Trump's Latest Grift -- $100,000 Watches

 

In the final stretch of the presidential campaign, as Vice President Harris unveils her detailed economic plan and travels to battleground Arizona to discuss immigration and border security, the "man- of- the- people" Malignant Loser is on his crashing social media platform hawking $100,000 watches made in China (sucker alerts -- the hands move backwards, and in the case of the women's watches, they also try to grab you by the p*ssy!):

Garish watches that pair perfectly with Trump sneakers, as you peruse your Trump Bible and photo books, that you bought with Trump cryptocurrency!  The economy must not be so bad if you can afford all that shit.

As the Vice President has rightly said, he's "not a serious person." A grifter, yes. A danger to our democracy, yes.  A narcissistic sociopath, yes.  But, in the end, he's just a sad old buffoon looking to stay out of jail and line his pockets at the expense of his cult members, who are all too eager to cooperate.

Sneaky Con Don Debuts Suckerwear, Gets Booed

 

The Malignant Loser (a.k.a., Don the Con) was in Philadelphia yesterday at the aptly named "Sneaker Con" hawking a new line of suckerwear for anyone wishing to brand themselves as a "Loser, Bigly":

Donald Trump started selling sneakers just one day after he had to pay a massive fine for financial fraud. The former U.S. President showed off his new shoes at Sneaker Con in Philadelphia.

Trump, who just got fined $350 million, told everyone at the sneaker convention: "I've wanted to do this for a long time. I have some incredible people that work with me on things and they came up with this...and I think it's gonna be a big success.

"We're going to turn this country around fast. We're going to turn it around. And we're going to remember the young people, and we're going to remember Sneaker Con."  [Ed.: once again, he's sneaky and he's a con artist, so...]

Now for the risible, Orwellian marketing pitches:

There a multiple pairs of sneakers in Trump's new collection. The pièce de résistance of the collection is The Never Surrender High-Tops, with a limited edition 1000 run.

The gold shoes, $399, feature an American flag motif. The website says: "They're for the go-getters who don't know the word quit." [Ed.:  except when they surrender at the courthouse]

These are sadly sold out. [Ed.: sorry, people with taste and a brain!] But, for disappointed shoppers, there is the T - Red Wave, $199. The website says: "These aren't just sneakers; they're a bold statement for those who ride the tide of change with courage and conviction."  [Ed.:  he's had his convictions, all right -- sexual abuse, defamation, fraud, and more to come!]

A more subtle white and gold pair, featuring a US flag and a gold "T", the POTUS 45 sneakers are "a power play for your feet."  [Ed.:  must- wear for the next insurrection at the Capitol!]

He'll have to sell an awful lot of these clunkers to pay off the $83.3 million he owes E. Jean Carroll and the $453 million and counting that he owes New York State.

The Malignant Loser's minions are cagey about where the suckerwear is made, but we'd be willing to bet it isn't the US of A.

Incidentally, this is how he was greeted:

 

Trump getting booed at Sneaker Con while trying to sell Trump Shoes for $399.00. pic.twitter.com/ieMjb7FCVp

— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) February 17, 2024

 

Well, you can fool some of the people some of the time... (Also, "nobody ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American people";  also, "there's a sucker born every minute.")

BONUS:  More commentary here.

(Photo:  must be the "never surrender" high tops that you wear when you surrender for your mugshot /Getty)

"Donald's Sacrifice"

Jimmy Kimmel had a short bit last night on nitwit conman Donald "Rump" Trump's speech on energy look- at- me rally, humble bragging about his wealth and the "sacrifice" he was making to be "president."  As has been noted, Rump isn't even worth the $5 billion he claims he's losing.  Also, notice how bored and un- receptive the workers behind him are:



Here's a thought:  Dems should run ads with excerpts of Trump's remarks (starting with these) where he's talking about himself, closing with the tag line: "He doesn't care about you; he cares about himself."

Con Man Trump Gets Nailed With $25 Million Settlement

Given the daily sh*tstorms engulfing swindling un- indicted co- conspirator Donald "Rump" Trump (a.k.a., President Spanky, a.k.a., Cadet Bone Spurs), this news is likely to go as unnoticed as the proverbial fart in a hurricane:

A federal judge finalized the $25 million settlement between President Trump and students of his now shuttered Trump University on Monday, with New York's attorney general claiming “victims of Donald Trump’s fraudulent university will finally receive the relief they deserve.” 

