Government and Oversight
DOGE, agency restructuring, inspectors general, data handling and the rule of law.
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Money and Conflicts of Interest
Trump's oil stocks, the Iran war and $7 billion of well-timed bets: what is known and what is not
JEC Democratic staff estimate Trump's oil stocks gained $4.6 million to $15.5 million in 2026; Reuters traced about $7 billion in oil bets placed before his Iran announcements; the CFTC confirmed an open probe on October 22, 2026.
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Defense and Security
What the Iran war has cost so far, and what the Pentagon is asking for next: $45 billion, $87 billion, $1.5 trillion
The Pentagon reported $45.1 billion in Iran war costs through early September 2026 (CBO: $38 billion through August 1); an $87.6 billion supplemental is pending and the 2027 request seeks $1.5 trillion for defense.
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Taxes and Public Finance
Trump's $10 billion IRS lawsuit, the audit-immunity deal, and the judge who called it a sham
Trump sued the IRS in January 2026 and settled in May for an apology, a since-rescinded $1.776 billion fund and audit protection; a judge found the suit collusive in July, and the 11th Circuit refused to pause her order on September 29.
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Taxes and Public Finance
The 2026 deficit: $1.99 trillion in Treasury's year-end books, and what CBO says the 2025 tax law adds
Treasury's final fiscal 2026 statement shows a $1,992 billion deficit, about $160 billion above fiscal 2024 as first reported; CBO estimates the 2025 tax law adds $4.1 trillion to deficits over ten years with interest.
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Money and Conflicts of Interest
What the Trumps are worth, according to Forbes: estimates with dates attached
Forbes puts Donald Trump at $7 billion (September 2026 list) and $6.6 billion in its live tracker on October 26, 2026; Eric at $400 million and Don Jr. at $300 million (December 2025); Barron at $150 million (September 2025).
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Health and Safety
Coverage losses and premium increases: what CBO projected, what KFF has observed, and where the '12 million' comes from
CBO projects 10 million more uninsured by 2034 from the 2025 law, over 14 million with expired enhanced credits; observed 2026 data show marketplace enrollment down 2.6 million and insurer premiums up 26 percent.
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Health and Safety
SNAP rolls fell by 5.5 million people in a year, USDA data show, and the cost shift to states has only begun
USDA data show SNAP participation fell from 41.6 million in July 2025 to 36.1 million in July 2026, a 13 percent drop that CBPP estimates includes about 2 million children; state cost-sharing phases in from October 2026.
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Money and Conflicts of Interest
The Qatari 747: a gift to the government, a cost to the public
The Pentagon accepted a Qatari Boeing 747 in May 2025; Trump began flying on it July 1, 2026. The Air Force says conversion costs under $400 million (estimate); the library plan is now uncertain.
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Money and Conflicts of Interest
Musk's government business: Project Meridian, the $5.9 billion launch award, AI ceilings, and the favors that cost nothing
In 2025-2026 Musk's companies won a $5.92 billion anticipated-value launch contract and a $200 million AI ceiling alongside competitors, DOJ dropped a SpaceX hiring case, and Musk joined a Pentagon warfare study.
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Government and Oversight
DOGE's receipts and DOGE's data: what the audits and court filings actually show
DOGE's savings claims carried documented errors ($8 billion listed for an $8 million contract), a 2026 GAO audit found most savings unverifiable, and a January 2026 court filing described unauthorized SSA data handling.
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Government and Oversight
The $489 million warning: what the USAID watchdog said was at risk, what was actually lost, and who was in charge
USAID's inspector general warned in February 2025 that $489 million in food aid was at risk and was fired the next day; most warehoused food later shipped, $2.9 million spoiled in Djibouti, 500 tons destroyed in Dubai.
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Defense and Security
Trump's sons bet on defense tech while their father's Pentagon spends: what the records show
A Washington Post analysis found companies backed by Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump won at least $3.2 billion in direct federal business and $3.1 billion in options after they invested; officials and firms deny favoritism.
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Money and Conflicts of Interest
Trump's crypto money: $1.4 billion reported income, a UAE stake, and a lawsuit that is only a filing
Trump's 2025 disclosure reported over $1.4 billion in crypto income; Reuters estimates about $2.3 billion in family gains; a $500 million UAE-linked stake drew a CFIUS request and, in October 2026, an unproven lawsuit.
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Elections and Democracy
Musk's political money: at least $288 million in 2024, and a new wave for the 2026 midterms
FEC-based tallies put Musk's 2024 election spending at $259 million (Reuters, Dec 2024) and at least $288 million (Washington Post, Jan 2025); separate 2026 midterm tallies range from $366 million to more than $445 million.
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Rights, Speech and Courts
X Corp. v. Center for Countering Digital Hate: dismissed in 2024 as a case 'about punishing the defendants for their speech,' argued on appeal September 30, 2026, decision pending
A judge dismissed X's suit against a hate-speech research group in March 2024 as a case about punishing speech; the Ninth Circuit heard X's appeal on September 30, 2026 and has not ruled.
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Foreign Policy
Starlink and Ukraine: the 2022 shutdown report, the October 2026 slowdown, and who had the switch
Reuters reported Musk ordered Starlink cut over parts of Ukraine in 2022 (SpaceX disputes it); in October 2026 Ukraine's Starlink and Starshield links were throttled for over a week until service returned October 24.
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Government and Oversight
Musk and the SEC: the 2018 'funding secured' penalties, the 2026 Twitter-disclosure settlement, and a $2.37 billion partisan estimate
Musk and Tesla each paid $20 million to settle the 2018 'funding secured' case; in 2026 a Musk trust paid $1.5 million to settle the SEC's Twitter-disclosure suit, approved despite the judge's 'significant misgivings'.
2 additional research records in this area are under review and not yet public. See About.