The Golden Share: Trump’s Mob-Style Coup in Plain Sight
Donald Trump just told the world how he governs, with personal loyalty as the price of protection. “The UK is very well protected... because I like them,” he said. It wasn’t bluster. It was a confession.
This was followed by something even more chilling. Trump now controls a “golden share” in U.S. Steel. This isn’t policy, it’s feudalism. The power to veto company decisions, dictate board membership, and override democratic processes is now in the hands of one man and his chosen successors. It’s a mafia move, not a democratic one.
Every other outrage in the news, from environmental sabotage and land giveaways to foreign money pouring into his business empire, serves the same end: absolute control cloaked in chaos.
The golden share is the canary in the coal mine. It is a formal, contractual admission that Trump is replacing representative government with an autocracy of personal will. If Americans shrug this off, we’re not just looking at corruption. We’re looking at the privatization of power itself.
In 1974, Republicans walked into the Oval Office to tell Nixon it was over. Today, most are walking away from the Constitution instead.
Trump’s rise is not just a threat. It is a test. Will we uphold the rule of law, or sell it off, one golden share at a time?
This is no longer about politics. It is about survival. Of the republic. Of the truth. Of democracy itself.
Follow-up - the Senate Parliamentarian pulled it - and other inappropriate hidden measures in the Big Bozo Bill - so between the Senate and the House this may never get to Trump’s desk! 🤠 Keep pushing! Keep resisting! Keep fighting! 🤷♀️🙏😘
Dear @HeatherCoxRichardson #HeatherCoxRichardson and the community she's created that loves our country and democracy --
Once, again, like a broken record, here I go again --
Call your Senators -- especially if they're Republicans -- to demand they follow the Byrd rule!
It might even be necessary to protest in ways Larry Kramer/ACT-Up taught -- e.g., state "die-ins" at Senate Republicans offices -- to stop them from sneaking a provision that could essentially end democracy -- and a whole lot more -- into the "big beautiful bill."
If what was Section 70302 in H.R. 1 that the Senate Judiciary Committee has since strengthened by defining what the bond -- retroactively -- would be required, it won't matter what US District Court Judge William Young has said or done so far.
We are in the midst of an administrative coup. If Republican Senators decide to not follow the Byrd Rule, this and a bunch of other very significant provisions, specifically --
⚠️ Provisions Still in the Bill That May Violate the Byrd Rule
- A 10‑Year Ban on State & Local AI Regulations - A sweeping moratorium preventing state or local governments from enforcing AI rules for a decade (jdsupra.com, en.wikipedia.org, nypost.com)
- Limiting Federal Court Contempt Powers - The provision that I repeatedly post comments about, curtailing federal courts’ ability to enforce contempt citations (rollcall.com, en.wikipedia.org, wsj.com)
- Ban on Medicaid Funding for Transgender Care - Prohibiting Medicaid from covering gender‑affirming care—even for adults ( vox.com, en.wikipedia.org, wsj.com)
- Defunding Planned Parenthood in Federal Health Subsidies - A targeted ban blocking federal health plan subsidies (e.g., ACA) from covering abortion or Planned Parenthood (foxnews.com, en.wikipedia.org, impacthealthpolicy.com)
- Limits on Gun Suppressor Taxes - Though earlier efforts to strip suppressors of the NFA tax were removed, current language still eliminates the $200 suppressor tax (politico.com, en.wikipedia.org, wsj.com).
-- will get passed into law by being allowed to stay in the "big beautiful budget bill" by Republican Senators not following the Byrd rule.
The Byrd rule is that, typically, when following usual norms, Senators vote to agree to follow the recommendations of the Senate Parliamentarian to remove any provisions in a budget bill that are not directly related or relevant to what’s in that budget bill.
Either their staff are uniformed or they're playing dumb.