The order from U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel — the same Indiana-born judge Trump called biased because of his "Mexican heritage" — comes a year after he first approved the settlement. It marks the end of two class-action lawsuits and a civil lawsuit from New York accusing Trump of "swindling thousands of Americans out of millions of dollars through Trump University," in the words of New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman. [snip]

Trump University was not an actual university but a for-profit seminar series, and former students waged a years-long battle claiming the course misled them with claims of teaching real estate success. The program ended in 2010. Some elderly plaintiffs who paid $20,000-plus in tuition died waiting to receive their checks from the settlement. 

Trump had involvement in 3,500-plus lawsuits at the time of his election, an unprecedented volume for a presidential nominee. (our emphasis)

Take another look at that last number -- 3,500- plus lawsuits. Can you think of any other business or person involved in 3,500- plus lawsuits? (In his capacity as "president*," Rump has 27 lawsuits pending against him already.) Whether it's his scams like Trump University, real estate battles, labor disputes, bum licensing deals, bankruptcies, stiffing contractors (including law firms), or sexual escapades coming back to bite him, Rump and his crew of cheap crooks are used to operating in an unethical penumbra that invites litigation.  As with some of the marks from the Trump University scam, the Rump plan is to drag out the litigation until the plaintiffs' legal fees overwhelm them ... or they die.

It remains to be seen whether brazening out the current investigations by the Special Counsel and the Southern District of New York's attorneys emerges as Rump's main survival plan, given Justice Department guidelines against indicting or criminally prosecuting a sitting president, and the unlikely discovery of enough Republican spines in this or the next Congress to impeach/ convict the malignant tumor.  He might just figure that, with the backing of enough dead- ender far- right Congress critters, plus low- to- mid- 30's poll numbers, and Fox "News" and the rest of the wingnut Wurlitzer spinning lies and distractions, he can survive to 2020.

Today's Cartoon Twofer - A Conning Linguist

(click on images to enlarge)


(Ed Hall, Halltoons.com)


(Mike Luckovich, Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

Plus, he'll throw in a scholarship to Trump University.

Yes, Virginia, There Will Be No Trump Conflicts Of Interest*

"I hate to break it to anyone at this time of year, but (a) there is no Santa Claus, and (b) there will be no conflicts-of-interest policy in the Trump administration. What there will be are rampant conflicts of interest, more than you can count, as the Trump family and his appointees rip off anything they can — from taxpayers, from consumers, from shareholders — in a spree of deregulation, special dealing, lax white-collar-law enforcement, and corporate welfare." -- Frank Rich on neo- fascist kleptocrat Donald "Rump" Trump and his crime family's incoming Russo- Republican** sticky fingered administration.

* credit Francis Church
** credit Hackwhackers!

Tweet Of The Day - The Forgotten Man Forgotten Again

In news that you will only see buried deep inside America's newspapers and otherwise not worthy of mention on cable:

Actual details of Carrier deal finally released:

1. 1253 factory jobs moving to Mexico

2. 730 jobs staying in Indianapolis

— Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) December 6, 2016

That neo- fascist con artist Donald "Rump" Trump sure knows how to cut a deal to help out The Forgotten Man!

BONUS:  But, as Steve M. points out, Rump's grift is selling with the American peeps.

The Media Will Continue To Largely Downplay Trump's Illegalities

As we and others have pointed out, the story of neo- fascist con artist Donald "Rump" Trump settling his various fraud suits regarding Trump "University" for the princely sum of $25 million has largely escaped the notice of our bloodhounds in the corporate media.  Mark Sumner notes,

On Friday, the President-elect of the United States agreed to pay $25 million for defrauding students of his not-a-university. That settlement includes $1 million in payments to the State of New York for violations of state law. During the campaign, Trump had denied he would ever settle, saying it was “a matter of principle.” However, he’s now treating the $25 million payout as a victory, calling it a “fraction” of his potential losses. 

