TikTok Investors to Pay Billions Fee to Trump Administration

The Large Fee is the latest Example of the White House’s inserting Itself into Corporate Deal making in Unusual and Aggressive Ways. Investors in a Deal to create a U.S.-Controlled TikTok, are set to Pay $10 billion to the U.S. Treasury, the Latest example of the Trump (R) Administration’s Inserting the Federal Government into Corporate Deal making in Unusual ways.

The Fee, which the U.S. Government is considering a Transaction Fee for its Role in Helping Bring about the Deal, will be Paid by New Investors in the U.S. TikTok.

The New Investors Paid the Treasury roughly $2.5 billion of the Fee when the Deal Closed in 1/2026. They Plan to Pay the Rest of the Fee in an Additional Set of Payments. The Investors include: Oracle, MGX an Emirati investment Firm, and Silver Lake another Investment Firm, which each Own about 15% of the Company.

TikTok struck a Deal with the Investors in 1/2026 to Address years of Legal Uncertainty about the Video App, Owned by the Chinese internet company ByteDance, after Bipartisan concern that its Ownership could Pose a National Security Threat. The White House has Played an Active and Untraditional Role in theDdeal from the Outset. Trump Appointed Vice President JD Vance (R) to Lead the Transaction last year.

In 9/2025, Trump said the U.S. would Receive a “Tremendous Fee” for putting the Deal together. “I call it a fee plus for just making the deal,” He said.

The Wall Street Journal earlier Reported that the Transaction Fee was set to be $10 billion. Aaron Bartnick (D), a former White House Assistant Director for Technology Security and Governance under the Biden Administration, said the $10 billion might be Unprecedented and was “outrageously large.”

During His Second Term, Trump has Aggressively involved Himself in Private-Sector Deal Making. The Government has taken Equity Stakes in several Companies, including: a 10% Stake in Intel. As part of a Deal to Clear National Security concerns surrounding the Sale of U.S. Steel to Nippon Steel in 2025, the Administration Demanded what it called a “Golden Share.”

Vance has said the Deal will vVlue TikTok at $14 billion. That would mean the Transaction Fee is about 70% of the Company’s Worth. As part of the Deal, ByteDance Separated its U.S. Arm into another Company and Brought in New Investors, which Reduced ByteDance’s Ownership Stake to just under 20%.

Additional New Investors include the Personal Investment Entity for Michael Dell, the Tech Billionaire Behind Dell Technologies, and an Affiliate of the Global Trading Firm Susquehanna.

Some of the New Investors have Ties to the Administration. Larry Ellison, a Co-Founder of Oracle, is Friendly with Trump, and is Backing the Acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery by His Son, David Ellison, the Chief Executive of Paramount. MGX has done Business with the Trump Family’s Cryptocurrency Firm, World Liberty Financial.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

Judge Rules Trump Unlawfully Refused CFPB Funding

A Federal Judge Ruled 3/13/2026, that the Trump (R) Administration Unlawfully took the Position 2025, that it couldn’t Request more Funding for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). U.S. District Judge Edward Davila Ordered the Agency’s Acting Director, Russ Vought (R), to continue Requesting the Necessary Funds from the Federal Reserve to Carry-Out the CFPB’s Obligations.

It’s a Legal lLss for Top Administration Officials, as they Look to Curtail the Consumer Watchdog Agency. Created in the wake of the 2008 Financial Crisis with Largely Democratic Support, many Conservatives have Targeted the CFPB as Unaccountable. The New Order may have Little Real-World Impact. Another judge previously Issued a Similar Ruling that Remains in Effect.

Most Government Agencies receive Funding through Congressional Appropriations. But the CFPB receives Funding from the Fed, which, in turn, Generates its Own Revenue. Under Federal Law, the Fed Board must use its “Combined Earnings” to Transfer the Amount the CFPB Director Determines is “reasonably necessary” for Operations. At the Center of the Legal Battle is the meaning of “combined earnings” and Who gets to Define it.

Last 11/2025, Vought Adopted the Position that it’s Calculated by Subtracting the Fed’s Interest Expenses from its Revenues. The Fed wasn’t Profitable under that Interpretation, so the Administration said it couldn’t Legally Request Funds. Davila’s Ruling Rejects that Notion. He said the Term merely Refers to the Fed’s Revenue. And even if Vought were Right, the Judge Ruled He has No Power to make that Judgment.

“Given that the director has no authority to define or calculate the Federal Reserve’s combined earnings, defendants’ entire basis for not requesting funding from the Federal Reserve crumbles,” the judge wrote. Davila is an Appointee of former President Obama (D) who Serves in San Jose. He Oversees a Lawsuit filed by Three Organizations that rely on CFPB Services: "Rise Economy", "National Community Reinvestment Coalition", and the "Woodstock Institute".

It’s One of Several Challenges to the Administration’s Efforts to Tear Down the CFPB. A Judge in New York Heard a Identical Arguments 3/12/2026 advanced by more than 20 Democratic-led States. And yet Another judge already issued a Similar Ruling in a Lawsuit brought by the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), an Appeals court is Reviewing that Decision, after Hearing Oral Arguments late last 2/2026.

It’s Not the Only reason the New Ruling isn’t Poised to have much Immediate Impact. The Government has said that even Under itsDdefinition, the Fed has Returned to Profitability and can Now Legally Fund the CFPB Again.

The judge Cautioned, however, that the “end of second 2026 fiscal quarter rapidly approaches, and they have provided no assurances that they will seek funding from the Federal Reserve again.”










