Category: Business

Goodwill Hunting

My daughter and I use to enjoy a day of hitting the retro places especially those that were non-profits trying to find the amazing ‘old’ stuff….one of our favorites was Goodwill that had some amazing stuff and at reasonable prices.

All that has changed last visit to a Goodwill store found there were few bargains and the feel of the store was that of a corporate profit chasing entity.

Then I read an article that I want to share….especially if you think you are doing good work by supporting this business.

Donating used items to Goodwill is a common practice for those looking to declutter while helping others. However, there are several reasons to reconsider this donation choice. Here are ten reasons why you might want to stop giving your used items to Goodwill and explore other options instead.

1. Questionable Business Practices

Goodwill is often perceived as a charity dedicated to helping those in need, but its business practices have come under scrutiny. Despite its nonprofit status, Goodwill operates more like a for-profit business. Executives at some Goodwill organizations earn very high six-figure salaries. For example in 2024, the Chief Executive Officers of the 12 largest Goodwill organizations were compensated between $405,215 – $960,943 annually.  The average was $670,000.

There have been reports of the organization historically paying workers with disabilities significantly less than minimum wage under the special exemption of the Fair Labor Standards Act (per CNBC).  While many states are phasing out this loophole, understanding where your donations go can prompt you to consider alternatives that better align with your values.

2. Low Direct Impact on Local Communities

While Goodwill does provide job training and employment opportunities, the direct impact on local communities can be limited. According to the Seattle Times, donations to Goodwill are often sold in bulk or shipped overseas, where they may not benefit your local area.

Donating to smaller, community-focused organizations or shelters can ensure your items directly support those in need within your neighborhood.

2. Low Direct Impact on Local Communities

While Goodwill does provide job training and employment opportunities, the direct impact on local communities can be limited. According to the Seattle Times, donations to Goodwill are often sold in bulk or shipped overseas, where they may not benefit your local area.

Donating to smaller, community-focused organizations or shelters can ensure your items directly support those in need within your neighborhood.

Please read on….especially if you visit Goodwill stores)

https://www.savingadvice.com/articles/2026/03/07/10139410_rethinking-donations-to-goodwill.html

Another ‘charity’ has fallen to the profit god.

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

Consumers Need To Bend Over

HAPPY MARDI GRAS!

This is just an FYI in case few are paying attention.

With Christmas behind us I have heard some say that it was not as expensive as predicted which was a good thing but now is the time to bend over for price hikes are coming.

Shoppers who enjoyed a brief pause in price hikes may want to brace themselves. After several months of relative calm—and holiday discounts—companies are again bumping up prices on everything from jeans to spices to software, the Wall Street Journal reports. The increases, often in the high-single-digit range, appear steeper than a typical January reset in prices, particularly for electronics, appliances, and other durable goods, economists say.

Levi Strauss, Columbia Sportswear, McCormick, and a host of smaller firms report they’re paying more for tariffs, wages, health insurance, materials, and shipping—and passing at least some of that along. Online data tracked by Harvard’s Alberto Cavallo and Adobe show the largest monthly jump in web prices in more than a decade, led by big-ticket categories.

Small businesses, facing thinner margins, are raising prices across the board or cutting products they don’t think customers will pay more for. A recent Vistage survey found more than half of small-business leaders plan near-term price increases, mostly in the 4% to 10% range, even as they worry higher tags could scare off buyers. Last week, economists at JPMorgan predicted that “inflation will re-accelerate for a time this year,” citing tariff-related costs being passed on to consumers and the “potential pass-through of the sustained weakening of the trade-weighted US dollar over the past year,” reports Reuters.

The president of Structural Systems Repair Group, a Cincinnati-based construction company, tells the Journal that tariffs pushed up steel prices 10% last year and healthcare costs for employees increased by around the same amount. “It’s not sustainable for us to tolerate that kind of increase without some sort of concession from our customers,” Bryan Erickson says.

Be prepared for the increases and think of ways to end this nightmare.

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

“The Rich Get Richer”

How many times have you heard that in your lifetime?

As much as one may not like this slogan it is true….in the past year billionaires fortunes have shot up 81%….last year alone they shot up 16%….and it ain’t over yet.

