Trump’s Self-Dealing and the Question of Kleptocracy

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 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. 

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