Government Operations & Ethics - The administration is facing scrutiny due to unpaid federal workers and large protests [1] - The president is reportedly seeking $230 million in taxpayer money from the Justice Department related to previous investigations [1][2] - Experts are raising concerns about a massive conflict of interest regarding the Justice Department's handling of the president's claims [3] - The president is planning a $250 million ballroom renovation at the White House, funded by himself and private donors, raising questions about potential quid pro quo [5][6] Political Landscape - A Reuters poll indicates that 50% of Americans blame the GOP for the government shutdown, compared to 43% who blame Democrats [7] - Republicans are reportedly considering an Obamacare extension [7] - The president has been criticized for his cavalier attitude towards potential graft and conflicts of interest [16] - There are concerns that the president's actions are alienating portions of his base [29] Potential Conflicts of Interest - The president's loyalists within the Department of Justice, some of whom were his personal lawyers, will have the final say on his compensation claims [14] - The president acknowledged the strangeness of making a decision where he is essentially paying himself damages [15] - The acceptance of donations from companies for the White House ballroom renovation raises concerns about what those companies are getting in return [20][21]

The end of the investigation into Tom Homan is more evidence that post-Watergate controls on graft are fading away https://t.co/ZsXQBH8RYw ...

When reporting on high-level graft, state media mention the reading habits of the accused with growing frequency https://t.co/44nlHNpqNR ...