But less than 48 hours later, you won’t find the story on the front of the New York Times, despite New York AG Eric Schneiderman’s dogged work in assembling the case. You wont find it on the front of the Washington Post, despite the outrageous implications of a president paying out tens of millions weeks before taking office. You won’t find it on the Miami Herald, despite the connection between Trump’s “university” and contributions to Florida’s AG that had all the earmarks of old-fashioned bribes.  (our emphasis)

Imagine if this were a story about the Clinton Foundation's finances instead of the transparent, multi- million dollar con that was Trump "University."  (Scott Lemieux does.) We've had over a year to see that the ethical bar is so low for Rump in the corporate media that it essentially doesn't exist.

Think about that when you read this:

Friday evening, the Washington Post reported * that about 100 foreign diplomats gathered at President-elect Donald Trump’s hotel in Washington, DC to “to sip Trump-branded champagne, dine on sliders and hear a sales pitch about the U.S. president-elect’s newest hotel.” The tour included a look at the hotel’s $20,000 a night “town house” suite. The Post also quoted some of the diplomats saying they intended to stay at the hotel in order to ingratiate themselves to the incoming president. 

“Why wouldn’t I stay at his hotel blocks from the White House, so I can tell the new president, ‘I love your new hotel!’” said one diplomat from an Asian nation. “Isn’t it rude to come to his city and say, ‘I am staying at your competitor?’” 

The incoming president, in other words, is actively soliciting business from agents of foreign governments. Many of these agents, in turn, said that they will accept the president-elect’s offer to do business because they want to win favor with the new leader of the United States. 

In an exclusive exchange with ThinkProgress, Richard Painter, a University of Minnesota law professor who previously served as chief ethics counsel to President George W. Bush, says that Trump’s efforts to do business with these diplomats is at odds with a provision of the Constitution intended to prevent foreign states from effectively buying influence with federal officials.  (our emphasis)

Combine this with Rump's children being heavily involved in the transition (including meeting with foreign leaders) and his curious understanding of what a "blind trust" is, and it's not hard to get the sense that Rump fully intends to proceed with enriching himself and his family while in office. We know his ego is wrapped up in the trappings of wealth, and he's not going to miss any opportunity to trade on the Presidency to enhance that wealth. He. Has. No. Ethics.

Given the low bar that the corporate media has provided Rump throughout his foray into politics, it's also not hard to get the sense that -- Democrats' howling notwithstanding -- he'll bluff and shamble his way through, with the media giving short shrift to his business- as- usual scams and violations of the Constitution.

* By the way, what should have been a front page story ended up on the Post's Business page.

Trump Pays $25 Million To Settle Trump "University" Fraud Suit (UPDATED)

He who never settles, settles:

President-elect Donald Trump on Friday agreed to pay $25 million in fines and restitution to settle three fraud lawsuits on behalf of the former customers of Trump University, the businessman’s now-defunct real estate seminar program. 

Under the terms of the settlement, Trump will not admit fault, a common bargain in civil cases like this one. 

“My office sued Donald Trump for swindling thousands of innocent Americans out of ​millions of dollars through a scheme known at Trump University,” Eric Schneiderman, New York’s attorney general, said in a statement Friday. “Donald Trump fought us every step of the way, filing baseless charges and fruitless appeal​s​ and refusing to settle for even modest amounts of compensation for the victims of his phony university. Today, that all changes. Today’s $25 million settlement agreement is a stunning reversal by Donald Trump and a major victory for the over 6,000 victims of his fraudulent university.”  

The settlement covers two class-action lawsuits pending in California, as well as the civil case brought by Schneiderman. It also marks the end of a six-year legal battle that began when thousands of people across the country alleged that Trump University had defrauded them with false advertising and deceptive business practices.  (our emphasis)

"Swindling ... scheme... phony... fraudulent university."  Words that should have stuck to this shitgibbon and been disqualifying for voters, but =mumble mumble= economic anxiety =mumble=mumble=.

Our bet is that he tries to use any excess campaign funds to pay all or part of the fine, or otherwise finagles to not pay out of pocket.  That's just who he is.

Unfortunately, now we won't be treated to the spectacle of the shitgibbon- elect showing up in a California court on November 28 for a jury trial.  Sad!

UPDATE I:

What's got more critical coverage, a fraud scheme that resulted in $25 million in fines or raising money for a charity that saves lives?

— Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias) November 18, 2016

UPDATE II:  John Cole points out that the media completely buried this story;  in Saturday's once great Washington Post Bezos Bugle, it was on page 5 of the print edition.  The Trump Honeymoon.

Heeeere's Donnie

There has been speculation for months that con artist and sociopath Donald "Rump" Trump's shampaign is an elaborate marketing stunt for Rump's life after the November elections. Someone who is continually and almost deliberately shooting himself in the foot doesn't appear to be someone who has his heart in winning the election or governing.

There are new reports of Rump's son-in-law Jared Kushner privately negotiating with media financiers about a Trump TV network, presumably to continue the fleecing of his dedicated deplorables and to create a political smear outlet that would feed off of other right-wing media. Last summer, Rump hired right-wing internet bomb thrower Steven Bannon, of the white supremacist site Brietbart.com, as the CEO for his shampaign, perhaps the best signal of things to come as wingnut TV and internet resources would be merged. With the departure of Roger "Jabba the Nut" Ailes from the weakening Fux News channel, there will likely be a need for an experienced sexual harasser executive like Jabba to organize a round-the-clock outlet for unhinged rhetoric and conspiracy theories. In the meantime, he's stirring up the incoherent rage and paranoia of the Rethug base voter,  using the apparatus and logistics of the party, as what's left of the Rethug "establishment" looks on in dread.

The most satisfying schadenfreude will be toward the Rethuglican / New Confederate / Stupid / Shooters Party, which has nominated and supported this narcissistic, predatory con man, only to realize that they were his mark all along. Sad!

Quote Of The Day - Genius!

“I did all the tax preparation. He never saw the product until it was presented to him for signature.” -- Jack Mitnick, neo- fascist tax evader Donald "Rump" Trump's accountant who prepared Rump's 1995 personal (not corporate) tax return, in which he claimed a $915 million loss.  Rump and his oily surrogates have been loudly proclaiming Rump's "genius" for skillfully navigating the tax code to avoid paying income taxes for nearly two decades (allegedly!).  He probably had to be told where to sign.

BONUS:  Kurt Eichenwald continues to expose the business failures and tax avoidance shenanigans of Rump. His (nonexistent) business acumen ("genius!") is his sole rationale for being in the race, and the mounting evidence of his being as much of a vapid nincompoop in business as he is in all other phases of life is revealing, but not surprising.

The Genius Businessman

And..."boom goes the dynamite!"



Bernie had the best line, too!  Running on cable t.v. and in battleground states today.

Again, while we don't think this impacts the Stormtrumpers, it's a gut punch that should resonate with some voters.

BONUS:  Andy Borowitz tells us "Christie Calls Trump Genius for Plan to Burn Down White House and Collect Insurance."

Trump Scandal Overload Edition

Hoo-boy, that neo- fascist con artist Donald "Rump" Trump is burning us out with the steady onslaught of revelations about his shady, illegal doings!  Your morning roundup follows (as always, these are excerpts - the entire articles are worth the read).

The Trump Foundation

Donald Trump’s charitable foundation — which has been sustained for years by donors outside the Trump family — has never obtained the certification that New York requires before charities can solicit money from the public, according to the state attorney general’s office. 

Under the laws in New York, where the Donald J. Trump Foundation is based, any charity that solicits more than $25,000 a year from the public must obtain a special kind of registration beforehand. Charities as large as Trump’s must also submit to a rigorous annual audit that asks — among other things — whether the charity spent any money for the personal benefit of its officers. 

If New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman (D) finds that Trump’s foundation raised money in violation of the law, he could order the charity to stop raising money immediately. With a court’s permission, Schneiderman could also force Trump to return money that his foundation has already raised.

Rump, the Cuban embargo runner

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump came under intense scrutiny Thursday for allegations that he knowingly violated the U.S. embargo on Cuba in the 1990s, a report that could hurt him among Cuban Americans in the crucial state of Florida. 

A story published in Newsweek said Trump’s firm spent as much as $68,000 on a “foray” exploring business possibilities in Cuba in 1998, which would be a clear violation of the strict embargo in place at the time. 

Trump spokeswoman Kellyanne Conway suggested in a television interview Wednesday that Trump had indeed spent money exploring business ventures in Cuba. But Conway later told The Washington Post that she “did not say he broke the law or violated the embargo.”

Adios, Florida!

