In recent days, the news has been filled with eyebrow-raising choices by the Trump administration. The disclosure of thousands of stock trades. Immunity from IRS audits for certain individuals. A nearly $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund at the Department of Justice.
These actions have raised questions from both Democratic and Republican lawmakers. Michael Waldman, president and CEO of the Brennan Center for Justice, a non-partisan legal think tank, says these actions amount to “corruption in plain sight.”
The phrase is striking. Corruption, by definition, is often hidden. Waldman is arguing that the Trump administration is not even bothering to conceal it.
- The Three Alarms
The first alarm involves stock trades. Thousands of them have been disclosed, raising questions about whether officials are using their positions for personal financial gain. The exact details of who traded what, and whether any laws were violated, are still emerging. But the sheer volume of trades has caught the attention of ethics watchdogs.
The second alarm involves immunity from IRS audits. The administration has granted immunity to certain individuals, shielding them from the tax scrutiny that ordinary Americans face. Critics argue that this creates a two-tier system of accountability: one for those connected to the administration, and another for everyone else.
The third alarm is the most concrete. The Justice Department’s nearly $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund has been described by critics as a slush fund. The money is ostensibly for victims of what the administration calls “weaponization and lawfare.” But as previously reported, the fund could potentially benefit individuals who attacked the Capitol on January 6, 2021, as well as Trump allies who claim they were unfairly targeted by federal investigations.
- Bipartisan Concern
What makes these scandals different from previous controversies is the nature of the opposition. It is not just Democrats raising alarms. Republicans are also expressing concern.
Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina, a Republican who is not seeking re-election, has been vocal. He called the $1.8 billion fund “stupid on stilts.” Senator Mitch McConnell, the former Republican leader, adopted the Democratic line, calling it a “slush fund to pay people who assault cops.”
That kind of bipartisan criticism is rare. It suggests that even within Trump’s own party, there is unease about the direction of the administration. The question is whether that unease will translate into any meaningful action. So far, the answer appears to be no. Republicans in Congress have not moved to block the fund or investigate the stock trades. The party remains largely unified behind the president, even as individual members voice private frustrations.
The ‘Corruption in Plain Sight’ Framework
Waldman’s phrase captures something important. Past corruption scandals involved secret payments, hidden offshore accounts, and elaborate cover-ups. The Trump administration’s approach appears to be different. The stock trades are disclosed. The IRS immunity is granted openly. The $1.8 billion fund is a line item in the federal budget.
None of it is hidden. That does not mean it is legal. It means the administration is betting that no one will stop them.
Waldman argues that this is a feature, not a bug. By operating in plain sight, the administration normalizes behavior that would have been unthinkable a decade ago. Each scandal becomes a data point in a pattern of eroded norms. And by the time any single scandal is investigated or litigated, several more have already emerged.
- What Comes Next?
The legal and political fallout from these scandals is uncertain. The stock trades could trigger SEC investigations. The IRS immunity could be challenged in court. The $1.8 billion fund could be blocked by Congress — if Congress chooses to act.
The NPR podcast notes that these scandals are not isolated incidents. They are part of a broader pattern of behavior that has characterized the Trump administration since its first term. What has changed is the scale and brazenness. The guardrails that once constrained presidential behavior are weaker. The officials who might have spoken out are gone. And the president faces no meaningful check from a Congress controlled by his own party.
For now, the warning flags are flying. Whether anyone heeds them is an open question.
The Bottom Line
The Trump administration faces bipartisan criticism over the disclosure of thousands of stock trades, immunity from IRS audits for certain individuals, and a nearly $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund at the Justice Department. Michael Waldman of the Brennan Center for Justice calls these actions “corruption in plain sight.” Republican senators, including Thom Tillis and Mitch McConnell, have voiced alarm. But Congress has not moved to block the fund or investigate the trades.
