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A Project of The Annenberg Public Policy Center

Trump’s White House Ballroom Sparks Questions About Funding and Ethics

Trump’s White House Ballroom Sparks Questions About Funding and Ethics

Q: Is President Donald Trump paying in full for the new ballroom at the White House, and what is the cost?

A: The White House said Trump and “other patriot donors” would pay for the ballroom, which the president estimated would cost $300 million. So far, $200 million has been pledged, according to the White House, which did not say how much the president would donate. Democratic leaders and ethics experts have questioned the project and what influence donors would have on federal policies.

What’s in the Bolton Indictment?

What’s in the Bolton Indictment?

A federal grand jury in Maryland on Oct. 16 returned an indictment against former National Security Adviser John Bolton for mishandling classified national defense information obtained during his tenure in the first Trump administration. Here, we’ll provide information about what’s in the indictment and Bolton’s response.

Q&A on Trump’s Attempt to Deploy National Guard to Portland and Chicago

Q&A on Trump’s Attempt to Deploy National Guard to Portland and Chicago

While President Donald Trump’s rhetoric regarding Portland and Chicago has largely focused on overall crime, National Guard deployments are specifically targeted at protecting federal immigration operations and facilities. Here, we’ll unravel some of the rhetoric about what’s happening in those cities, what the Trump administration is doing and under what authority, and what the courts have had to say about it so far.

Appraising the Federal Indictment of Letitia James

Appraising the Federal Indictment of Letitia James

The legal clashes between New York Attorney General Letitia James and President Donald Trump took a U-turn with a federal indictment on Oct. 9 charging James with mortgage fraud. We’ll look at the allegations and facts surrounding the case, the history of animosity between Trump and James, and what experts say about the weight of the charges.

Trump, Project 2025 and ‘Culture Wars’

Trump, Project 2025 and ‘Culture Wars’

In this story, which is the last in our five-part series on Project 2025, we look at how Trump implemented the document’s recommendations on divisive cultural issues, including reproductive rights, transgender protections, and diversity, equity, and inclusion.

What We Know About Political Violence in America

What We Know About Political Violence in America

President Donald Trump and others in his circle have portrayed political violence as a problem exclusively or mostly on the left, which has then been used as justification for proposals that seek to crack down on left-leaning groups. While there is evidence of a rise in left-wing violence in recent years, data show that political violence in America spans the ideological spectrum.

Trump, Project 2025 and the Social Safety Net

Trump, Project 2025 and the Social Safety Net

In our latest installment of the Project 2025 series, we look at some of the social safety net policy changes sought by Project 2025 and proposed or accomplished by Trump.

Trump, Project 2025 and Climate Change/Fossil Fuels

Trump, Project 2025 and Climate Change/Fossil Fuels

As part of our series on Project 2025, we look at some instances where President Donald Trump and Project 2025 agree on climate change and fossil fuels — beginning with the rollback of climate change policies.

Evidence Behind Comey Indictment Is Unclear

Evidence Behind Comey Indictment Is Unclear

Former FBI Director James Comey was indicted by a federal grand jury on Sept. 25 for lying to Congress and obstructing a congressional proceeding. In this story, we cover the few details we know about the indictment and what Comey told Congress.

Trump, Project 2025 and Immigration

Trump, Project 2025 and Immigration

Project 2025 and President Donald Trump are largely in sync on immigration. As part of our series, we examine some of the many actions that Trump has taken that were proposed in the conservative document.