The barbarians are inside the gates and throwing a toxic masculinity pageant on the front lawn. While the United States should be preparing to honor the 250th anniversary of our democratic republic by working toward a more perfect union, Donald Trump has hijacked the historic milestone to throw corrupt, all-caps "TRUMP RALLIES" and UFC cage matches to distract from his economic warfare on the American people as he and his family rake in billions.

This week, Mother Jones investigative reporter Dan Friedman joins Gaslit Nation to expose the blatant kleptocracy behind "Freedom 250," a shadowy, dark-money shell company created by the White House to bypass congressional oversight and strip taxpayer funds from the bipartisan America 250 Commission.

This corporate-sponsored slush fund allows the administration to openly sell White House access to elite corporate donors and tech oligarchs seeking to build monopolies approved by Trump's DOJ and rake in tax breaks. Even more alarming: the contractor hired to run these "patriotic" events is Event Strategies, the exact same group that profited from organizing Trump's violent January 6th coup attempt.

We refuse to normalize corruption. If we look away now, the floodgates will swing wide open for future autocrats to follow. Listen to Part I now, and stay tuned for Part II this Thursday, where we discuss our leverage for accountability and how to fight back!

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Show Notes:

Opening clip: JD Vance on The View https://bsky.app/profile/atrupar.com/post/3mog4pzuauh2x

Trump's efforts to turn the 250th in a partisan party for himself. https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2025/06/military-parade-army-trump-american250-a250/

Trump's War on History: As America's 250th anniversary approaches, the president wants to control the country's future by bulldozing its past. https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/02/america-freedom-task-force-250-trump-anniversary-history-smithsonian-kennedy-center/

Piece on Interior/NPS effort to get rid of National Park signs: https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/02/donald-trumps-national-park-signs-francis-newlands-chevy-chase-circle/

Trump's Christian Nationalist rally on the Mall https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/05/trump-maga-freedom250-christian/

EVENTS AT GASLIT NATION:

June 22nd Songwriting Workshop with Leslie Nuss. Come explore the power of art at our Monday June 22nd Gaslit Nation Salon at 4pm ET opened with a songwriting workshop by Leslie.
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As always, keep it kind in our chat groups, extend grace and assume good faith. A culture of care is how we build a better world.