Accountability

Proactive, Grassroots Strategies: The Only Path to Accountability in the Age of Cronyism. 

As the Trump administration enters its second tumultuous year in 2026, a disconcerting and accelerating pattern has solidified: the systematic and brazen use of the executive branch’s power not for the public good, but to financially benefit a narrow circle of billionaire political donors and the president’s immediate family. This shift represents a fundamental corrosion of democratic norms, effectively transforming the government into an engine for private profit. While traditional political thinking might prescribe a unified resistance led by former presidents, the contemporary American political landscape renders this “Establishment Opposition” strategy not only ineffective but actively counterproductive. A decentralized, strategic form of grassroots resistance is, therefore, the only viable path forward.

The Flawed Strategy of “Establishment” Opposition. 

The fundamental flaw in advocating for a united front of former Presidents Obama, Clinton, Biden, and Bush against the current administration lies in a profound misreading of the 2026 American electorate. For the energized “MAGA” base, these historical figures do not represent moral authority, institutional stability, or bipartisan tradition; they embody the very “Deep State” and “swamp” that the current administration—and its supporters—believe they are fighting to dismantle.

The Administration’s Narrative Weaponization

The Persecution Narrative: Any coordinated criticism from this “old guard” is instantly and strategically rebranded by the administration and its media allies as a desperate, anti-democratic “counter-coup.” This narrative is a powerful political tool, effectively bolstering President Trump’s poll numbers by confirming the deeply held belief among his supporters that the “elites” are desperately trying to steal power back from “the people” he represents. The Establishment’s attempts to hold the administration accountable are thus inverted into proof of the President’s political victimization.

The Erosion of Moral Authority (Post-EFTA): The full, unredacted public release of the Jeffrey Epstein files in late 2025—mandated by the strategically-named Epstein Files Transparency Act (EFTA)—has severely compromised the ability of many establishment figures, regardless of political affiliation, to serve as credible moral arbiters. While the files implicated figures across the political and financial spectrum, the administration has effectively framed the EFTA as a decisive act of transparency, portraying the President as the sole champion of revealing decades-old secrets. Conversely, his predecessors are portrayed as willing or complicit agents of a system that actively sought to conceal these dark secrets, thereby discrediting their critiques of current ethical failures.

Cronyism in Action: The Citgo Petroleum “Giveaway.” Nowhere is the brazen fusion of state power and financial profit more visiblethan in the contested acquisition of Citgo Petroleum. At the beginning of 2026, a deal was finalized that allowed Amber Energy (an affiliate of the hedge fund Elliott Management, led by Paul Singer) to acquire Citgo for approximately $7.3 billion. Disturbingly, some reports placed the winning bid as low as $5.9 billion—representing a substantial discount for a strategic asset, which energy experts independently value at $13 billion to $18 billion.

This is not a simple private transaction; it is the centerpiece of what critics have dubbed “Absolute Resolve” cronyism—a chilling example of geopolitical conflict engineered for donor reward.

The Nexus of War and Profit: The sale was suspiciously fast-tracked just as the administration initiated military operations in Venezuela under the “Absolute Resolve” banner. This operation created the exact conditions—political destabilization and financial distress—required to suppress the asset’s market value, allowing it to be acquired at a fraction of its true cost.

Donor Rewards as a Policy Outcome: Paul Singer, a long-time and prominent Trump donor, is now positioned to acquire a strategic energy asset (including refineries, terminals, and 4,000 U.S. gas stations) whose value was intentionally suppressed by U.S. sanctions and is now being actively “stabilized”—and its ownership protected—by U.S. military force. The entire chain of events links foreign policy decisions directly to the financial enrichment of a key political benefactor.

The Populist Paradox Exposed: The administration’s rhetoric constantly centers on “America First,” appealing to the working and middle classes. Yet, the tangible, valuable assets—the energy infrastructure that powers American commerce—are systematically being transferred not to the people, but to the “contented classes” of wealthy donors. The promise of populist benefit is betrayed by the reality of corporate handout.

Systemic Looting: Additional Signs of Abuse in 2026

The Citgo deal is symptomatic of a broader, systemic dismantling of anti-corruption safeguards:

The Kennedy Center “Slush Fund”: Detailed investigations have unearthed documents suggesting the national cultural center is being subverted. Rather than serving its public mission, it appears to be used as a private social and financial club for administration allies, with lucrative contracts and development opportunities steered toward political cronies, and public funding streams used for private political patronage.

Politicizing “Fraud” to Punish Opponents: The administration has frozen substantial federal aid and disaster relief funds destined for several Democratic-led states, citing unsubstantiated claims of “benefits fraud.” Expert analysis views this move as a transparent political tactic: a means to punish political opponents, create fiscal crises in opposition strongholds, and redirect federal resources toward states politically loyal to the administration.

Dismantling Ethics and the Revolving Door: The rescission of key executive orders on ethics commitments for government personnel has thrown open the “revolving door.” This regulatory retreat effectively encourages high-level officials to prioritize future, highly compensated private-sector employment—often with firms they regulated—over their current commitment to impartial public service.

