Just because playing out in public where everybody can see it doesn't mean that it isn't rampant, rapacious corruption.

And what is happening tonight, this private secret dinner in which individuals who have put money in Donald Trump's pocket get access to to him, is maybe the most corrupt of all of the

corruption.

That was Democratic Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut, calling out President Trump for a private

crypto dinner held last night at one of the president's golf clubs.

The question is, how is this event not a conflict of interest for the

president? Also ahead, we'll have the latest from Capitol Hill on the president's massive tax and

spending bill as it now heads to the Senate. The question is, what are the key changes? Because

there's going to be many that could come from the upper chamber. Plus, the Trump administration

is taking more aggressive action against Harvard,

banning the enrollment of thousands of current students.

The question is, what's with this war on education?

It's way too early for this.

Good morning. Happy Friday and welcome to way too early, the show that's marking this Memorial Day weekend.

I'm Ali Vitale on this Friday, May 23rd. We'll start with the news.

We begin with President Trump's private dinner last night for more than 200 investors who bought into his meme coin.

The event was held at his golf club in Northern Virginia.

NBC News has learned that the guests paid between $55,000 and $37.7 million, yeah, dollars for the Trump coin, making the average cost of a seat at that dinner over $1 million.

While the website for the contest says the president was

appearing as a guest and not technically soliciting any funds for it, another site says

80% of the Trump Coin Project is owned by two companies affiliated or in business with the president.

Plus, it's the Trump meme coin. His name is on it. On top of that, the identities of most of the

...