Inside Trump's Secret Plan to Fund His “Loyalty Squad”

Tara Palmeri sits down with Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times investigative reporter Russ Buettner to break down what may be the most brazen act of presidential self-dealing in American history: Trump's $1.776 billion IRS "settlement." Buettner explains how two Trump subordinates — acting AG Todd Blanche (Trump's former personal defense attorney) and Treasury officials — quietly cut a deal that creates a massive slush fund with no public reporting requirements, wipes away a 15-year audit over a suspicious $72.9 million tax refund that could have cost Trump well over $100 million, and includes a sweeping addendum that "forever bars" the IRS from auditing Trump, his family, and any "affiliated individuals" — language so broad it could cover Jared Kushner and his crypto partners. They dig into why the IRS thought they could win the case, how Trump declared over $1 billion in losses from his casinos and Chicago Tower (possibly claiming the same losses twice), how January 6th defendants are already lining up for $30 million payouts from the fund, and why a senior Treasury lawyer reportedly quit over what was coming. Plus: why lawyers won't even call it a "settlement," whether a future administration can reverse it, and why this may amount to the president having deputized and funded a militia. 0:00 – Intro: Pulitzer Prize-winning NYT reporter Russ Buettner on Trump's IRS deal 5:57 – The $72.9 million refund, The Apprentice windfall, and a 15-year audit 10:24 – Todd Blanche signed the deal — Trump's former personal defense attorney 15:16 – "Forever barred": the sweeping non-prosecution language no taxpayer has ever received 20:58 – The $1.776 billion slush fund and January 6th defendants demanding $30 million 26:00 – Pandora's box: elected kings, future presidents, and the self-dealing precedent 30:02 – "The most corrupt moment I've ever lived through" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices