Trump’s deal with corporate elites is corrupt and undermines democracy. We all pay financially and with our freedom. Gerard Baker of The Wall Street Journal has written two columns that make a powerful statement about the damage America’s corporate elites and their style of capitalism have done.

Eighty-eight large corporations with over $105 billion in profits paid no federal income tax in 2025. Many large, profitable companies’ employees rely on government-subsidized health insurance and food assistance to survive. This adds hundreds of billions to the annual federal budget deficit.

President Trump and his regime don’t care about you and aren’t protecting your health, safety, or financial security. Here are some examples of actions they have taken that put you at risk.

Strong progressive election results are continuing. Voters are making it clear that their top issues are the unaffordability of daily life, the corruption in our politics, fairness in our economy, and strong, effective opposition to the Trump regime.

The Trump family’s relationships with Saudi Arabia and its ruler involve billions of dollars of investments and real estate deals. These conflicts of interest and apparent corruption are unprecedented. There are many accessories, and there should be many investigations and prosecutions.

Trump’s friendly relationship with Saudi Arabia and its ruler is evident in his administration’s sales to them of military equipment and artificial intelligence (AI) technology, and his visits to Saudi Arabia. Trump’s extravagant military spending and sales have been called the “Bloody New Deal.”

The Trump administration’s deal to support a Saudi Arabian nuclear energy program represents a major shift in U.S. policy and risks accelerating the nuclear arms race in the Middle East and globally. It has put a spotlight on the Trump family’s relationship with Saudi Arabia and its ruler.

Trump is the only politician calling for and taking government control of private companies and resources. At his direction, the government has taken stakes in at least nine companies. On the other hand, democratic socialists in the U.S. today are in the historical mainstream and are not communists.

Are national Democrats listening? The public is yelling and voting based on affordability and corruption. Progressive, grassroots candidates are beating incumbents and winning even in conservative districts. Many of these candidates are young, female, multicultural, and/or new to politics.

Artificial intelligence (AI) needs strong regulation because its effects are far-reaching and powerful. U.S. Representative Khanna states that a robust federal agency is needed to regulate AI and has put forth seven principles for a new social compact to address the issues of AI and inequality.

Big Tech needs strong regulation due to its potential for great benefit and great harm, especially artificial intelligence (AI). An innovative regulation of AI would be to have the government seize 50% of AI companies’ stock, putting the shares in a sovereign wealth fund to benefit all Americans.

Democratic states need to push back more effectively against Republican efforts to impose right-wing policies. They need to use their policies and economic leverage to improve people’s well-being. This will make a distinction and persuade some voters and non-voters to vote for Democrats.

Some Republican states and right-wing activists are using the courts and vigilantism in efforts to impose their right-wing policies on Democratic states.

Some Republican states, with Texas in the lead, are trying to impose their right-wing policies on Democratic states. The federal government is fanning the flames of this divisive extremism. Abortion, gun laws, public school funding, and even private companies’ behaviors are targets.

State policies make a difference in people’s lives and even in their longevity. They’re more important than ever given the federal government’s dysfunction. Differences between policies of Republican states and Democratic ones affect access to healthcare, affordability, and overall well-being.

Small government advocates have worked to shrink government by cutting taxes. The results have been exploding economic inequality and federal budget deficits. They are now working to cut state income taxes and local property taxes. This will only expand economic inequality and feed the oligarchy.

Billionaires are already spending big on 2026 election campaigns. Most of this money flows through PACs and goes to Republicans. The DNC and state Democrats should ban PAC money from their primaries because it distorts election results, perverts policies, and drowns out working people’s voices.

Democrats should be taking steps now to lay the ground work for electoral successes and policy making in the future. Running against Trump is not enough; Democrats need to state what they are for. They should ban super PAC and dark money from their primaries and support progressive policies.

Democracy requires fair taxation. The current U.S. tax system is unfair. Given the huge inequalities in wealth, wealth and transfers of it need to be taxed directly. Wealth taxes are essential to re-establishing a fair tax system and reducing economic inequality.

Democracy requires fair taxation. The current U.S. tax system is unfair. Increased progressivity of individual and business income tax rates, especially on income from wealth (versus work), is one essential piece of re-establishing a fair tax system and reducing economic inequality.