Popular Information, Washington D.C., DC (2025)

12/18/2025

On Wednesday night, Trump delivered a prime time address to the nation that was aired by all major broadcast networks. It preempted the season finale of “Survivor” on CBS, the season finale of “The Floor” on Fox, and holiday specials on ABC and NBC.

Typically, networks will interrupt their primetime schedule for presidents to address wars, crises, or very significant new policies. In his remarks, Trump delivered his standard talking points, bragging about his mass deportation policies and tariffs and attacking Democrats. The only crisis was Trump’s sagging approval ratings.

The speech's partisan political content was not a surprise. The networks decided to break precedent and air it anyway. The networks have declined to air prime time speeches from the last two Democratic presidents, claiming they were too political.

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On Wednesday night at 9 PM Eastern, President Trump delivered a prime time address to the nation that was aired by all major broadcast networks.

12/17/2025

This week, Jared Kushner abruptly canceled his plans to build Trump Tower Belgrade after the project became enmeshed in a criminal corruption scandal involving Serbian government officials.

Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, has resumed his role as one of Trump’s top foreign policy advisers. But Kushner has also continued to run his private equity firm, Affinity Partners.

The collapse of the deal is a case study in how Kushner’s dual role as an international investor and top Trump foreign policy advisor puts immense pressure on foreign governments. In Serbia, according to prosecutors, the pressure to deliver Kushner what he wanted was so great that top government officials were willing to violate the law.

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This week, Jared Kushner abruptly canceled his plans to build Trump Tower Belgrade after the project became enmeshed in a criminal corruption scandal involving Serbian government officials.

12/16/2025

Rob Reiner and his wife Michele Singer Reiner were found dead at their home in Los Angeles on Sunday.

Just hours after his death, President Trump attacked Reiner. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said Reiner’s death was “due to the anger he caused others through his massive, unyielding, and incurable affliction with a mind crippling disease known as TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME.”

Reiner was an outspoken critic of Trump. But he leaves behind a rich political legacy that began long before Trump’s political career. Reiner redefined celebrity political advocacy, not only lending his voice to important causes, but also implementing strategies that brought change.

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Rob Reiner, an actor, writer, and director, and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, a photographer and producer, were found dead at their home in Los Angeles on Sunday.

12/15/2025

There is a massive measles outbreak spreading rapidly in upstate South Carolina. Already, 111 people have contracted the virus.

Measles was “declared eliminated from the United States in 2000.” But that is due to the effectiveness of the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella vaccine. In Spartanburg County, the immunization rate in schools is 90%.

In response to the South Carolina measles outbreak, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the nation’s top public health official, has said nothing. Kennedy Jr. has a long history of promoting dangerous misinformation about the MMR vaccine, which has contributed to lower vaccination rates.

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There is a massive measles outbreak spreading rapidly in Upstate South Carolina.

12/11/2025

Likely the biggest source of cash in the 2026 election will come from Leading the Future, a group formed just a few months ago. LTF has already secured more than $100 million.

The effort, at least at the outset, was nominally bipartisan.

But on Wednesday, LTF released its first two television ads, with one ad promoting a Republican and the other ad attacking a Democrat. That is exactly how Trump and his allies want it to operate. If the pattern continues, it could potentially have a significant impact on the 2026 election.

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As the 2026 midterms approach, President Trump is facing headwinds.

12/10/2025

In three weeks, many of the government subsidies that help people afford health insurance will expire. If the subsidies are not extended before the end of the year, the impacts will be cataclysmic.

In an interview with Politico published on Tuesday, Trump was asked if he planned to let the subsidies expire. “I want to give the money to the people to buy their own health care,” Trump said.

Trump’s plan is not “magic.” It will not divert money from the insurance industry. But, if enacted, it could destroy Obamacare — a longtime goal of the Republican Party.

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In three weeks, many of the government subsidies that help people afford health insurance will expire.

12/10/2025

On Monday morning, Paramount announced a $77.9 billion hostile takeover offer of Warner Bros. Discovery. What is not mentioned in the press release is that while the equity financing is “backstopped” by American individuals and entities, the majority of the equity financing — $24 billion — comes from the sovereign wealth funds of Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi, and Qatar.

Also participating in the deal is Affinity Partners, the private equity firm run by President Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner. Nearly all of Affinity Partners’ assets come from the same sovereign wealth funds bankrolling the proposed Paramount takeover of WBD.

Kushner’s involvement in the deal highlights the ongoing legal and ethical problems with his dual role.

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Jared Kushner is funneling $24 billion from Middle Eastern governments to back a hostile bid for Warner Bros. Discovery—all while advising President Trump on foreign policy.

12/09/2025

Two major news networks, CNN and CNBC, recently announced partnerships with Kalshi, an online predictions market. Kalshi allows the public to place bets on a dizzying variety of news events.

The new partnerships with CNN and CNBC will not only draw more users to Kalshi but fundamentally change the nature of news. It is no longer just a mechanism to learn about and understand world events. The news is now an opportunity to speculate on future events for financial gain.

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New partnerships between the prediction market Kalshi and cable TV networks will transform every news event into a betting opportunity.

12/04/2025

In October, Popular Information reported that the Pentagon awarded a contract to Unusual Machines, an obscure drone company that Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr., joined as an advisor in November 2024, despite having no notable experience with drones or military contracting.

Now, another small startup funded by 1789 Capital, a venture capital firm where Trump Jr. is a partner, will receive a $620 million loan from the Defense Department, the Financial Times reported. The contract was awarded just three months after 1789 invested in Vulcan.

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In October, Popular Information reported that the Pentagon awarded a contract to Unusual Machines, an obscure drone company that President Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr., joined as an advisor in November 2024, despite having no notable experience with drones or military contracting.

12/03/2025

Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, has been traveling the world to participate in high-stakes foreign policy negotiations on behalf of the president.

On Tuesday, Kushner traveled to Moscow and sat across the table from Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss a peace deal to end the war in Ukraine. The entire U.S. delegation consisted only of Kushner and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff.

Kushner’s participation in the Moscow meeting — and the similar role he played in the Gaza negotiations — likely violates the law.

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Jared Kushner, President Trump’s son-in-law, has been traveling the world to participate in high-stakes foreign policy negotiations on behalf of the president.

12/02/2025

Last week, the Washington Post reported that Pete Hegseth gave a verbal order to leave no survivors in the first strike of the DOD’s campaign against drug smuggling boats, which took place in the Caribbean on September 2.

Several minutes after striking the boat for the first time, the Special Operations commander overseeing the attack ordered a second strike to kill two men hanging on to the burning remains of the boat.

That narrative describes a likely violation of the Geneva Conventions. That Hegseth would give such an order that could potentially constitute a war crime should come as no surprise. Hegseth has a long history of expressing contempt for the Geneva Conventions and the legal rules of engagement.

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Since September 2, the Department of Defense (DOD) has used drones to kill more than 80 people traveling by boat in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific.

12/01/2025

Steve Witkoff was appointed by Trump as special envoy for peace missions. Witkoff, a billionaire with no previous diplomatic experience, is in charge of mediating an extraordinarily complex international conflict, a role that requires him to be trusted by both Russia and Ukraine as an honest broker.

An investigation by Popular Information reveals that, while serving in this role, Witkoff has maintained an active financial partnership with Len Blavatnik, a billionaire sanctioned by Ukraine over his ties to Russia. Witkoff and Blavatnik are co-developing a massive residential real estate project in New York City. The relationship raises additional questions about the nature of Witkoff’s role.

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Steve Witkoff coached a top Putin aide on managing Trump and created a peace plan that mirrored Russian demands

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