Dana Mattioli
@danamattioli.bsky.social
Wall Street Journal Tech Investigations Author of "The Everything War: Amazon’s Ruthless Quest to Own the World and Remake Corporate Power"
Four-byline alert: 🚨 “.. no sitting American president has ever raised these amounts for his pet projects. .. Trump has been demanding large checks .. telling executives and lobbyists that their companies should give $25 million or $50 million.” @wsj.com www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
How Trump and his "princess of darkness" are persuading corporate America to donate hundreds of millions to fund his projects
Exclusive | ‘The Boss Wants This Money’: Inside Trump’s Unprecedented Fundraising Operation
Meredith O’Rourke, nicknamed ‘princess of darkness,’ carries out the president’s desire to wring hundreds of millions from companies for his projects.
on.wsj.com
Lotta scoops in this story: Meta recently gave an undisclosed $10M contribution to Trump's Securing American Greatness C4. Apple gave $25M to the ballroom, Microsoft gave $10M, and much more. www.wsj.com/politics/ele...
Exclusive | ‘The Boss Wants This Money’: Inside Trump’s Unprecedented Fundraising Operation
Meredith O’Rourke, nicknamed ‘princess of darkness,’ carries out the president’s desire to wring hundreds of millions from companies for his projects.
wsj.com
A complex web of funds and $781,948,878 in donations—that we know of. This is the mystery money powering Trump's second term.
The Mystery Money Powering Trump’s Second Term
The president and his allies have built a network of groups financed by wealthy donors and businesses that is advancing his priorities with little public disclosure.
on.wsj.com
"He probably thinks I’m a left coast liberal, and I’m not" How Bezos Learned to Love Trump—and Win More Contracts for Blue Origin w/ josh dawsey & @shaneshifflett.bsky.social www.wsj.com/business/jef...
How Bezos Learned to Love Trump—and Win More Contracts for Blue Origin
The space company has booked rapid growth under this administration, after the founder spent president’s first term being ‘hated.’
wsj.com
Trump ripped up the walkway between the West Wing and the mansion to replace it with polished African granite carved in Italy. "Paid for by me," he claimed. Except that's not true. Taxpayers paid $689,232, per documents obtained by @michaelscherer.bsky.social www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
'Rush Project at Request of POTUS': Trump Is Draining the National Parks to Pay for His Projects
Money once used for crucial national-park repairs is now financing Trump’s redecorating projects.
theatlantic.com
NEW: A top DOJ official told antitrust enforcers he prefers they stop taking cases to trial and instead settle them. Some lawyers at the DOJ interpreted the convo as a directive to only settle www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
Exclusive | Top DOJ Official Tells Staff He Wants to Avoid Antitrust Trials
Trump appointee Stanley Woodward’s push for settlements upends how the government handles antitrust enforcement.
wsj.com
Some fun scenes inside this story, including this anecdote Inside Trump’s Takeover of the American Regulatory Machine www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
Scoop: Amazon Discusses ‘Apprentice’ Reboot—With Don Jr. as a Potential Host www.wsj.com/business/med...
Amazon Discusses ‘Apprentice’ Reboot—With Don Jr. as a Potential Host
Studio executives have held internal discussions about making new episodes of reality TV show.
wsj.com
NEW: Today, Congressional Democrats are spotlighting a particularly troubling part of Trump's immigration dragnet: the American kids — including some featured in ProPublica's reporting — who have been collateral damage in the deportation campaign.
How American Kids Have Been Collateral Damage in Trump’s Immigration Crackdown
Democrats in the House and Senate are digging into the treatment, detention and sometimes even deportation of American children at the hands of immigration agents. Families featured in ProPublica’s re...
propublica.org
“If you don’t approve this settlement, I will destroy you. I will destroy your job at the DOJ." Read our deep dive into what's going on at the DOJ antitrust division www.wsj.com/us-news/law/...
The Threats and Bare-Knuckle Tactics of MAGA’s Top Antitrust Fixer
Mike Davis pushed DOJ officials to approve his deals—and went over their heads if they pushed back.
wsj.com
@danamattioli.bsky.social + @rebeccaballhaus.bsky.social + Josh Dawsey | Mike Davis MAGA's Top Antitrust Fixer And Trump Enforcer Delivered The DOJ Settlement For Live Nation | @wsj.com (SubReq) www.wsj.com/us-news/law/...
The Threats and Bare-Knuckle Tactics of MAGA’s Top Antitrust Fixer
Mike Davis pushed DOJ officials to approve his deals—and went over their heads if they pushed back.
wsj.com
In the 5 months since President Trump announced sweeping tariffs, Amazon quietly raised prices on low-cost products such as deodorant, protein shakes and pet care items, a WSJ analysis of nearly 2,500 items found. www.wsj.com/business/ret...
After Pledging to Keep Prices Low, Amazon Hiked Them on Hundreds of Essentials
While Walmart cut prices on low-cost goods, Amazon raised them.
wsj.com
How Sam Altman Outfoxed Elon Musk to Become Trump’s AI Buddy www.wsj.com/tech/ai/sam-...
How Sam Altman Outfoxed Elon Musk to Become Trump’s AI Buddy
With his rival out of the way, OpenAI’s CEO has a clear path to press for the company’s goals. He is leaving the Democratic Party.
wsj.com
Trump told WSJ he was preparing to file a lawsuit if it published an article. “I’m gonna sue The Wall Street Journal just like I sued everyone else,” he said. www.wsj.com/politics/tru...
Exclusive | Jeffrey Epstein’s Friends Sent Him Bawdy Letters for a 50th Birthday Album. One Was From Donald Trump.