Billionaires are entering 2026 wealthier and more numerous than ever, even as global poverty progress stalls, according to a new Oxfam report timed to the World Economic Forum in Davos. The charity says billionaire wealth hit a record $18.3 trillion last year, climbing 16% or $2.5 trillion, with more than 3,000 individuals in the club, per CNBC. Since 2020, their fortunes have grown 81%, or $8.2 trillion—enough to eliminate global poverty 26 times—while overall poverty levels have remained roughly where they stood in 2019, per the Guardian. The report, titled “Resisting the Rule of the Rich: Protecting Freedom from Billionaire Power,” argues that concentrated wealth increasingly translates into political and media influence.

It points to Elon Musk’s role in the US administration, Jeff Bezos’ ownership of the Washington Post, and French billionaire Vincent Bolloré’s control of the news outlet CNews as examples. “The outsized influence that the super-rich have over our politicians, economies and media has deepened inequality and led us far off track on tackling poverty,” said Oxfam Executive Director Amitabh Behar. Oxfam also highlights President Trump’s 2025 tax package, which it says delivered notable breaks for high earners, including an estimated 3% income boost for those making more than $1 million, while many Americans struggle to cover basic needs; about 10% lived in poverty in 2024, while a 2023 study found most can no longer afford a “minimal quality of life.”

Beyond the US, Oxfam connects economic strain to social unrest, referencing more than 140 significant anti-government protests across 68 countries last year. The organization urges governments to adopt national inequality-reduction plans, increase taxes on the ultra-wealthy, strengthen barriers between money and politics, and protect free expression. Without such moves—and with rich nations cutting foreign aid “further and faster than before,” including the shuttering of USAID—Oxfam warns that as many as 14 million additional people could die by 2030. “Being economically poor creates hunger. Being politically poor creates anger,” Behar said.

You work, right?…did your income grow by 81% in the last 5 years?  Or for that matter did it grow by 16% last year?

Look at the timeline…..the past 5 years includes Biden as well as Donny….so matters not which party sits in the WH….they are all responsible.

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

The Real Cost Of Trump Tariffs

Donny brags about how much money he has made off of these tariffs and that it will pay for so many things…..but there is a real cost of all this silliness.

President Trump’s policies aren’t just affecting affordability ot everyday items for shoppers, but even businesses are feeling the heat. While some names, including Costco, have sued the administration for tariff refunds, more than 700 US businesses filed for bankruptcy in 2025, the highest number since 2010 and a 14% increase from the previous year. Tight credit, high interest rates, persistent cost pressures, and growing import costs as a result of Trump’s chaotic trade tariffs are a few of the reasons for this spike. In contrast to earlier patterns that were dominated by retail bankruptcies, this year’s impacted industries were primarily industrial, such as manufacturing and transportation, while consumer-focused companies, such as fashion, suffered large losses as inflation forced them to prioritize necessities.

Notably, the first half of the year saw 17 significant bankruptcies involving businesses with assets over $1 billion. Chapter 7 liquidations and Chapter 11 reorganizations made up the total number of filings. Along with other significant firms like Rite Aid, high-profile filings included 23andMe, Hooters, Nikola, Spirit Airlines, and Party City, The Washington Post reported. The figures were calculated according to a recent survey by S&P Global Market Intelligence.

Despite Trump’s ‘Made in America’ proposals, which gave momentum to tariffs favoring local production, federal data showcased that the manufacturing sector shed more than 70,000 jobs in November. According to economists, businesses that rely heavily on imports are finding it difficult to control the increased expenses brought on by Trump’s reciprocal tariffs. As Americans cut back on non-essential spending due to inflation, consumer-facing businesses, especially those that sell discretionary goods, are seeing an uptick in bankruptcy filings.

“These companies are acutely aware of the affordability crisis confronting the average American,” Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, a professor at Yale’s School of Management, stated. “Those with pricing power will pass on the costs over time. Others will fold,” he added. Manufacturers and suppliers have been severely impacted by tariffs on steel and energy-related equipment, especially in the renewable energy sector. Increased tariffs on imported solar equipment and the loss of government clean-energy incentives caused PosiGen, a solar installer located in Louisiana, to file for Chapter 11 in November.

https://marketrealist.com/why-did-700-bu/

Looks like the first year of the Uncle Donny tour was just peachy….the only people that will make out from this is Donny’s billionaire buddies that are helping eliminate any competition….so much to that elusive ‘free market’….

