Following the Money: UAE, Trump, and a Half-Billion Dollar Deal

Описание: The Wall Street Journal just broke one of the most significant corruption stories of the Trump administration—and it's complicated, but we break it down.

Four days before Trump's second inauguration, a UAE official known as the "Spy Sheikh" invested $500 million in the Trump family's cryptocurrency company, World Liberty Financial. What did he get in return? Access to 500,000 of America's most advanced AI chips annually, a deal the Biden administration had previously blocked over national security concerns. Plus, the founder of Binance—who had been convicted of money laundering—received a presidential pardon.

In this episode, Sarah and Beth walk through the Wall Street Journal's blockbuster investigation into Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan's investment in Trump's crypto venture, the subsequent $2 billion Binance deal using Trump's stablecoin, and how all of this connects to U.S. foreign policy decisions.

PLUS: Federal courts are pushing back hard on immigration enforcement, with judges issuing unprecedented orders. We discuss what this means for constitutional checks and balances.

AND: The controversy around Amazon's $40 million Melania documentary—is it journalism or something else entirely?

OUTSIDE OF POLITICS: We recap the 2026 Grammys, from Bad Bunny's powerful speech to Lady Gaga's basket hat.

TIMESTAMPS:
(coming soon)

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
📰 Wall Street Journal: "Spy Sheikh Bought Secret Stake in Trump Company"
📰 Wall Street Journal: "National-Security Concerns Tie Up Trump's U.A.E. Chips Deal"
📰 BBC: "US President Trump pardons Binance founder Changpeng Zhao"
📰 Hollywood Reporter: "Box Office: 'Melania' Comes in at No. 3 With $7 Million"
🎵 Grammy Awards 2026 Highlights

COMING SOON: Tickets for our Minneapolis live show and first-ever Spice Conference go on sale next week! Mark your calendars for Tuesday, February 10th at 9pm ET (first batch) and Wednesday, February 11th at noon ET (second batch). Details on our website.

CONNECT WITH US:
💌 Substack: www.pantsuitpoliticsshow.com
📱 Instagram: @pantsuitpolitics

SUPPORT THE SHOW:
Join The Spice Cabinet on Substack for premium episodes and exclusive content!
#PantsuitPolitics #Trump #UAE #Cryptocurrency #Politics #News #Grammys2026