Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) speaks during a protest at the US Customs and Border Protection Office on January 13, 2026, in Washington, D.C. | Jemal Countess/Getty Images for MoveOn Civic Action

President Donald Trump’s blatant, sometimes open corruption can feel disorienting. While other White Houses have made a point to show their administration is not for sale, this one has seemingly done the opposite — making a big show of their transactional relationship with corporations, Silicon Valley, and other governments, given the right price.

This kind of pay-to-play politics was the focus of a recent forum in Washington, DC, hosted by the American Economic Liberties Project, a think tank focused on corporate consolidation, breaking up monopolies, and accountability for rogue businesses. It’s also the focus of Sen.…