Documents Reveal a Web of Financial Ties Between Trump Officials and the Industries They Help Regulate https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-administration-financial-disclosures-steve-feinberg

#corruption #pay4play #revolvingdoor #maga

Latest arms trade news

Latest CAAT newsletter reveals UK role in killing around the world

January 2026

The Winter 2025 edition of the Campaign Against the Arms Trade (CAAT) news discusses the many issues to do with the supply of arms by the UK and others internationally. The government frequently claims to employ ‘robust’ measures to control the trade which has much potential to cause misery around the world, but the facts seem to suggest otherwise: CAAT reveals the top two purchasers of weapons are two nations which have abysmal human rights records. In the period 2020 – 2025, the top country for our weapons was Saudi Arabia at £6.4bn and second was Qatar at £4.1bn. Further down the list, is UAE at £825m.

All these countries do not permit opposition to exist, torture is widely practised, human rights lawyers and activists are routinely arrested, and women are not equal citizens. Foreign workers are treated dreadfully and the gleaming towers which feature in their promotional videos involve the deaths of many hundreds of indentured labourers.

Needless to say, Israel features and the UK governments continued support for arms sales despite the genocide taking place there. Interestingly, they report that Spain has ceased all arms sales and Germany likewise. It had been reported that the German Chancellor has reduced sales but CAAT report that no new exports have been approved.

The claim by the UK government that it has ‘robust’ controls is contradicted by the use of the secretive Open General Export Licences (OGEL). Looking at the list of restricted destinations [accessed 23 January] one finds that Israel is not listed. CAAT say that around half our exports to Israel are by this method.

Revolving door

The scandal of the revolving door continues. This concerns senior individuals in government or the forces taking up roles for arms companies following their retirement. There is a set of rules, which are largely sidestepped, to prevent abuse by people using their contacts to further the interests of the arms companies. These are set to be abolished this year and a new system introduced following a long list of scandals. We await to see how effective the new system will be. CAAT reveals the names of two new entrants to this hall of shame: Sir Simon Bollom, Head of the MOD’s Defence Equipment and Support, and Sir Mark Poffley formerly Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff. They will be joining Elbit Systems the Israeli arms firm which has facilities in the UK. They can use their influence to promote the interests of Elbit Systems. CAAT say there is no suggestion of impropriety.

A lengthy Private Eye report on this corruption, lists many names of politicians and others involved.

RAF flights over Gaza

The RAF continues to overfly GAZA and there are reports that the information gathered is being used to assist the Israeli IDF. The Ministry of Defence maintains that these flights were “solely to locate hostages,” yet the scale, timing and persistence of the flights raises questions as to how much they aided Israel’s military operations despite being conducted under the banner of humanitarian intent. It is not clear that any hostages were identified by the RAF.

The CAAT newsletter, together with previous newsletters and reports, paints a picture of the UK government which is more interested in supporting sales of weapons as part of its growth policy, than in the humanitarian effects these weapons have on the millions who suffer from their use. The high use of open licences means few meaningful controls are in place. They also proudly promote and support the Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) each year in London with the innocent sounding claim that it ‘promotes the UK’s defence ethos, agenda and leadership while encouraging opportunity and cooperation with our global allies‘. ​(Source, DSEI 2027 Home page).

The sums involved are large and defence (defense) firms are a key part in some local economies. Controls based on a sense of moral purpose and a proper exercise of end user certificates would curtail their activities and hence employment. It is a tail wagging a somewhat compliant dog.

Previous posts

• Yet more violence in the Middle East
• Another execution in Florida
• Is sport good for humanity?
• Executions continue at pace in Florida
• Nigeria and Shell Oil: 30 years on

House GOP Bill Would Roll Back Key Protections in US Chemical Safety Law

https://murica.website/2026/01/house-gop-bill-would-roll-back-key-protections-in-us-chemical-safety-law/

Brendan Carr Says Destroying Consumer Protection, Media Consolidation Rules, And Corporate Oversight Will Be Great For Everyone

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://www.techdirt.com/2025/12/29/brendan-carr-says-destroying-consumer-protection-media-consolidation-rules-and-corporate-oversight-will-be-great-for-everyone/

"A 2024 analysis by climate watchdog Floodlight identified a “generational resurgence of fraud and corruption in the utility sector” costing electricity consumers at least $6.6 billion over the past five years.

Over that same time period, utilities’ shareholders have claimed losses of over $12 billion after alleging corruption or fraud, and electric companies have paid out half a billion in related settlements. Since 2019, seven power industry executives have been federally indicted or pleaded guilty to crimes

A standout example is the FirstEnergy nuclear bailout scandal. In 2020, Ohio’s House speaker and Public Utilities Commission chairman were indicted on federal racketeering charges after accepting $61 million in bribes from grid operator FirstEnergy in exchange for $1.3 billion in taxpayer-funded nuclear power subsidies.

The cause of all this graft? Deregulation. In 2005, Congress repealed the 1935 Public Utility Holding Company Act, which barred electric utilities from donating treasury funds to political campaigns. Since then, public utilities commissions, by approving rate hikes, have delivered roughly $4 million in additional annual profits to the industry.

Meanwhile, watchdogs describe a “revolving door” in which executives hop between utility commissions and the private-sector firms they regulate with few restrictions or oversight. One study of 473 public utility commissions found that 50 percent of commissioners went on to take a job within or adjacent to an industry they oversaw."

https://www.levernews.com/let-there-be-grift/

#USA #Utilities #BigPower #RevolvingDoor #Deregulation

"Niamh Sweeney was announced in September as the pick for third commissioner for Ireland's already highly-controversial Data Protection Commission (DPC), rounding out its three-person leadership team.

However her work at Meta from 2015 to 2021 raises concerns from civil society.

In an open letter to the Irish government on Thursday (23 October), signed by the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, noyb, ARTICLE 19, the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom, plus 40 others, highlights the conflict of interest Sweeney brings to a position that is supposed to police the same firms in which she used to work.

This appointment “raises serious questions about the DPC’s independence at a time when its impartiality is of critical importance for the entire Union, and when public trust is already fragile,” the letter states."

https://euobserver.com/Digital/ar6c78a452

#EU #Ireland #Meta #DataProtection #RevolvingDoor #BigTech

Former FDA Vaccine Chief Peter Marks Joins Eli Lilly to Lead Infectious Disease Research

Peter Marks, who previously served as the top vaccine regulator at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), has joined the pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly to lead its molecule discovery and infectious disease programs. Marks, who was recently pushed out of his position at the FDA by pressure fr... [More info]