Not to worry it will only get worse.

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

What If Billionaires Paid Taxes?

I know a fanciful idea that probably will go nowhere….as much as I dislike AI the author of this piece asked AI that very question and here is what it responded…

The tax system feels upside down sometimes. You work a regular job, and a big chunk of your paycheck goes to taxes. Meanwhile, you hear stories about billionaires paying almost nothing. So, I asked ChatGPT: What would actually happen if the ultra-wealthy paid the same tax rates as everyone else?

It turns out, at least according to ChatGPT, the current system isn’t just unfair. More than that, the country could be getting hundreds of billions of dollars every year if things changed.

ChatGPT started with some shocking numbers about current tax rates. According to research from the National Bureau of Economic Research, the top 400 wealthiest Americans paid an effective tax rate of about 23.8% between 2018 and 2020.

Meanwhile, the average American paid around 30%, and high earners who mostly rely on wages paid closer to 45%. In some years, the richest 400 families actually paid less than the bottom 50% of households.

The most extreme example ChatGPT cited was from Oxfam, which found that in 2021, the wealthiest 400 families paid just 8.2% in federal individual income tax compared to a national average of 13%.

So, the people with the most money are paying the lowest rates. ChatGPT explained this happens because of capital gains preferences, tax loopholes and sophisticated tax planning that regular people can’t access.

When I asked ChatGPT to run the numbers on what equalizing tax rates could raise, the amounts were, quite frankly, staggering.

The most conservative estimate suggested that making billionaires pay taxes at the same rate as working-class Americans could generate $500 billion to $1 trillion per year in additional revenue.

Other scenarios were even more dramatic. If the top 1% paid just 10 percentage points more in taxes, that could raise $300 billion annually or $3 trillion over 10 years.

A more aggressive approach like raising billionaire tax rates by 25 percentage points could yield $800 billion or more per year. Yes, you read that number correctly.

ChatGPT also looked at specific policy proposals. Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s wealth tax could generate $113 billion annually, while Sen. Ron Wyden’s billionaire income tax might add $56 billion per year.

https://www.gobankingrates.com/taxes/tax-laws/asked-chatgpt-what-would-happen-if-billionaires-paid-taxes-at-same-rate-as-working-class

A fascinating answer…..

Personally I think that everyone should pay the same taxes regardless….since corporations are considered humans now they too should pay the same tax as we on all income.

Any thoughts?

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

 

“Buy Bigger Tractors”

My state of Mississippi is dependent on the sell of our major crop, soybeans, and thanx to Donny’s massive tariffs on China our framers are in pain and searching for alternatives….

Members of the state Senate Agriculture Committee were informed Wednesday that the struggles faced by Mississippi farmers are worsening, affecting not only vegetables but also beef.

Agriculture, the state’s largest industry that directly or indirectly employs over 11 percent of the state workforce, has been gut-punched by high inflation, falling prices, drought, and declining exports. Now, many farmers are watching what Washington D.C., especially the White House, will do next concerning tariffs as well as President Donald Trump’s recent plan to import more beef from Argentina.

“Agriculture faces extreme, extreme risk every day,” said State Senator Neil Whaley (R), committee chairman. “When you look at the market volatility and the prices that are returned, the cost of reduction is through the roof. If we do not find ways and avenues to utilize our crops locally and domestically, we are going to lose these family farms, therefore losing independent food. And that is a big problem for us.”

Soybeans, a powerhouse crop in Mississippi, are witnessing a massive drop in sales, largely due to China’s purchase of soybeans from South America, said Duane Dunlap, president of DNS Commodities. Prior to China switching suppliers, Mississippi’s soybeans were a major part of the state’s export, and the Delta was dependent on those foreign orders.

(magnoliatribune.com)

Then the magic of Donny has come to the rescue of farmers…..and they are told to buy bigger tractors(?)….

