In this issue

A special issue on the politics and corruption of the COVID-19 crisis, featuring stories by David Corn, Kevin Drum, Tim Murphy, Ari Berman, Dave Gilson, Esther Honig, Ted Genoways, and Rowan Jacobsen.

COVID Donald Trump's Pro Killer Corruption Quo

THE FUNDAMENTAL PURPOSE of government is rather simple: protect the citizenry. Any deliberate perversion of this priority is an exercise of corruption—especially when that basic aim is supplanted by the goal of personal gain. That’s why Donald Trump’s slow, ineffectual, self-serving, and deadly response to the coronavirus has been the most consequential act of corruption in the history of American governance. It eclipses Watergate, Teapot Dome, Iran-Contra, you name it. It also happens to be the continuation—perhaps the culmination—of the corruption that Trump started spreading like a virus the moment he tramped into the White House.

9 mins

The Prince of PPE

Jared Kushner had one job: Solve America’s supply crisis. He helped private companies instead.

9 mins

Failed State

How the president’s denial of reality made a dangerous virus even more deadly

10+ mins

Death and Taxes

The Trump tax cut failed to deliver for all but the very rich. And the gop thinks this is the perfect time for more.

10+ mins

Debt Collector

Donald Trump has nearly $500 million in loans coming due. They may be his biggest conflict of interest yet.

6 mins

Cruise Control

Worker exploitation. Illegal dumping. Cover-ups. Tax dodging. How the Trumpiest industry on Earth stays afloat.

10+ mins

Bitter Pill

We need covid-19 treatments asap—but a perverse incentive could slow pharma breakthroughs.

5 mins

Going Postal

The pandemic gives the gop a whole new way to squash the vote.

10+ mins

“Workers are being sacrified''

As coronavirus cases mounted, a giant meatpacker kept workers on crowded factory floors.

10+ mins

Carried Interest

The plastic industry has a brand new bag, thanks to the coronavirus.

4 mins

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