Episode 4: The Elephant in the Oval Office
President Donald Trump speaks in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, Monday, Sept. 22, 2025, in Washington (Mark Schiefelbein/AP)
In this episode, Charlie and Jaci break down the new, the old, and the truly unprecedented of Trump’s second-term scandals. We cover Trump’s pardons for government insurrectionists and his questionable allies; his unprecedented financial entanglements with the office he holds; and, of course, the Epstein of it all.
Listen Now:
Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Boise State Public Radio.org
Episode Notes:
Key sources used in researching and writing this episode:
CREW - “President Trump’s Legacy of Corruption, Four Years and 3,700 Conflicts of Interest Later”, January 2021
The New York Times - “Trump’s Finances Were Shaky. Then He Began to Capitalize on His Comeback”, July 2025
Financial Times - “Donald Trump’s crypto project netted $350mn from presidential memecoin”, March 2025
The Independent - “Trump made $10million selling guitars, bibles, watches and sneakers - but his crypto firm was the most profitable of all”, June 2025
CNBC - “Trump meme coin dinner likely to include mostly non-Americans based on top $TRUMP holders”, May 2025
BBC - “US begins preparing Qatari jet to be used as Air Force One”, July 2025
CNN - “Trump says Qatari jet could be ready for use as Air Force One in 6 months. Experts are deeply skeptical”, August 2025
NPR - “Trump offers long-promised pardons to some 1,500 January 6 rioters”, January 2025
BBC - “Proud Boys and Oath Keepers among over 1,500 Capitol riot defendants pardoned by Trump”, January 2025
Fox News - “JD Vance questioned on whether there will be January 6 pardons”, January 2025