There is some talk that they may just decide to “ignore” the parliamentarian. That would be in keeping with metastatic fascism, which I compare to a (fictional) deadly necrotizing fungus from the old B-movie “The Cave of No Return”. The rot is spreading. Where is Lt. General and (briefly) Humpty’s National Security Advisor Mike Flynn, who advocated that Humpty should declare martial law in his first term? It seems to me that the Congress’s willingness to let Nixon resign (first, they had to get rid of Richard Agnew!), instead of impeaching him, was a fork in the road that has led us to where we are today. In addition, Gerald Ford’s pardon of Nixon showed everyone that some people, often the most lawless, are somehow above the law because of who they know; or In Humpty’s case, what kind of cash or grift they have to offer in exchange for his munificence; as determined by former Russian stooge Ed Martin, who failed to get nominated for DC U.S. Attorney and now instead is in charge of whatever passes for a pardon office.
Sorry, I meant Spiro Agnew, who took briefcases full of money in the White House as bribes. Humpty and family are light years beyond that kind of petty grift.
We need to get to the basics instead of trump, trump, trump and fascination with his lawbreaking. What is powering him is the cabal of republican congress and senate. If we are outraged with the way our lives have turned upside down let us unite to go after the real reason. One at a time, let us identify the republican congress and senate members in our district, state and counties. Start campaign against them with name and their legislative boondoggle. Any effort, to discredit them before election will go a long way in defeating them. This party is the Trojan Horse that walked into our power center while we were asleep. Their foot soldiers inside, are Citizens United, Right Wing media, ALEC, Heritage Foundation, Federalist Society and the phony right wing mega churches which has produced the judicial cabal, trump's best friend. They have been chipping away at the constitution for decades for the benefit of robber barons of the nation. To get detail insight read, "Trojan Horse - Democracy Hijacked", to be out next month.
The sale of these public lands smacks of foreign ogliarchs purchasing our US soil one parcel at a time to the highest trump crypto currency bidder. This woukd indeed fit with the sebate passed and now sent to the house GENIUS Act, S. 1582. This bill will prioritize the solvency of crypto investors over traditional bank customers and put our entire banking system at risk of collapse. It also does nothing to stop the Trump family’s corrupt use of crypto to accept dark money bribes. Every thing is a monetary transaction with the mob boss.
Has this administration no shame? Yes. None. And no soul and all the other attributes one might embue on normal human beings. Seeing and hearing HCR and Obama (thank you Ronbo97!) together was incredibly insightful, helpful and informative, historically and contemporaneously. Looking good too! Thank you Professor, and major damn kudos, for scoring the interview of a lifetime and giving it to all of us! ✌❤
The survival of America through its adolescence, when every other power in the world was stronger, required the pledge of "our lives, fortunes, and sacred honor." During this period, those with character and deep and REAL appreciation of freedom. faced their own conflictions and weaknesses in the face of both of America's original sins. “Harsh truth, like Maryland Rye, once swallowed, warms the soul.” Charles Carroll. My novel, TIDES OF FURY, breathes life into this period. Come check us out. https://willstreett.substack.com/
People must remember that the GOP is wholly complicit in Trump's corruption, unconstitutional actions and abuse of power because they refused to remove him from office after impeachment. They should hang with Trump.
The Golden Share: Trump’s Mob-Style Coup in Plain Sight
Donald Trump just told the world how he governs, with personal loyalty as the price of protection. “The UK is very well protected... because I like them,” he said. It wasn’t bluster. It was a confession.
This was followed by something even more chilling. Trump now controls a “golden share” in U.S. Steel. This isn’t policy, it’s feudalism. The power to veto company decisions, dictate board membership, and override democratic processes is now in the hands of one man and his chosen successors. It’s a mafia move, not a democratic one.
Every other outrage in the news, from environmental sabotage and land giveaways to foreign money pouring into his business empire, serves the same end: absolute control cloaked in chaos.
The golden share is the canary in the coal mine. It is a formal, contractual admission that Trump is replacing representative government with an autocracy of personal will. If Americans shrug this off, we’re not just looking at corruption. We’re looking at the privatization of power itself.
