The Chris Cuomo Project

Episode: Trump’s SECRET Plan for History’s Greatest Financial Heist
Guest: Max from UNFTR
Date: September 9, 2025

Overview

In this episode, Chris Cuomo sits down with Max from UNFTR for a deep dive into an explosive and underreported development: how Donald Trump and his family are allegedly positioning themselves to orchestrate what Max calls “history's greatest financial heist” through the creation and control of a Trump-led stablecoin. The conversation dissects the mechanics of stablecoins, the pending legislation that could transfer central banking powers to private hands, and the vast political, economic, and social implications if this trend continues unchecked. Throughout, Cuomo and Max analyze Trump’s political instincts, the fragility of American economic narratives, and why urgent critical thinking is needed now more than ever.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The “Shadow Central Bank” Threat

• Max’s headline:

  "Trump is building a shadow central bank operation with this stablecoin enterprise, and Congress is laying the groundwork for him to become, post presidency, one of the chief primary architects of central banking in the world. Accountable to nobody. That’s the headline, and it’s frightening." — Max (03:26)

• Stablecoins—crypto assets pegged to a stable value (mostly USD/Treasuries)—are poised to become “parallel” issuers of US currency.
• Trump’s family is leading a new stablecoin called USD1, and pending legislation could cement private actors (including Trump) as central players in U.S. and even global finance.

2. Stablecoin 101: What’s Really at Stake

• Stablecoins like USDC, USDT (Tether), and now USD1 (Trump’s) buy huge amounts of U.S. Treasuries as backing.
• Max explains:

  “These are predominantly private actors, buying enormous amounts of Treasuries, more than Germany. Congress is maneuvering to make independent stablecoin issuers the only ones that can do it.” — Max (09:16)

• The Genie is out: stablecoins can cut transaction costs, but if not transparent, could lead to massive fraud and embezzlement.

3. Pending Legislation and Its Dangers

• Three main bills discussed:
  • The Genius Act: Seeks to add guardrails around who can issue stablecoins; was seen as positive.
  • The Clarity Act: Moves regulatory authority from the SEC to the CFTC, a lighter-touch regulator (historically responsible for Enron, mortgage collapse, etc.), thereby reducing oversight.
  • The Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act: Explicitly bars the Federal Reserve from issuing its own central bank digital currency, giving private actors full reign.
• Max warns:

  “If Congress passes these next two bills, [Trump] will be one of the most important players in private finance, acting as a shadow central bank. Not sexy, but really, really monumental, because it would be the greatest heist in the history of modern finance.” — Max (55:08)

4. Seigniorage: Turning Public Good Into Private Profit

• Seigniorage is the profit central banks make by issuing currency and lending it into the system.
• Cuomo explains why Trump standing to collect this profit is unprecedented:

  “Every time that coin then further circulates, there’s more money to be made … our government is now currently paying the Trump family interest on that money. That’s already happening.” — Max (61:57)

5. Economic Manipulation and Political Messaging

• Trump’s “grievance politics” is highly effective:

  “Grievance swings elections. … We got wrong that celebrity sells in America. And he was not a celebrity to guys from, you know, where you’re from and where I’m from, but he was to the rest of the country because they knew him from The Apprentice … And then once I realized, Oh, that’s what they see in this guy, that’s why they believe everything because he’s a big celebrity to them.” — Chris Cuomo (19:23)

• Many Americans see Trump’s moves (like the stablecoin) as just “smart business” rather than unique threats to economic stability or democracy.

6. Disconnect Between Metrics and Reality

• Max highlights the rift in economic perceptions:

  “The disconnect between real America and what we see on the business channels … is pretty staggering. … Everything is absolutely okay for, I will say, the top 10% of the country.” — Max (14:37)

• Rising bankruptcies, credit card debt, student defaults, and falling savings indicate economic frailty masked by strong stock markets.

7. Privatization of Central Bank Powers: A New Era

• The largest threat:

  “It essentially privatizes one of the central bank’s main responsibilities, which is managing the money supply in our currency. … The Fed’s primary tool … is now going to be in private hands.” — Max (11:40)

• When the next economic crisis strikes, the levers available to the government may already have been ceded to Trump and his financiers.

