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    Back to To the Point

    To the Point

    Will Washington become a kleptocracy?

    Donald Trump promised to "drain the swamp" in Washington, but critics say he's creating a new swamp of potential conflicts of interest. The White House has opened a revolving door by appointing lobbyists and corporate leaders to regulate the businesses they formerly worked for.

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    By Warren Olney • Apr 20, 2017 • 1 min read

    Donald Trump promised to "drain the swamp" in Washington, but critics say he's creating a new swamp of potential conflicts of interest. The White House has opened a revolving door by appointing lobbyists and corporate leaders to regulate the businesses they formerly worked for. Public money's being spent at Trump properties, and family members have the chance to enrich themselves by making government policy. Ethics officials and reporters say the flood of possible violations is so great that a single scandal looks like it's just part of business as usual.

    The full episode

    2 of 3
    Trump's ethical conflicts pile up as transparency diminishes
    1. 1:25Dow asks EPA to stop effort to protect endangered species
    2. 8:00Will Washington become a kleptocracy?You’re reading this
    3. 42:48The back-and-forth of Arkansas' executions
    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Warren Olney

      former KCRW broadcaster

    • KCRW placeholder

      Andrea Brody

      Senior Producer, KCRW's Life Examined and To the Point podcast

    • KCRW placeholder

      Katie Cooper

      Producer, 'One year Later'

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Yael Even Or

      Producer, 'Press Play'

    • KCRW placeholder

      Justin Elliott

      ProPublica

    • KCRW placeholder

      Norman Ornstein

      American Enterprise Institute / Atlantic

    • KCRW placeholder

      Laurence Tribe

      Harvard University

      NewsNationalPolitics

    The full episode

    2 of 3
    Trump's ethical conflicts pile up as transparency diminishes
    1. 1:25Dow asks EPA to stop effort to protect endangered species
    2. 8:00Will Washington become a kleptocracy?You’re reading this
    3. 42:48The back-and-forth of Arkansas' executions
    Back to To the Point