#conflicts-of-interest

#conflicts-of-interest

You've likely heard that David Ellison, the son of Larry Ellison, and his company Skydance, completed an $8 billion merger with Paramount in August. And reporting by the New York Times and others suggests that Ellison had planned to then go after an acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), creating a new behemoth in movies and streaming that could take on the likes of Netflix.

Prior to last week, only highly specialized political insiders knew the extent of David Sacks' influence in the Trump White House: tech policy hawks, lobbyists, reporters, and right-wing operatives infuriated that the billionaire venture capitalist was turning Donald Trump toward artificial intelligence and against the interests of the MAGA base.

The best line of Donald Trump's three-hour-plus Cabinet meeting last week came not from the president but from Marco Rubio. "Personally, this is the most meaningful Labor Day of my life, as someone who has four jobs," said Rubio, who was serving as secretary of state, acting national security adviser, acting archivist of the United States, and acting administrator of USAID. (He's since handed the latter to Russell Vought, who now also has three titles.) Three of these roles are subject to Senate confirmation; Rubio has been confirmed, and for that matter nominated, only as secretary of state. Trump has not put any nominee forward for the other two positions.

Trump stated he did not have to release his tax returns because the President is beholden only to the voters, unlike subordinate officials who face regulations.

Sen. Tom Cotton's letter to Intel highlights concerns over CEO Lip-Bu Tan's ties to semiconductor firms associated with the Chinese Communist Party and the People's Liberation Army.

Dr. Casey Means, Trump's pick for U.S. surgeon general, has criticized health systems for corruption, yet profits from promoting wellness products, raising ethical concerns.

Allbee's dual roles raise concerns about potential conflicts of interest, as his outside consulting work connects with his position in Haney's office.

"The fact that the Defense Department is getting a GIFT, FREE OF CHARGE . . . so bothers the Crooked Democrats that they insist we pay, TOP DOLLAR, for the plane."

Lin Gui'an, a former assistant commissioner of the NYPD, was fined $5,000 for illegally soliciting donations for Mayor Adams' campaign while in a substantial policy role.