A glimpse of Trump griftology

CNBC reports that the US DoD has awarded Dell a $9.7 billion contract to supply software. DoD spokespersons defending the deal are both Trump appointees and their jobs depend in saying whatever is deemed needed to protect Trump and his myriad grift businesses. Dell won the contract after a "competitive process", according to Defense Department Chief Information Officer Kirsten Davies and acting Navy Chief Information Officer Barry Tanner. 

Since both Davies and Tanner are presidentially appointed and thus politically exposed senior officials. Keeping their jobs depends on staying in good standing with Trump and his MAGA goons. Both are quoted defending the deal is competitive, cost‑saving, and compliant with federal procurement rules. Of course, that is exactly what one would expect them to say no matter what.

In today’s Trump‑dominated GOP, the rule of law at the federal level and in red states has been repurposed into a weapon against the powerless and the opposition. Elite corruption aligned with Trump is effectively protected by decriminalization by non‑enforcement and pardons. Trump's personal DoJ and FBI aren't going to touch any of his criminal activities. State leaders in places like Florida, Texas, and Georgia pour resources into "election crime" theatrics that mostly net confused or marginalized voters, while long‑standing studies flag these same states as among the most corrupt in both illegal and legal terms. Trump has gutted federal anti‑corruption capacity at the DoJ, purged inspectors general, and deployed clemency as a loyalty tool. That sends a very clear message that those who grift for the boss can expect protection while his perceived enemies face maximal punishment. Link, link, link, link, link

The result is a structurally rigged law enforcement landscape. Captured state attorneys general and prosecutors decline to pursue powerful Trump allies, while hollowed‑out federal watchdogs lack the capacity and political backing to investigate fraud and abuse. Worse, blanket or targeted pardons mop up the rare cases that slip through and do get prosecuted. Under these conditions it is rational, not cynical, to believe that major government deals Trump’s political interests are presumptively corrupt grifts unless proven otherwise. The traditional legal and institutional safeguards that once deterred or punished a lot of bad behavior have been deliberately neutered or completely wiped out of existence. Link, link

Right now, governments and the law are generally badly corrupted. Unfortunately, the situation is going to get a lot worse.

Trump is a bitcoin grifter