The $Trumpcon
The Slow Newscast
Alice Sandelson
4.6 • 894 Ratings
🗓️ 25 March 2025
⏱️ 49 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Memecoins started as a fad. A niche but fun way to bet on the longevity of internet trends. But then, days before his second inauguration, Donald Trump launched his own, $TRUMP… and changed the game. The value soared as supporters piled in, before crashing when his wife, Melania Trump, also released one. Amid the mayhem, one early buyer of the coin walked away with $109 million.
The path to finding out who profited from $TRUMP goes through Argentina, where a young and naive entrepreneur called Hayden Davis attempted to pull off a similar stunt with the backing of the nation’s libertarian president, Javier Milei. But while Trump seemed to get away with it, Davis is now facing calls to be arrested.
This episode offers a rare glimpse into a murky world full of get-rich-quick schemes, flashy personalities and cut-throat deals. It also carries a warning: what happens when unregulated crypto assets become a core part of the US economy?
Reporter: Patricia Clarke and Barney Macintyre
Producer: Patricia Clarke
Sound design: Dominic Delargy
Artwork: Lola Williams
Editors: Jasper Corbett and Ceri Thomas
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | This episode is brought to you by the Teach in Further Education Campaign. |
| 0:04.4 | Are you a skilled professional? |
| 0:06.2 | If so, your real-life industry experience could be more valuable than you realise. |
| 0:12.3 | The Teach in Further Education campaign is calling on professionals like you to share those skills |
| 0:17.8 | by teaching in further education. You may already have what it takes. |
| 0:22.9 | You could shape the next generation of workers in your field and have a positive impact on |
| 0:27.6 | students' lives. You can teach a range of students from 16 years old to adult learners on a range |
| 0:33.9 | of courses from construction, engineering and manufacturing to digital skills and health and social care. |
| 0:40.8 | You might be thinking, teaching, that's not for me, I don't have the right qualifications. |
| 0:46.5 | Well, here's the thing. You don't always need an academic degree or prior teaching qualifications |
| 0:51.7 | to start teaching in further education. |
| 0:54.5 | And it doesn't have to be an all-or-nothing option. |
| 0:57.3 | You could teach part-time alongside your current job. |
| 1:00.6 | Changing lives without changing careers. |
| 1:03.1 | Wouldn't that be amazing? |
| 1:04.8 | So why not consider sharing your skills where it matters most |
| 1:07.6 | and help inspire the next generation of workers in the field you love. |
| 1:12.1 | Head to gov.uk forward slash teach in further education to find out more. |
| 1:22.3 | Tautus |
| 1:22.9 | Hello, it's Claudia here and you're listening to the slow newscast from Tortus. |
| 1:31.2 | This week, the Crypto Casino. |
| 1:34.4 | The Friday before his second inauguration, Donald Trump launched a meme coin, |
... |
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