China has agreed to purchase at least 25 million metric tons of US soybeans annually, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Thursday. Bessent said China will start by purchasing 12 million metric tons of soybeans from the US between now and January, the AP reports. “So you know, our great soybean farmers, who the Chinese used as political pawns, that’s off the table, and they should prosper in the years to come,” Bessent said in an interview on Fox Business Network’s Mornings with Maria. He said the agreement lasts for three years.

he soybean agreement was part of the deal President Trump reached with Xi Jinping at their South Korea meeting, reports the Wall Street Journal. “I was extremely honored by the fact that President Xi authorized China to begin the purchase of massive amounts of Soybeans, Sorghum, and other Farm products,” Trump said in a Truth Social post. “Our Farmers will be very happy! In fact, as I said once before during my first Administration, Farmers should immediately go out and buy more land and larger tractors.” Last month, for the first time in almost seven years, China bought no soybeans from the US. The country switched to suppliers in Brazil and Argentina, the latter of which annoyed administration officials by removing its export tariffs after receiving a financial lifeline from the US.

This is great news for our farmers…..but I ask what about the deals China has already made elsewhere since Donny and his magic Sharpie?

Will this be a lasting deal?  Or will Donny get his panties in a twist and nullify it down the road?

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

Lil Kim Goes After Bitcoin

North Korea has been notorious for their hacking for years now….and now those hackers are going after the fortunes of Bitcoin investors….

North Korean hackers have ramped up efforts to steal cryptocurrency, with losses attributed to them reaching more than $2 billion so far this year—a record haul, according to researchers at Elliptic. These thefts account for roughly 13% of the country’s estimated GDP, per United Nations figures. While North Korean hacking groups such as the Lazarus Group have long targeted crypto companies, investigators now say there’s a growing shift toward wealthy individual holders, who often lack the robust security systems used by businesses, reports the BBC.

Elliptic’s chief scientist, Tom Robinson, points out that attacks on individuals are less likely to be reported, suggesting the true scale of North Korea’s crypto theft may be even higher. “We are aware of many other thefts that share some of the hallmarks of North Korea-linked activity but lack sufficient evidence to be definitively attributed,” he notes.

Western security agencies believe the regime uses these illicit funds to support its nuclear and missile programs. The largest known single incident this year occurred in February, when hackers reportedly siphoned $1.4 billion from the Bybit exchange. Other notable attacks include $14 million taken from WOO X users, $1.27 million from LND.fi, and $1.2 million from Seedify, per NK News. Elliptic says its analysts have tied more than 30 attacks to North Korea this year, with the largest theft from an individual coming in at $100 million.

The cumulative value of crypto assets stolen by North Korea now exceeds $6 billion. The regime has denied involvement in hacking, but researchers continue to trace stolen funds via blockchain transactions. Meanwhile, North Korea is also suspected of operating fake IT worker schemes to generate additional revenue and circumvent international sanctions, per the BBC.

What happened to all that cyber-security measures?

I realize I do not know much about all this crypto craze but it seems there is a safer place to put ones money….but that is just me.

Would greed dictate money to be put into crypto?

(Please do not try to explain Crypto to me….I am old and not really interested)

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

Remember Those Lower Drug Prices?

Our Clueless Leader had promised to lower drug prices by 1500% (unrealistic at best)….well I have not seen any lower prices on the meds I must take….how about you?

Actually a study has shown that over 600 different drugs have gone up in price…..while we wait for the promise to be fulfilled….

As President Donald Trump’s deadline for large drugmakers to make “binding commitments” to cut prices expired on Monday, Sen. Bernie Sanders released a report showing that the cost of hundreds of prescriptions has risen in the United States since the Republican returned to office in January.

In response to the president’s May executive order and July letters giving drugmakers 60 days to act, Sanders (I-Vt.), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, “directed his staff to examine prescription drug prices,” explains the report, The Art of the Bad Deal: Trump’s Failure to Lower Prescription Drug Prices.

The committee staffers documented price increases for 688 medications—310 brand-name drugs and 378 generic ones—during Trump’s second term, with a median increase of 5.5% and 25 treatments more than doubling in cost.

“Of the 17 companies that received a letter from President Trump on July 31, 2025, 15 raised the price of at least one product since Trump took office,” the report notes. “Since Trump sent letters asking drug companies to lower prices, the prices of 87 drugs have increased.”

Overall, the highest hike was 1,555% (there is that 1500% promised). Eton Pharmaceuticals increased the price of Galzin, which is used to treat a rare genetic liver disorder called Wilson’s disease, from $5,400 to $88,800 per year in the United States—even though it only costs $1,400 in the United Kingdom and $2,800 in Germany.

