Trump’s Self-Dealing and the Question of Kleptocracy
About this episode
The episode discusses David D. Kirkpatrick's investigation into President Trump's self-dealing during his second term and its implications for democracy.
The New Yorker staff writer David D. Kirkpatrick joins Tyler Foggatt and Andrew Marantz to discuss his investigation —published in August, 2025—into the many ways President Donald Trump has profited during his second term, which include a reported private jet (a gift from Qatar), 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 that could in turn accelerate democratic backsliding in the United States, much like in kleptocracies and oligarchies abroad. This episode originally aired on August 20, 2025. This week’s reading: “ Is There a Remedy for Presidential Profiteering? ,” by David D. Kirkpatrick “ Trump’s Profiteering Hits $6 Billion ,” by David D. Kirkpatrick “ This Is What Trumpian Self-Dealing Looks Like ,” by John Cassidy “ How Trump Created a Slush Fund for His Allies ,” by Ruth Marcus “ How Pakistan Is Using the Iran War to Reinvent Itself ,” by Sudarsan Raghavan “ The Strange Emptiness of the Crowded Governor’s Race in California ,” by Nathan Heller The Political Scene draws on the reporting and analysis…
More episodes of The Political Scene | The New Yorker
- The Abuse That Fuelled Andrew Tate's Media Empire
- Jack Schlossberg, the Kennedy Running for Congress in New York
- The Washington Roundtable Live: The Backlash Midterms
- Dan Osborn, the Independent Senate Candidate Who Could Tip Nebraska
- The Whiplash of the U.S.-Iran Peace Talks
- The U.F.C. President, Dana White, on Donald Trump: “He’s Not a Racist”
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the The Political Scene | The New Yorker podcast page.