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Runaway Country with Alex Wagner

The Emperor’s New Slush Fund

Runaway Country with Alex Wagner

Runaway Country with Alex Wagner

Politics, News, Government, Society & Culture

4.813.2K Ratings

🗓️ 21 May 2026

⏱️ 75 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

This week, Alex digs into the nearly unfathomable corruption of President Trump’s settlement with the Department of Justice, including the $1.776 billion “Anti-weaponization Fund”. She speaks to Michael Fanone, a former DC Metropolitan police officer who was at the Capitol on January 6th to see how he feels about his taxpayer money potentially going to the insurrectionists who attacked him. Then Alex is joined by Andrew Weissman, attorney and author of the new book, Liar’s Kingdom. They talk about the lawsuit against the IRS that started this, and whether Trump actually has the legal immunity the settlement promises.

Transcript

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0:00.0

Runaway Country is brought to you by the Freedom from Religion Foundation.

0:04.0

There is a throughline in the American story that feels especially relevant right now.

0:08.0

This country began as a rebellion, not just against monarchy, but against the idea of divine authority shaping government.

0:14.0

And the founders carried that forward in a secular constitution, one that protects freedom of conscience by keeping church and state separate.

0:21.9

That framework helped make a pluralistic society possible. But like any system, it depends on

0:26.7

maintenance. And today we are seeing renewed efforts to blur that boundary in ways that reshape

0:31.7

your and my religious freedom. The Freedom from Religion Foundation is working to protect

0:36.2

the First Amendment because

0:37.5

it protects you. As we approach 250 years, the semi-susquintennial, the question isn't just what we

0:44.5

inherit, it's what we choose to sustain. Visit f-frf.us slash Alex, or text my first name, Alex,

0:53.2

a-L-E-X to 5-11, to learn more and join. That's F-F-R-F-F-R-F-U-S-S-A-Lex, or text my name, ALEX to 5-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-ROW. Remember, text Alex to 5-E-E-1 today and support the work of protecting our shared freedoms. Message and data rates may apply.

1:13.1

Hi, everyone.

1:14.7

As of this week, Donald Trump is officially an emperor mode.

1:19.1

After filing an utterly garbage lawsuit earlier this year against the IRS for $10 billion

1:24.2

in damages over the leak of his tax returns and the federal search of Mar-a-Lago.

1:29.2

On Monday, Trump dropped his suit.

1:32.1

It was never going to go anywhere in court, of course, but that didn't stop Trump's Justice

1:36.0

Department from offering the president a sweet, sweet deal in exchange.

1:41.1

Specifically, the Justice Department is creating a $1.776 billion fund to settle claims

1:47.6

by people who feel they were targeted by federal prosecution. Trump is calling it the anti-weaponization

1:54.0

fund, but we might more accurately call it the insurrectionist slush fund. Because you know who's

1:59.6

tops on the list to claim these billions in reparations?

...

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