In 1974, Republicans walked into the Oval Office to tell Nixon it was over. Today, most are walking away from the Constitution instead.
Trump’s rise is not just a threat. It is a test. Will we uphold the rule of law, or sell it off, one golden share at a time?
This is no longer about politics. It is about survival. Of the republic. Of the truth. Of democracy itself.
Your words are not only a cautionary tale, but also a call to and for resistance.
I spoke with a Navajo leader in northern Arizona who noted buried in the bill is possibly selling off Native American reservation lands
He has no conscience!😡
God forbid.
Follow-up - the Senate Parliamentarian pulled it - and other inappropriate hidden measures in the Big Bozo Bill - so between the Senate and the House this may never get to Trump’s desk! 🤠 Keep pushing! Keep resisting! Keep fighting! 🤷♀️🙏😘
Dear @HeatherCoxRichardson #HeatherCoxRichardson and the community she's created that loves our country and democracy --
Once, again, like a broken record, here I go again --
Call your Senators -- especially if they're Republicans -- to demand they follow the Byrd rule!
It might even be necessary to protest in ways Larry Kramer/ACT-Up taught -- e.g., state "die-ins" at Senate Republicans offices -- to stop them from sneaking a provision that could essentially end democracy -- and a whole lot more -- into the "big beautiful bill."
If what was Section 70302 in H.R. 1 that the Senate Judiciary Committee has since strengthened by defining what the bond -- retroactively -- would be required, it won't matter what US District Court Judge William Young has said or done so far.
We are in the midst of an administrative coup. If Republican Senators decide to not follow the Byrd Rule, this and a bunch of other very significant provisions, specifically --
⚠️ Provisions Still in the Bill That May Violate the Byrd Rule
- A 10‑Year Ban on State & Local AI Regulations - A sweeping moratorium preventing state or local governments from enforcing AI rules for a decade (jdsupra.com, en.wikipedia.org, nypost.com)
- Limiting Federal Court Contempt Powers - The provision that I repeatedly post comments about, curtailing federal courts’ ability to enforce contempt citations (rollcall.com, en.wikipedia.org, wsj.com)
- Ban on Medicaid Funding for Transgender Care - Prohibiting Medicaid from covering gender‑affirming care—even for adults ( vox.com, en.wikipedia.org, wsj.com)
- Defunding Planned Parenthood in Federal Health Subsidies - A targeted ban blocking federal health plan subsidies (e.g., ACA) from covering abortion or Planned Parenthood (foxnews.com, en.wikipedia.org, impacthealthpolicy.com)
- Streamlined Permits for Fossil‑Fuel Projects - Language to accelerate fossil fuel infrastructure permitting (en.wikipedia.org, reddit.com, arnoldporter.com, rollcall.com)
- Limits on Gun Suppressor Taxes - Though earlier efforts to strip suppressors of the NFA tax were removed, current language still eliminates the $200 suppressor tax (politico.com, en.wikipedia.org, wsj.com).
-- will get passed into law by being allowed to stay in the "big beautiful budget bill" by Republican Senators not following the Byrd rule.
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-senate-republicans-seek-limit-judges-power-via-trumps-tax-cut-bill-2025-06-13/
please....what is "the Byrd rule". so I can know what I am telling my Ohio 2 Republican Senators - neither of whom has a clue....
The Byrd rule is that, typically, when following usual norms, Senators vote to agree to follow the recommendations of the Senate Parliamentarian to remove any provisions in a budget bill that are not directly related or relevant to what’s in that budget bill.
Either their staff are uniformed or they're playing dumb.
thank you! well, who would expect that the current Republicans would follow "usual norms". ?
According to @Heather Cox Richardson, they’ve already not followed the Byrd rule with another piece of legislation. They’re on a roll.
