Most experts agree, nothing in our history comes close to this type of corruption from an administration. Three views from PBS Newshour, Heather Cox Richardson, and Joyce Vance with choices to watch or read.
PBS Newshour – Dangerous Precedent, May 20, 2026
The Trump administration permanently banned the IRS from auditing the president’s tax returns, and those of his sons, his company or any affiliated trust. That move was announced a day after the creation of a $1.8 billion fund to compensate allies of Trump who claim they were mistreated by the Biden Justice Department. Geoff Bennett discussed more with former IRS Commissioner John Koskinen.
Heather Cox Richardson – A Bit of Hope with a Dose of Truth (and history) May 20, 2026
Joyce Vance – Civil Discourse, Almost as Good as a Pardon: or maybe even better… – May 20, 2026
There is corruption. And then there is the second Trump administration. Monday night I wrote to you about kleptocracy. This evening, we pick up the same thread. It has to do with the $1.776 billion slush fund we discussed last night (get it? so cute that number, 1776; such an homage to the Founding Fathers). That fund, the money that Trump is trying to “give” to his most vociferous, even violent, supporters, was created to settle the lawsuit he brought against the IRS. Today, there is more news about the terms of that settlement. Kleptocracy. Corruption.
Read the entire opinion from Joyce Vance at: https://open.substack.com/pub/joycevance/p/almost-as-good-as-a-pardon?r=2xyae&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email
Heathere Cox Richardson – May 19, 2026 – Letters from an American
Yesterday the Department of Justice announced it is creating a $1.776 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund” to compensate what it calls victims of the Department of Justice under former President Joe Biden. Acting attorney general Todd Blanche said the fund was “a lawful process for victims of lawfare and weaponization to be heard and seek redress.”
Read the entire opinion at: https://open.substack.com/pub/heathercoxrichardson/p/may-19-2026?r=2xyae&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email
Heather Cox Richardson – The “Grift” and Oligarchy – May 14, 2026
To read the original letter and access the links to HCR statements, go here: https://open.substack.com/pub/heathercoxrichardson/p/may-14-2026?r=2xyae&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email