late Night and CBS’ Late Show. Letterman’s signature Top Ten List was a regular segment on his shows, with topics like, “Top Ten Signs Your Kid Had A Bad First Day At School,” or “Ten Things That Sound Creepy When Said by John Malkovich.” On occasion, Donald Trump was also featured in the Top Ten List, including “Donald Trump’s Campaign Slogans” in 1999 and “Donald Trump’s Financial Tips” in 2009. Letterman even came out of retirement to deliver a list reflecting on Trump’s first presidential election run. In this week’s update—and unfortunately with a lot less levity—we take a page out of Letterman’s book with “Top Ten Ways the Trump Administration is Manipulating the Electoral System…”

Coordinate with Kleptocrats Abroad

“Minting a Fortune”

The New York Times reported that Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump are engaged in an intense round of international wheeling-and-dealing, “capitalizing on their father’s name and power” to seal the deal on a wide range of international investment ventures. Six real estate projects are planned in the Middle East alone…

And this just scratches the surface.

Check out the entire database to see how President Trump, his administration, and his allies are personally enriching themselves on the taxpayer dime.

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