The Watchdogs Are Barking Themselves Hoarse

Ethics watchdog groups are raising alarms about a perceived increase in corruption during the president’s second term, noting that while public concern about corruption is rising, objections to self-dealing have lessened, especially among Republicans. Despite increased efforts by watchdog organizations to track and report on alleged corrupt transactions, public and media attention has waned, making it harder to generate outrage and accountability as profiteering becomes more normalized.

• Ethics watchdog groups are alarmed by the blatant nature of alleged corruption and self-dealing in the president’s second term, finding it harder to maintain public and media attention.
• Despite increased vigilance and efforts by organizations like Public Citizen and CREW, the “exhaustion factor” is a challenge in keeping track of “corrupt transactions.”
• While public concern about corruption as a national issue has increased, objections to potential instances of self-dealing have decreased, particularly among Republicans.
• The administration has dismantled oversight mechanisms, and the president has seen a significant increase in income from cryptocurrency deals, foreign investments, and legal settlements.
• The White House denies allegations of corruption, stating the president’s assets are managed independently and he has no conflicts of interest.