1A 'If You Can Keep It': What The Trump's New Cabinet Means For America
Dec 9, 2024
Max Steyer, President and CEO of the Partnership for Public Service, and Donald K. Sherman, Executive Director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, join investigative reporter Eric Lipton to dive into the implications of Trump’s wealthy cabinet picks. They discuss potential conflicts of interest and how these appointments might prioritize personal profits over public welfare. The conversation highlights the role of government ethics and the need for transparency to protect democracy amidst Trump's business dealings and renewed foreign investments.
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Conflicts of Interest
- Conflicts of interest arise when public servants prioritize personal gain over public trust.
- Safeguards exist to ensure decisions benefit the public, not individual interests.
Trump's Conflicts of Interest: First Term
- Trump's refusal to divest from businesses led to influence campaigns by lobbyists and foreign entities.
- These sought to gain favor by spending at Trump's businesses, potentially violating emoluments clauses.
Billionaires and Groceries
- Trump's cabinet picks, being billionaires, may be disconnected from average Americans' struggles.
- Their focus might be on policies benefiting their bottom line, not the public.