There is some talk that they may just decide to “ignore” the parliamentarian. That would be in keeping with metastatic fascism, which I compare to a (fictional) deadly necrotizing fungus from the old B-movie “The Cave of No Return”. The rot is spreading. Where is Lt. General and (briefly) Humpty’s National Security Advisor Mike Flynn, who advocated that Humpty should declare martial law in his first term? It seems to me that the Congress’s willingness to let Nixon resign (first, they had to get rid of Richard Agnew!), instead of impeaching him, was a fork in the road that has led us to where we are today. In addition, Gerald Ford’s pardon of Nixon showed everyone that some people, often the most lawless, are somehow above the law because of who they know; or In Humpty’s case, what kind of cash or grift they have to offer in exchange for his munificence; as determined by former Russian stooge Ed Martin, who failed to get nominated for DC U.S. Attorney and now instead is in charge of whatever passes for a pardon office.
Sorry, I meant Spiro Agnew, who took briefcases full of money in the White House as bribes. Humpty and family are light years beyond that kind of petty grift.
We need to get to the basics instead of trump, trump, trump and fascination with his lawbreaking. What is powering him is the cabal of republican congress and senate. If we are outraged with the way our lives have turned upside down let us unite to go after the real reason. One at a time, let us identify the republican congress and senate members in our district, state and counties. Start campaign against them with name and their legislative boondoggle. Any effort, to discredit them before election will go a long way in defeating them. This party is the Trojan Horse that walked into our power center while we were asleep. Their foot soldiers inside, are Citizens United, Right Wing media, ALEC, Heritage Foundation, Federalist Society and the phony right wing mega churches which has produced the judicial cabal, trump's best friend. They have been chipping away at the constitution for decades for the benefit of robber barons of the nation. To get detail insight read, "Trojan Horse - Democracy Hijacked", to be out next month.
Did I miss something, or is DJT losing his marbles?? This is about the survival of the of our democracy !!! GOD BLESS AMERICA...
Oh, he's losing them. Has been for quite awhile. Probably not many left at this point.
And they don't regenerate.
Rumor is he's incontinent, too.
Hey Everyone - Here's the link to Wednesday (6/17) night's CT Forum, held in Hartford, CT. Featuring HCR speaking with Barack Obama. Enjoy !
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIBCskNAg9A
The sale of these public lands smacks of foreign ogliarchs purchasing our US soil one parcel at a time to the highest trump crypto currency bidder. This woukd indeed fit with the sebate passed and now sent to the house GENIUS Act, S. 1582. This bill will prioritize the solvency of crypto investors over traditional bank customers and put our entire banking system at risk of collapse. It also does nothing to stop the Trump family’s corrupt use of crypto to accept dark money bribes. Every thing is a monetary transaction with the mob boss.
America was warned not to elect a Mob Boss. But it did not listen.
Has this administration no shame? Yes. None. And no soul and all the other attributes one might embue on normal human beings. Seeing and hearing HCR and Obama (thank you Ronbo97!) together was incredibly insightful, helpful and informative, historically and contemporaneously. Looking good too! Thank you Professor, and major damn kudos, for scoring the interview of a lifetime and giving it to all of us! ✌❤
6:20 in, those mentioned as trying to corner those markets actually came very close lets remember. It is possible for those interested to do this.
Be aware of your surroundings at all times.
Trump is so much like a don, his name is literally "Don." (Apologies to Bill Maher.)
Trump needs to be stopped … what else do we need to do this ???
The ruining of our democracy continues….
The survival of America through its adolescence, when every other power in the world was stronger, required the pledge of "our lives, fortunes, and sacred honor." During this period, those with character and deep and REAL appreciation of freedom. faced their own conflictions and weaknesses in the face of both of America's original sins. “Harsh truth, like Maryland Rye, once swallowed, warms the soul.” Charles Carroll. My novel, TIDES OF FURY, breathes life into this period. Come check us out. https://willstreett.substack.com/
People must remember that the GOP is wholly complicit in Trump's corruption, unconstitutional actions and abuse of power because they refused to remove him from office after impeachment. They should hang with Trump.
DJT can be the 2nd POTUS to resign...and make it quick!!