Organized Resistance: A Decentralized Strategy to Fight Back

In an era when institutional checks—such as Congressional impeachment, ethics complaints, and regulatory oversight—remain stalled and neutralized by a divided government and partisan loyalty, the burden of accountability falls on citizens. A strategic pivot toward economic and social pressure is paramount.

Strategic Economic Boycotts

Directly targeting the financial beneficiaries of this cronyism is the most potent weapon available to the individual.

Target the Vultures: The movement must organize disciplined, highly focused boycotts of gas stations, energy firms, and any other consumer-facing businesses demonstrably linked to the “vulture” acquisitions of sovereign or public assets. This must be a sustained, informed effort.

Pressure the PR Machine: A coordinated strategy must target the corporate advertisers of key news and social media outlets, which serve as the administration’s primary messaging arm. When a media outlet’s revenue stream is directly threatened by its editorial position, the incentive structure shifts, often forcing a change in narrative or a moderation of inflammatory content.

Countering the Influencer Machine

The administration successfully leverages a sophisticated network of social media influencers to “applaud” controversial deals, deflect criticism, and drown out legitimate dissent with noise.

Accountability with “Receipts”: Activists must move beyond generic criticism and focus on meticulous documentation, creating clear “receipts” that link influencer talking points directly to the financial interests of donors such as Paul Singer and the entities they control. This exposes the corruption to a broader, less politically engaged audience.

Decentralized Fact-Checking Networks: Citizens should build and sustain grassroots networks focused on clarity and brevity, providing clear, simple summaries of how these massive wealth transfers and political favors demonstrably fail to help—and often actively harm—the working class. This directly and efficiently undermines the administration’s core populist promises.

Demanding Transparency and Local “Firewalls”

The fight must be taken to the local and state level, where federal control is weaker.

Relentless FOIA Campaigns: Citizen groups must execute coordinated Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) campaigns, relentlessly demanding the release of communication logs between key federal entities—the Departments of State, Treasury, and Defense—and the firms that directly benefit, such as Elliott Investment Management and Amber Energy.

Support Local “Firewall” Measures: Citizens must actively support and elect State Attorneys General and Governors committed to establishing legal “Firewalls.” State AGs possess unique independent authority to investigate consumer fraud, enforce anti-competitive behavior statutes, and ensure state energy security. They can serve as the last line of defense, investigating and prosecuting corruption where federal officials are politically paralyzed, and ensuring that local infrastructure is not used to facilitate “war for profit” schemes.

The path to accountability in 2026 does not rely on the flawed and compromised hands of the “old guard.” It depends entirely on the collective, sustained, and strategic actions of citizens who refuse to allow the executive branch to be systematically sold to the highest bidder. To hold the administration and its financial beneficiaries accountable, the most powerful tool for an individual is often through their State Attorney General, who can use independent state authority to protect citizens from federal overreach and corporate predation.

This overreach requires investigation and litigation. Colorado’s own Phil Weiser is our best first step toward accountability. I sent the following letter to his office today:

Request for Investigation into Citgo Acquisition

Subject: Request for Investigation into Potential Consumer Protection and Anti-Competitive Impacts of the Citgo/Amber Energy Acquisition

01/12/2026

The Honorable Phil Weiser

Office of the Attorney General

Colorado Department of Law

Ralph L. Carr Judicial Building

1300 Broadway, 10th Floor

Denver, Colorado 80203

Dear Attorney General Weiser:

I am writing to you as a concerned resident of Colorado to formally request that your office open an investigation into the recent acquisition of Citgo Petroleum by Amber Energy, an affiliate of Elliott Investment Management.

As you are aware, Citgo operates a significant network of refining and retail assets across the United States. The recent court-ordered sale of Citgo’s parent company to Amber Energy for approximately $5.9 billion—a price significantly lower than the $13 billion to $18 billion valuation estimated by market experts—raises serious concerns regarding the integrity of our energy markets and the protection of consumers in our state.

Specifically, I urge your office to investigate the following:

1. Anti-Competitive Market Influence: Does the acquisition of these strategic assets by a private equity firm with deep ties to the current federal administration create an unfair advantage that could lead to price manipulation at the pump for Colorado consumers?
2. Disclosure of Conflicts: Reports indicate that the advisors recommending this “discounted” bid had existing financial relationships with the buyer. I ask that you investigate whether these conflicts of interest violate state consumer protection or transparency laws.
3. Impact on Energy Independence: Given that this acquisition coincides with federal military and diplomatic interventions in Venezuela, does the transfer of these assets to a private political donor jeopardize the stability or security of Colorado’s fuel supply?
4. Environmental Obligations: Citgo has long-standing environmental cleanup obligations in various states. I request that your office ensure that this ownership change does not allow the new owners to bypass state-mandated environmental remediation responsibilities.

As the “People’s Lawyer of Colorado,” you have the authority to serve as a firewall against federal overreach and corporate cronyism. I believe an investigation is necessary to ensure that the energy infrastructure our state relies on is not being used for private political gain at the expense of our citizens.

Thank you for your time and for your dedication to protecting the people of Colorado. I look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

Jeff Bernard

Jeff@Bernard.co