Continuing to smear Alicia Machado (in the wee hours!)

Good morning. Your Republican nominee has been up all night rage-tweeting. pic.twitter.com/mL1ovBY1bm

— pourmecoffee (@pourmecoffee) September 30, 2016

That "sex tape"?  Another bald- faced Rump lie.

What an evil, evil man.

On The Trump Scandal Beat

Add these to the already steaming pile of evidence that neo- fascist con artist Donald "Rump" Trump is a prodigious cheat and fraud.

(The future Pulitzer Prize winning) David Fahrenthold:

Donald Trump spent more than a quarter-million dollars from his charitable foundation to settle lawsuits that involved the billionaire’s for-profit businesses, according to interviews and a review of legal documents. 

Those cases, which together used $258,000 from Trump’s charity, were among four newly documented expenditures in which Trump may have violated laws against “self-dealing” — which prohibit nonprofit leaders from using charity money to benefit themselves or their businesses.  (our emphasis)

 Christina Wilkie:

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump gave at least $45,000 to the campaign of Alan Hevesi, a New York state comptroller who later went to prison for his role in a pay-to-play bribery scandal, according to a Huffington Post review of campaign finance records. 

Trump’s donations coincided with a $500 million lawsuit he filed against the city of New York in the hopes of reducing his property taxes. As the city comptroller and later the state comptroller, Hevesi, a Democrat, played a role in evaluating and settling legal claims against the city of New York and its officials. 

The bulk of Trump’s donations went to Hevesi’s campaign for state comptroller, a race Hevesi won in the fall of 2002. In the fall of 2003, by which point Trump had given Hevesi $35,000, the city settled Trump’s lawsuit, a decision that would have involved both the state comptroller ― i.e., Hevesi ― and the new city comptroller.  (our emphasis)

While we're happy to see some in the profession Doing. Their. Job., we're fairly certain that these solid examples of investigative journalism will be duly ignored by other media outlets because (a) to them, ho- hum any story on Trump's world class dishonesty has long since passed into the dog- bites- man realm, (b) they're too busy parsing whether Hillary Clinton's press conferences have been "press conferences" and whether to keep the all- important Press Conference Countdown Clock oiled and running, and (c) professional jealousy (the latter a main reason why folks think the New York effing Times won't cover Fahrenthold's outstanding work on Trump's various scams).  Jaded, navel- gazing, envious guardians of democracy.

The Art Of The Steal: Trump's "Policy Shop" Folds After Trump Stiffs The Staff

Whoa!  Neo- fascist con artist Donald "Rump" Trump had a "policy shop!?" All along we thought he got his excellent ideas from neo- Nazi Breitbart.com, nutball Alex Jones' Infowars or directly out of his ass. Who knew?

Yes, we did say "had," because it looks like he's pulled another grift, this time on some loyal, albeit gullible Stormtrumpers:

The Trump campaign built a large policy shop in Washington that has now largely melted away because of neglect, mismanagement and promises of pay that were never honored. Many of the team’s former members say the campaign leadership never took the Washington office seriously and let it wither away after squeezing it dry.  [snip] 

Since April, advisers never named in campaign press releases have been working in an Alexandria-based office, writing policy memos, organizing briefings, managing surrogates and placing op-eds. They put in long hours before and during the Republican National Convention to help the campaign look like a professional operation. 

But in August, shortly after the convention, most of the policy shop’s most active staffers quit. Although they signed non-disclosure agreements, several of them told me on background that the Trump policy effort has been a mess from start to finish. 

“It’s a complete disaster,” one disgruntled former adviser told me. “They use and abuse people. The policy office fell apart in August when the promised checks weren’t delivered.”  (our emphasis)

Of course, Rump is well known for stiffing people -- contractors, charities, donors, even little cheerleaders -- whenever he's not suing people, that is.  That he's demonstrated he's a sociopathic fraud isn't breaking news.  That's why it's a continuing amazement to us that he continues to enjoy the loyalty of ... anyone. But, there it is, and there he is at 40 percent or thereabouts in the polls.

(You've also just seen yet another glimmer of what a Trump Administration would look like.  Sad!)

It all suggests we may be closer to H.L. Menken's prediction ("On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron") than we care to believe.

