Saudi money has been funding an extremist version of Islam around the world, exacerbating the terror problem Trump claims to be so concerned about. But Trump's remarks at the fundraiser placed all the blame on Qatar, and did so mockingly, while ignoring the role of his Saudi friends and possible business partners.
Trump reportedly registered eight companies with Saudi ties during the course of his presidential campaign. Now, the Saudi government is hiring lobbyists with close ties to Trump to strengthen its influence with his administration.
Trump's Muslim ban, disgraceful as it is, pointedly excluded Saudi Arabia from the list of banned countries. That's striking, since 15 of the 20 hijackers behind the 9/11 attack originated there. What are the Saudis getting for their money? We have a right to know.
Hopefully the audio will lead to further investigation. There is a deeper question here, too: Is it possible to reinvigorate "activist journalism," in the tradition of great muckrakers like Ida Tarbell and Lincoln Steffens?
In my recent interview with Washington State Rep. Pramila Jayapal, she talked about the importance of forging a new relationship between movement activists and elected officials. We also need to explore new kinds of relationships between journalists and activists. Journalists must tell the truth at all costs, and activists want to create change. But that doesn't need to create tension. After all, change built on falsehoods cannot last. A new kind of partnership should be possible.
We released the Trump audio because the public deserved to hear it, whether the president thinks so or not. More reporting about events like this is needed -- about who attends them, about Trump's relationship with fellow Republicans, and about his financial ties around the world.
We need activism, too: against Trump and the powerful interests he represents, and against a political system that gives too much power to wealthy corporate donors and too little power to the people.
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