Trump's $1.7b Friends and Family Fund

In this episode of The Bulwark, hosts JVL and Sarah Longwell dissect a shocking new development: Donald Trump's proposed $1.7 billion 'Friends and Family Fund' as part of a settlement to drop his $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS and Justice Department. The fund, which would compensate individuals claiming to be wrongfully targeted by the Biden administration—including nearly 1,600 January 6th defendants—would be overseen by a commission Trump could appoint and remove at will, with no transparency in decisions or recipient identities. The hosts express outrage at the brazen hypocrisy: Trump, who refused to release his own taxes, now proposes a slush fund that could funnel taxpayer money to his allies and even those convicted of serious crimes, including sex offenses. They critique the lack of accountability, the secrecy, and the timing—winding down before Trump leaves office to prevent future presidents from using it. The conversation shifts to broader systemic failures, with Longwell arguing that Democrats must prioritize building political power before pursuing reforms like Supreme Court expansion or D.C. statehood, while JVL pushes for accountability and even a Nuremberg-style reckoning. Both acknowledge the grim reality: even if Democrats win in 2028, they’re unlikely to have the majorities needed to enact transformative change, and the political will may not exist anyway.