8. Media, Political Culture, and the Battle for the Narrative

• Cuomo:

  “If you’re explaining, you’re losing. … as soon as it gets complicated, it’s over.” (43:49)

• Both note how media (even left-leaning podcasters) tend to play up fear or simple villainy, while voters remain busy, skeptical, and fundamentally mistrustful of “systems,” including the Federal Reserve.

Memorable Quotes & Timestamps

• "If he pulls this off the way he is crafting it … the worse the economy gets and the higher the yield on our treasury … the more money he stands to make." – Max (03:56)
• “Stablecoins are in and of themselves probably a very good invention because they eliminate a lot of very expensive and useless layers in the middle of transactions. … But if the blockchain stays stable and there’s total transparency.” – Max (10:09)
• “It’s not legal yet. … We’re making it legal.” – Max (63:52)
• “Every coin that’s made, you make a little money. Every time that coin then further circulates, there’s more money to be made.” – Max (61:57)
• “This is gangsterism at the highest level.” – Max (65:46)
• “People have great antipathy toward the Federal Reserve. Most people don’t know why. … To me, what’s the Fed do? Fucks with monetary policy to help big corporations and doesn’t care about guys paying a mortgage like me.” – Chris Cuomo (36:12; 37:16)
• “Critical thinkers, free agents, and those who don’t fit nicely on one side or the other. Let’s get after it.” – Chris Cuomo (Final remarks, 86:59)

Notable Segments & Timestamps

[01:05] – Framing the Threat:
Chris tees up the Trump family’s involvement in the stablecoin world and connects it to pivotal legislation.

[03:25] – Max’s Lead:
“Trump is constructing a shadow central bank.” Major thesis and stakes outlined.

[06:16] – Stablecoin vs. Trump’s Other Schemes:
Max distinguishes the seriousness of the stablecoin play from Trump’s meme coins and “get rich quick” distractions.

[09:16] – Stablecoin Mechanics and Treasury Buying:
Discussion of stablecoins as outsized Treasury buyers and geopolitical implications.

[11:40] – Privatizing Central Banking:
How handing off money-supply management to private stablecoin issuers could devastate public control.

[14:37] – Economic Reality vs. Narrative:
Max exposes why strong markets don’t reflect real American hardship.

[22:44] – Seigniorage:
Why the profit mechanism of national money supply is at risk of privatization.

[55:08] – The Three Bills:
A breakdown of the Genius, Clarity, and Anti-CBDC acts—and how two could enable Trump’s heist.

[61:56] – Cascade of Profits:
Max details the compounding profit structure of Trump’s stablecoin.

[70:59] – Open Politics vs. Closed Systems:
Chomsky’s influence and the need for open, critical politics for all Americans.

Big Picture Takeaways

• Trump’s stablecoin play is not a sideshow; it’s a sophisticated, long-term effort to privatize core government functions, with vast personal gains for the Trump family.
• Pending bills could sideline the Federal Reserve and leave the Treasury—and thus the American economy—at the mercy of private actors accountable to no one.
• Mass public misunderstanding of stablecoins, the Fed, and monetary policy allows this scheme to proceed almost entirely under the radar.
• Both parties’ political strategies and messaging failures—especially Democrats’ reliance on “things are fine” talking points—are leaving the door open to shock populist disruptions.
• The critical battle is not just about personalities (Trump or Biden), but about who controls the levers of America’s economic power.

Further Resources & Calls to Action

• Visit UNFTR and check out Max's essays and podcasts for deeper dives.
• Petition: Max mentions starting a petition aimed at Senators to raise awareness and slow the enactment of these legislative changes.
• Stay critical: Cuomo and Max both urge listeners to investigate further, think for themselves, and challenge both power and oversimplified narratives.

Closing Thoughts

This episode is an urgent warning to critically examine the fine print behind sensational headlines and political theater—because the real heist may be happening out of public view, with stakes far beyond party wins or losses. Understanding the mechanics described in this discussion may be the first step toward meaningful resistance, or at least, informed citizenship.

“For me, it is not about the disagreement. It’s about how you disagree. … Critical thinkers. Free agents. That’s why I like Max at UNFTR.” – Chris Cuomo (86:59)

[End of Summary]