The Art Of The Steal: Trump Grifts His Own Donors (UPDATED)

Couldn't happen to a more worthy bunch of fat cats and mouth- breathers:

After bragging for a year about how cheaply he was running his campaign, Donald Trump is spending more freely now that other people are contributing ― particularly when the beneficiary is himself. 

Trump nearly quintupled the monthly rent his presidential campaign pays for its headquarters at Trump Tower to $169,758 in July, when he was raising funds from donors, compared with March, when he was self-funding his campaign, according to a Huffington Post review of Federal Election Commission filings. The rent jumped even though he was paying fewer staff in July than he did in March.

Trump has paid his eponymous golf courses and restaurants more than $260,000 since his campaign and the RNC struck a joint fundraising deal in mid-May, after he essentially locked up the GOP nomination. On May 18, the day the fundraising deal was announced, Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach was paid $29,715; Trump National Golf Club in Jupiter, Florida, was paid $35,845; and Trump Restaurants LLC was paid $125,080, according to FEC records. Such large payments were much rarer when Trump was self-funding.  (our emphasis)

Let's hope these dumbasses continue to fund the "campaign" of neo- fascist con artist Donald "Rump" Trump, lining his pockets with "deals" like this one.

UPDATE:  Meanwhile, do you think Rump is sharing any of his "campaign" contributions with Republicans down ballot?  (Spoiler alert: hahahahaha)

Today's Video - "Someplace"

We saw this ad during the Olympics programming in prime time last night.  We're Hackwhackers, and we approve this message:



The smirk at the end says it all.

Sweet Charity: Trump Gives Other Peoples' Money To Fundraiser

Here's neo- fascist dickwhistle Donald "Rump" Trump using OPM to gull people into thinking he's a charitable, decent sort:

Did Donald Trump violate IRS rules, by using a charity's money to buy himself a signed football helmet?

Four years ago, at a charity fundraiser in Palm Beach, Donald Trump got into a bidding war at the evening's live auction. The items up for sale: A Denver Broncos helmet, autographed by then-star quarterback Tim Tebow [Ed.: LOL], and a Tebow jersey [Ed.: Sad!]. 

Trump won, eventually, with a bid of $12,000. Afterward, he posed with the helmet. His purchase made gossip-column news: a flourish of generosity, by a mogul with money to burn. "The Donald giveth, and The Donald payeth," wrote the Palm Beach Daily News. "Blessed be the name of The Donald." 

But Trump didn't actually pay with his own money. Instead, the Susan G. Komen organization — the breast-cancer nonprofit that hosted the party — got a $12,000 payment from another nonprofit, the Donald J. Trump Foundation. 

Trump himself sent no money. (In fact, a Komen spokeswoman said, Trump has never given a personal gift of cash to the Komen organization.) He paid the bill with money from a charity he founded in 1987, but which is largely stocked with other people's money. Trump is the foundation's president. But, at the time of the auction, Trump had given none of his own money to the foundation for three years running.

We've already seen other examples of Rump's "charity";  his refusing to release his ("bombshell") tax returns;  his involvement in get- rich- quick scams like Trump "University" and Trump "Institute"; his ratf*cking of  potential business competitors;  his use of offshore companies for Rump products; and on and on ad nauseam.   All demonstrating once again what a little man he is, what a crooked, money- grubbing (h/t Sen. Warren) little man.

The Trump Institute Scam And The Media's Complicity

Yesterday's New York Times had an expose of yet another scam fronted by neo- fascist Republican bankruptcy expert Donald "Rump" Trump.  Behold "Trump Institute:"

As with Trump University, the Trump Institute promised falsely that its teachers would be handpicked by Mr. Trump. Mr. Trump did little, interviews show, besides appear in an infomercial — one that promised customers access to his vast accumulated knowledge. “I put all of my concepts that have worked so well for me, new and old, into our seminar,” he said in the 2005 video, adding, “I’m teaching what I’ve learned.” 

Reality fell far short. In fact, the institute was run by a couple who had run afoul of regulators in dozens of states and had been dogged by accusations of deceptive business practices and fraud for decades. Similar complaints soon emerged about the Trump Institute. 