The report highlights some other examples, such as Novartis’ cancer drug Kymriah, which increased by $25,600, or 4.5%, to $594,000 annually. In the UK, it costs $381,000 a year, and in Germany it’s $282,000. The report also notes the company’s executive compensation last year: $83.3 million.

Vertex jacked up the price of Trikafta, used to treat cystic fibrosis, by 7%, or $23,900, to $365,000 a year, according to the report. Just north of the US, in Canada, it’s only $146,000. The company’s executive compensation for 2024 was $12.7 million.

https://www.commondreams.org/news/drug-prices-trump

Looks like once again we have been had…..an all too common result when Donny’s promises are not upheld.

But wait!

Donny and that mental midget in charge of HHS have a new plan to lower prices….

The White House is rolling out two new initiatives aimed at lowering drug prices, though many details remained in flux.

  • President Trump said Tuesday that his administration had struck a deal with Pfizer to sell its drugs to Medicaid patients at lower prices, reports the AP. He also suggested deals with other drugmakers would follow.
  • He also announced a new TrumpRx website at which people could directly buy medications at prices negotiated by the government, per the Washington Post. It was not clear when the website would be up and running. Drugs from Pfizer will be sold there.
  • The impact on everyday Americans was not immediately clear because direct-to-consumer sales are generally for people paying out of pocket rather than through insurance, explains CNBC. Because most people use insurance, such sales “are not going to help the average person at all with achieving lower costs,” says Vanderbilt professor Stacie Dusetzina.
  • The initiatives follow a Trump executive order in May that pressed pharmaceutical companies to lower prices through voluntary agreements. The deadline for those agreements expired Monday. Because of its deal, Pfizer gets a three-year grace period to avoid tariffs on drugs made overseas.
  • “The American consumers have been subsidizing research and development costs for the entire planet,” Trump said in the Oval Office, per the Wall Street Journal. “It’s being changed as of today.”

Before I give an ‘attaboy’ I want to see the rest of the story…..details are in flux does not sound good to me.

The sad part is the people that are hurt the worse are still rabid supporters of a liar and a bigot…..what does that say about the mentality of some Americans?

Keep believing and keep looking for the poor house.

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

Coca-Cola: The Battleground?

While I do not drink many sodas these days I did enjoy an ice cold Coke in my younger days….and then the formula changed and it did not taste the same….then I found the Coke from Mexico that still uses real sugar and not some concoction of corn syrup….if you are my age you can remember those days when Coke was the bomb.

Moving on.

Donny has fired a warning shot for a new battle he that he has in mind….the Coke you enjoy….

President Trump says he has persuaded Coca-Cola to Make Coke Sugary Again. “I have been speaking to Coca-Cola about using REAL Cane Sugar in Coke in the United States, and they have agreed to do so. I’d like to thank all of those in authority at Coca-Cola,” he said in a Truth Social post Wednesday. “This will be a very good move by them—You’ll see. It’s just better!” The BBC reports that the company didn’t confirm the change, but a spokesperson said they “appreciate President Trump’s enthusiasm” and “more details on new innovative offerings within our Coca-Cola product range will be shared soon.”

Coca-Cola uses cane sugar in countries including Mexico, so the change would “turn all Coke into Mexican Coke,” Business Insider reports. For the US market, the company switched to corn syrup more than 40 years ago. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has expressed concerns about ingredients like high-fructose corn syrup, though he has also criticized the amount of sugar in American diets, reports Reuters. The BBC notes that Trump prefers Diet Coke, which uses the artificial sweetener aspartame.

Donny has stated that Coke has agreed to change their recipe….but have they?

President Trump surprised a lot of people Wednesday when he announced that Coca-Cola will go back to using cane sugar instead of high-fructose corn syrup as a sweetener. The company has yet to confirm, though the Guardian reports that Coke took pains on Thursday to defend corn syrup:

