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Popular Information isn’t just another source of hot takes. We conduct investigative journalism, reveal new facts, and impact the national political debate. Consider two stories from just the last month:
1. Popular Information revealed that the Trump administration’s $20 billion bailout of Argentina would benefit hedge fund billionaire Robert Citrone, a personal friend and former colleague of Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. The story became national news, picked up by CNN, the New Yorker, the New York Times, CNBC, and scores of other outlets. Popular Information’s report was also cited in a letter from more than 50 members of Congress to Bessent, demanding answers about his ties with Citrone.
2. Popular Information broke the news that, during the Trump administration, ICE has increased its spending on guns, chemical weapons, and other small arms by 600% during the Trump administration. The story went viral across social media platforms and was picked up by The Daily Beast, The Independent, Wired, Mother Jones, and other outlets. The report, based on a detailed analysis of government contracting data, has brought renewed scrutiny to violent tactics deployed by federal agents as part of Trump’s immigration crackdown.
Popular Information has over 530,000 readers, but the truth is that only a very small percentage are paid subscribers. One reason is that we do not have a paywall. We believe that access to the information we uncover should not be limited by income.
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During the second Trump administration, corruption scandals that would typically define a presidency have receive a day or two of coverage.
Part of the issue is that for Trump, enriching himself and his family is one of the core purposes of his presidency. The media industry is both unwilling and unable to cover this level of corruption rigorously. Treating Trump’s corruption scandals like those of previous presidents would make outlets appear “biased” and strain the resources of an industry that has been contracting over the past 25 years.
To put the scope of the problem in context, consider the corruption scandals that have emerged just over the last week.
After $2 billion transaction with Trump cryptocurrency, convicted felon receives pardon
In November 2023, Binance’s founder and CEO, Changpeng Zhao, pled guilty to willfully violating anti-money laundering laws. According to the Department of Justice, his actions “allowed money to flow to terrorists, cybercriminals, and child abusers” through Binance. Zhao, known as CZ, served four months in federal prison and agreed to resign as CEO.
The company’s conduct was brazen. One Binance compliance official suggested the company use this marketing slogan: “Is washing drug money too hard these days — come to Binance we got cake for you.” CZ “told employees it was ‘better to ask for forgiveness than permission,’ and prioritized Binance’s growth over compliance with U.S. law.”
Since the 2024 election, CZ and Binance have generated millions in profits for Trump by conducting transactions with companies linked to Trump and his family. Most significantly, in May, Binance accepted a $2 billion investment from a state-backed UAE investment fund using the cryptocurrency USD1. The USD1 token, a so-called stablecoin, had just been created by World Liberty Financial (WLF). Trump and his family members own about 38% of WLF. Binance’s transaction gave USD1 immediate legitimacy and liquidity. It is expected to generate tens of millions in annual profits for WLF.
Further, according to Bloomberg, Binance “wrote the basic code to power USD1” and “promoted USD1 to its 275 million users, a sought-after benefit among stablecoin issuers.” In other words, the entire USD1 project appears to be a gift from CZ to Trump. Binance provided the technical expertise for its creation, promoted it, and is the largest holder of the token. It is “unclear” if Binance or CZ “received any payment from World Liberty in return.”
CZ, through his family office, is also collaborating on a crypto project with an investment firm linked to Trump’s eldest sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump.
On Thursday, Trump pardoned CZ, which CZ had requested. The move could open the door for CZ to return as CEO and for Bianance to begin operating in the United States.
Trump said he pardoned CZ “at the request of a lot of very good people“ who said that “what he did is not even a crime.” CZ hired Ches McDowell, a hunting buddy of Trump Jr., $450,000 last month to lobby Trump for “executive relief.” On October 14, Trump Jr. and McDowell were spotted at the White House.
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Pentagon awards major drone contract to company linked to Trump Jr.
In November 2024, a few weeks after Trump won the presidential election, an obscure drone company, Unusual Machines, brought on Trump Jr. as an advisor. Trump Jr., who has no notable experience with drones or military contracting, was granted 200,000 shares in the company, a stake worth millions.
Trump Jr. later “helped screen candidates for top jobs at the Pentagon on behalf of his father after the election.” In the September 18 edition of Trump Jr’s podcast, Triggered, he admitted that he sought out people who wanted to shift more spending into drones. Trump Jr. said he tried to avoid “former F-15 pilot[s]” because “they sort of want to go with what they know.” The military, Trump Jr. said, is “better served with a drone that costs a tiny fraction of that of a plane.”
When Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s nomination was imperiled due to rape allegations, Trump Jr. emerged as one of his most outspoken defenders.
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Hegseth later issued several directives making it easier for the Pentagon to spend money on drones, particularly from U.S. manufacturers like Unusual Machines.