

Episode 496: Money for Nothing
11 snips Oct 13, 2025
Jacob Silverman, a journalist and author of *Gilded Rage*, joins the discussion about the outrageous corruption in crypto and its ties to the White House. He dives into Trump's crypto ventures, including World Liberty Financial and its implications for political influence. The conversation also covers the erosion of regulatory oversight in crypto, how tech figures like David Sachs shape politics, and the military's growing ties with the tech industry. Silverman highlights radicalization within Silicon Valley, focusing on Elon Musk's intertwined relationship with Trump.
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World Liberty Is A Political Crypto Hub
- World Liberty Financial is Trump's primary crypto vehicle issuing WLFI governance tokens and a USD1 stablecoin.
- The token governance was self-approved to become tradable and now serves as a revenue and influence conduit.
Stablecoin Used As Influence Currency
- UAE actors used Trump's USD1 stablecoin to route large investments and support his platform.
- Paying in USD1 instead of dollars functioned as both finance and political signaling to boost World Liberty.
Accountability Mechanisms Have Been Hollowed Out
- The administration weakened enforcement norms, including signaling non-enforcement of the FCPA.
- Reduced accountability makes foreign bribery and influence easier under this presidency.