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The Guardian | Trump’s corruption leaves us cynical – and complacent | Judith Levine by Judith Levine

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The article argues that Donald Trump’s recent actions constitute an unprecedented level of presidential corruption and impunity, exemplified by his creation of a $1.776 billion “anti‑weaponization” slush fund that uses taxpayer money to repay friends and possibly Jan. 6 participants in exchange for legal protection, as well as his willingness to divert public funds for personal projects like a privately‑funded White House ballroom and a triumphal arch without congressional approval. The piece contends that this unchecked self‑dealing erodes the rule of law, fuels popular cynicism, and normalizes autocratic behavior, warning that such cynicism can lead to fatalistic compliance that ultimately empowers the autocrat. It calls for a rejection of complacent cynicism and a renewed, hard‑won pessimism that acknowledges the depth of the problem while seeking winnable battles against authoritarian drift.

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