The leather-bound book was compiled by Ghislaine Maxwell. The president says the letter ‘is a fake thing.’
wsj.com
Major story from @khadeejasafdar.bsky.social & Joe Palazzolo Jeffrey Epstein’s Friends Sent Him Bawdy Letters for a 50th Birthday Album. One Was From Donald Trump. www.wsj.com/politics/tru...
Exclusive | Jeffrey Epstein’s Friends Sent Him Bawdy Letters for a 50th Birthday Album. One Was From Donald Trump.
The leather-bound book was compiled by Ghislaine Maxwell. The president says the letter ‘is a fake thing.’
wsj.com
In 2018, Kerr County debated installing flood sirens, but the $1 million pricetag was considered too high. “Trying not to raise taxes,” a commissioner said. And this year, the Texas Legislature didn’t pass a bill to help fund outdoor sirens. Free link: www.wsj.com/us-news/offi...
Officials Pushed for Better Warning System for Years Before Deadly Floods
A sheriff in 2016 recalled pulling ‘kids out of trees’ in summer camps as leaders repeatedly discussed installing a siren system, but didn’t do so.
wsj.com
President Trump ridicules Elon Musk’s “America Party” plan, while the Tesla CEO claims it would restore “freedom” to voters.
My newest: A DOGE Member Pitched an Investment Strategy to Keep Fund Solvent by Using S&P 500 equity. It Went Nowhere. www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
Exclusive | Former Social Security Official Pitched an Investment Strategy to Keep Fund Solvent. It Went Nowhere.
Scott Coulter got little traction on his idea to avert the trust fund’s insolvency, accelerated by the tax-and-spending bill.
wsj.com
Jeff Bezos and Blue Origin Try to Capitalize on Trump-Musk Split w/ Josh Dawsey & @micahmaidenberg.bsky.social www.wsj.com/business/jef...
Exclusive | Bezos and Blue Origin Try to Capitalize on Trump-Musk Split
Jeff Bezos and his space company talked to Trump in recent weeks
wsj.com
Exclusive: Jeff Bezos is emerging as a potential winner from President Trump and Elon Musk’s breakup.
Bezos and Blue Origin Try to Capitalize on Trump-Musk Split
Jeff Bezos and his space company talked to Trump in recent weeks
on.wsj.com
Scoop: JD Vance and Susie Wiles called Musk on Friday and encouraged him to repair his relationship with Trump -- after everything went South. www.wsj.com/politics/mus...
Musk Retreats on Trump Attacks After Call from JD Vance, Susie Wiles
In a call last Friday, the vice president and the White House chief of staff urged Musk to put an end to the feud. Musk de-escalated early Wednesday.
wsj.com
New: X’s Sales Pitch: Give Us Your Ad Business or We’ll Sue. How Elon Musk and X CEO Linda Yaccarino launched a campaign to strong-arm advertisers back onto the platform w/ Suzanne Vranica and Jessica Toonkel www.wsj.com/business/med...
X’s Sales Pitch: Give Us Your Ad Business or We’ll Sue
Elon Musk and CEO Linda Yaccarino launched a campaign to strong-arm advertisers back onto the platform.
wsj.com
UFO myths gripped America for decades, and the Pentagon finally figured out where a lot of them came from. It was the Pentagon. 🔗: https://on.wsj.com/4kz4Cdq
Scoop: Homeland Security and the Justice Department kept tabs on foreign nationals visiting Musk’s properties in 2022 and 2023, reflecting concerns about influence w/ @mhackman.bsky.social Josh Dawsey @emilyglazer.bsky.social & Aruna Viswanatha www.wsj.com/politics/nat...
Exclusive | U.S. Agencies Tracked Foreigners Traveling to See Musk
Homeland Security and the Justice Department kept tabs on foreign nationals visiting the billionaire’s properties in 2022 and 2023, reflecting concerns about influence.
wsj.com
FTC Seeks Information From Top Advertising Agencies as Part of Ad-Boycott Probe www.wsj.com/business/med...
Exclusive | FTC Seeks Information From Top Advertising Agencies as Part of Ad-Boycott Probe
Among firms that received requests are Omnicom, WPP, Dentsu, Interpublic and Publicis.
wsj.com
Some gems in this story. The Day That Trump and Musk Torched Their Partnership www.wsj.com/politics/elo...
The Trump-Musk Relationship Ruptures in Real Time
The president says he is “very disappointed” in his former adviser.
wsj.com
“Was it all bullshit?” Trump asked aides about Elon’s vow to cut $1 trillion. Inside Trump and Musk’s complicated relationship, w/lots of scenes inside the White House, w/ Josh Dawsey & Annie Linskey www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
Inside Trump and Musk’s Complicated Relationship
The president and his aides have sometimes expressed frustration with Elon Musk, but his advisers say the two remain close.
wsj.com
Elon Musk wasn't happy about Stargate UAE. On a call w/ G42, Musk warned those assembled: Their plan had no chance of Trump signing off on it unless his company xAI was included in the deal. Scoop w/ @eliotwb.bsky.social + Josh Dawsey www.wsj.com/tech/elon-mu...
Exclusive | Elon Musk Tried to Block Sam Altman’s Big AI Deal in the Middle East
Musk warned those involved that President Trump wouldn’t bless the OpenAI data-center project in Abu Dhabi unless his xAI company was included in the deal, according to people familiar with the matter...
wsj.com
Kohl’s CEO Ashley Buchanan and Chandra Holt lived together in Texas but kept their relationship quiet as their interests became intertwined at several retail chains
How Two CEOs Mixed Romance and Business, Leading to Scandal
Kohl’s CEO Ashley Buchanan and Chandra Holt lived together in Texas but kept their relationship quiet as their interests became intertwined at retail chains.
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