  • “The name sounds complex, but high fructose corn syrup (HFCS)—which we use to sweeten some of our beverages—is actually just a sweetener made from corn,” Coca-Cola said in a statement. “It’s safe; it has about the same number of calories per serving as table sugar and is metabolized in a similar way by your body.” Trump asserted that cane sugar is “just better!”
  • A story at CBS News digs into the health differences and concludes that moderation is best for both. “Despite minor differences in chemical structure and metabolism, both cane sugar and high-fructose corn syrup have similar health impacts when consumed in excess, especially in the form of sugar-sweetened beverages like soda,” says dietician Avery Zenker. Both provide “empty calories,” meaning they deliver energy but without nutrients such as protein.
  • The fallout of all this echoed in the business world, where shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland—a top producer of corn syrup—fell as much as 6% before the losses were trimmed, reports CNBC. Another major refiner, Ingredion, suffered a similar fate.
  • The corn industry is alarmed, with the Corn Refiners Association warning that the switch would “cost thousands of American food manufacturing jobs,” per Axios. The outlet also notes that the move would hurt Iowa, the top corn producer, and help Florida, the top cane sugar producer.

For once I can agree with something Donny has said….it is better with real sugar!

Then there is the blow back from the Corn industry….

“Replacing high fructose corn syrup with cane sugar doesn’t make sense,” the CRA wrote in their statement.“President Trump stands for American manufacturing jobs, American farmers and reducing the trade deficit.”

“Replacing high fructose corn syrup with cane sugar would cost thousands of American food manufacturing jobs, depress farm income, and boost imports of foreign sugar, all with no nutritional benefit.”

While it has been claimed previously that high-fructose corn syrup is more harmful than other sugars, a Healthline article last updated in December 2023 said high-fructose corn syrup and regular table sugar have similar effects on a person’s health, and both are harmful when consumed excessively.

…

In a statement, Coca-Cola did not confirm a full shift to the use of sugar cane.

“We appreciate President Trump’s enthusiasm for our iconic Coca‑Cola brand,” a spokesperson said. “More details on new innovative offerings within our Coca‑Cola product range will be shared soon.”

(independent.co.uk)

There you have the back and the forth on this subject…..

What say you about the possible change?

I ask….will that jack the price of Coke up?

Is this another one of Donny’s BS proposals just to get the attention of the country away from this whole Epstein debacle?

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

Building His Brand

So far since his election to the highest office in the land Donny has done very little for the people that voted for him….all the while it is about building the Trump brand.

“I like thinking big. I always have. To me it’s very simple: if you’re going to be thinking anyway, you might as well think big.”

Those were Donald Trump’s words to writer Tony Schwartz in the Art of the Deal. In his second term, Trump has been thinking big about making money. Since his reelection campaign began, Trump is estimated to have more than doubled his net worth to $5.4bn.

A sizeable chunk of that cash has come from the launch of Trump-branded products. This week the Trump Organization entered the mobile phone business with a Trump-branded service that will include a “sleek gold” phone, which costs $499, that is “made in America”. Maybe?

Never to miss a patriotic marketing moment, they launched Trump Mobile at Trump Tower in New York on the 10-year anniversary of their father’s announcement at the top of a gold escalator, to the sound of Neil Young’s Rockin’ in the Free World, that he would run for president. The premium tier of service would be dubbed the 47 Plan, priced at $47.45 a month.

…

The blurred lines between business and politics, impacting how candidates are portrayed, policies are shaped and voters engage with the political process – commonly referred to as the commercialization of politics – may not be Trump’s to own exclusively, but he’s taken it to a new level.

“It is troubling, and more than in jest, that this is now a political economy and he’s actually saying this presidency is a brand-franchise,” says Borkowski. “There is no separation between power and profit. He’s redrawn the boundaries between commerce and the office of the president, and he’s accelerated the notion of post-ethical politics.”

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/21/trump-products-presidency-as-a-brand

While building the Trump brand is he and his organization of billionaires looting the nation?

The pattern has continued into 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Three months into the administration, Trump’s eldest son, Don Jr, launched an elite private members’ club named Executive Branch which commands a sign-in fee of a cool $500,000.

Its attraction? Access to cabinet members and top Trump advisers.

Not to be outdone by his own son, Trump himself has followed the same playbook at his Mar-a-Lago resort. In March, he began inviting business leaders to dine with him in group settings at $1m a seat.

Prefer something more intimate? No problem. One-on-one meetings are also available, yours for $5m.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/16/trump-conflict-of-interest

Donny makes money while endangering the poor and killing the middle class….his concern for this country is secondary to his acquisition of wealth….

Is that what you clowns voted for?

If so then congrats on destroying this country’s economy….

You fools are as blind as you are deaf.

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”