Yet there was an even more fundamental deceit to the business, unreported until now: Extensive portions of the materials that students received after paying their seminar fees, supposedly containing Mr. Trump’s special wisdom, had been plagiarized from an obscure real estate manual published a decade earlier.  (our emphasis)

The common denominator in these Rump- branded enterprises is the conscience- free defrauding of rubes looking to get rich quick.  By trading on his supposed vast expertise in real estate speculation =cough= four bankruptcies =cough=,  Rump was able to convince the gullible that he could make them rich just like him -- for a modest fee.  Now that Rump is one election away from installing his ugly brand of know- nothing neo- fascism in the White House, the media is suddenly taking a more critical look at what he bases his reputation on -- his business dealings, i.e., his trafficking in shady schemes like Trump "University" and, now, Trump "Institute."

Even though this kind of Rump- as- charlatan business dealing has been going on for decades, the media has largely played along with Rump's well- cultivated image as an expert to be sought out and consulted. David A. Hopkins (h/t Daily Kos) traces the phenomenon of Rump as the uncritical media's creature back several decades:

... For decades, Trump has benefited from media coverage that not only has made him a household name, but has also portrayed him as having skills that would be generally considered assets in the world of politics. Trump managed to build a national reputation as an exceptionally shrewd businessman and negotiator through popular media accounts, and his years of appearances on morning shows, newsmagazines, and interview programs like Larry King Live often invited him to comment on current events under the assumption that his business success naturally gave him valuable insight on the political topics of the day.

The volume and generally deferential character of this media attention encouraged Trump to flirt with a political career as early as the late 1990s. His later phase as an outspoken critic of Barack Obama was similarly given substantial amplification by national media outlets; Trump made regular appearances on Fox News Channel (including a weekly "Monday Mornings with Trump" feature on Fox and Friends) and CNBC during much of Obama's presidency, treated once again as a captain of industry who could boast substantial expertise on the subject of politics.

The many Rump scams and pathologies over the years -- from Trump "University" and Trump "Institute" to Rump's noxious spreading of conspiracy theories in major media outlets -- were never seriously vetted in the media.  Now we're all paying for this long term media willingness to play along with this dangerous, narcissistic demagogue.

BONUS:  Melissa McEwan sees the gender bias in the treatment of Rump over the years.

Shocking! Money-Grubbing Trump Not So Charitable After All

The once great Washington Post Bezos Bugle has a look at the claims by neo- fascist shitgibbon* Donald "Rump" Trump that he's given away millions to charity.  As with the vast majority of what comes out of Rump's pie- hole, the pathological liar does what pathological liars do:

In May, under pressure from the news media, Donald Trump made good on a pledge he made four months earlier: He gave $1 million to a nonprofit group helping veterans’ families. 

Before that, however, when was the last time that Trump had given any of his own money to a charity? [snip]

 ...[I]n the 15 years prior to the veterans’ gift, public records show that Trump donated about $2.8 million through a foundation set up to give his money away — less than a third of the pledged amount — and nothing since 2009. Records show Trump has given nothing to his foundation since 2008.  [snip]

In recent weeks, The Post tried to answer the question by digging up records going back to the late 1980s and canvassing a wide swath of nonprofits with some connection to Trump. 

That research showed that Trump has a long-standing habit of promising to give to charity. But Trump’s follow-through on those promises was middling — even at the beginning, in his early days as a national celebrity. [snip]

In recent years, Trump’s ­follow-through on his promises has been seemingly nonexistent. 

The Post contacted 188 charities searching for evidence of personal gifts from Trump in the period between 2008 and this May. The Post sought out charities that had some link to Trump, either because he had given them his foundation’s money, appeared at their charity galas or praised them publicly. 

The search turned up just one donation in that period — a 2009 gift of between $5,000 and $9,999 to the Police Athletic League of New York City.  (our emphasis)

One donation.  One, for less than $10,000, since 2009.  When he did open his wallet, Rump gave much more to the tony schools his spawn attended than to worthy charities like AIDS research and helping the homeless. We think we'd be on very safe ground to say the average middle- class American gave much more to charity in that timeframe than did this purported billionaire.

The entire article is worth a read because it shows, as if the point needed amplifying, what a lying narcissist Rump is and why he's refusing to release his tax returns.  His paltry non- existent "charitable" giving is just one more of the "bombshells" =cough= paid no taxes =cough= he's eager to hide from public view.

*Long live Scotland!