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

Britain Splits with Trump Over Russian Oil Sanctions

The British Government will Not Follow Trump’s (R) Decision to Lift Russian Oil Sanctions Temporarily, saying the move Risks Helping Vladimir Putin’s “War Machine”. The U.S. Issued Exemptions for Moscow’s Oil already at Sea, as Crude Prices Rose Sharply after Iran All but Closed the Strait of Hormuz, which Serves as a Conduit for about a Fifth of the World’s Oil.

There are Fears that Trump’s Decision to Lift Restrictions until 4/11/2026 will Help to Salvage the Russian War Economy, Four Years after its Illegal Invasion of Ukraine. Sir Keir Starmer’s Spokesman Confirmed on 3/13/2026 that its Position had Not Changed, saying it Remained Committed to “exerting maximum economic pressure on Russia”.

Earlier, Michael Shanks, the Energy Minister, Declined to Criticise the U.S. Directly, but Warned that the Move would “Assist” the Kremlin. Insisting that Britain would Keep its Sanctions against Moscow, Shanks told Sky News: “This is a moment where I suspect in the Kremlin they are looking at this as an opportunity to fix some of their ailing economy.

“And that is a great shame because we have to do everything that we possibly can to make sure we are bringing all pressure to bear on Russia so that we can win this war in Ukraine.” He added: “It’s really important that we don’t do anything that can assist the Russian war machine right in the middle of a really critical moment in this conflict against Ukraine.”

Shanks was then asked whether the U.S. had made a “Mistake” Lifting the Sanctions. He responded: “I’m not going to be drawn on what the US government does, that’s their decision. I’ve been really clear, the UK Government will not be lifting our sanctions here.”

On Friday, Germany and also pledged to maintain sanctions against Russia. Friedrich Merz, the German chancellor, said that Mr Trump was “wrong” to ease sanctions on Canada and Moscow, adding: “We want to ensure that Russia does not exploit the war in Iran to weaken Ukraine.”

He made the Comments Alongside His Canadian and Norwegian Counterparts at a Press Conference in Bardufoss, a Military Town Located above the Arctic Circle, where a Nato Exercise is taking Place. Merz’s Comments were Echoed by Mark Carney, the Canadian Prime Minister.

Trump’s move is expected to Add Hundreds of Millions of Barrels of Crude Oil to the Market in the Hope of Cutting Prices. Last year, Russia Raked in $160bn from Oil Sales and $40bn from Gas. Turmoil in the Energy Market Disproportionately Benefits Russia because it Reduces the Effectiveness of Extensive Sanctions Applied to Putin’s Regime by the West.

Scott Bessent, the U.S. Treasury Secretary, Acknowledged on Thursday that Moscow could Benefit Financially from the Move, though Only Marginally. “This narrowly tailored, short-term measure applies only to oil already in transit and will not provide significant financial benefit to the Russian government,” He said.

However, the Move will be Viewed by Russia’s Oil Buyers as a Sign that the White House is Scaling Back Sanctions because Officials are Growing Worried about Soaring Petrol Prices. Moscow is already Believed to have Earned almost $2bn from Taxes on Oil Exports after Iran’s Effective Shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz, Driving Demand for Russian and Chinese Oil.

On Friday Morning, Efforts to Temper Oil Prices, which have Remained at about $100 a Barrel, were further Hampered by Continued Israeli Strikes on Iran. According to Data published at the Start of February, Russia’s War Economy Sputtered to a Grinding Halt in the Past Year.

Russia’s GDP Expansion Rate Slid from 4.9% in 2024 to 1% in 2025, and Projections suggested its Sluggish Growth Trajectory would Persist into 2026. Russia’s Inflation Rate also remains stubbornly High, at 6.4%. Also on Friday, Yvette Cooper, the Foreign Secretary, Accused Russia and Iran of trying to “hijack the global economy”.

Yvette Cooper, at a British Military Base in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Claimed Iran and Russia were trying to Hijack the Global Economy, Stefan Rousseau/PA. Yvette Cooper, at a British Military Base in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Claimed Iran and Russia were trying to Hijack the Global Economy, Stefan Rousseau/PA.

Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran’s New Supreme Leader, has said He will continue Attacking Shipping in the Strait of Hormuz in Retaliation for Ongoing US-Israeli Strikes. During a Visit to Saudi Arabia, Ms. Cooper said: “We have seen these links between Russia and Iran over an extended period of time.

“We’re seeing it in terms of technology, we see it in terms of the approach, we see it in terms of these kinds of tactics, and we see it in terms of the way these two states try to support each other and try to benefit together from attempting to hijack the global economy.”

Ms. Cooper added that the Government was “Very Clear” about the Russian and Iranian Threat to both “the global economy and all of our wellbeing”. However, She also Declined to Criticise the U.S. about its Time-Limited Lifting of Oil Sanctions, Claiming that it was a “specific, targeted issue”.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

US Judge Temporarily Blocks Trump Effort to Secure Colleges Race Data

A Federal Judge on 3/13/2026 Temporarily Blocked Trump's (R) Administration from Requiring Universities to Collect and Turn Over Data by next Week, to Prove they are No Longer Considering Race as an Admissions Factor.

U.S. District Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV in Boston, Issued a Temporary Restraining Order at the Request of 17 Democratic State Attorneys, who Sued over a Newly-Added Component of Mandatory, Annual Surveys Administered by the U.S. Department of Education, that are used to gather Information from Universities.

Schools that Participate in Federal Student Financial Programs were Asked to Provide Admissions-Related Data on the Race and Sex of Students, which the Department Planned to Use to Track their Compliance with the U.S. Supreme Court's 2023 Ruling Ending Affirmative Action in Higher Education.

The Judge, who was Appointed by President George W. Bush (R), noted that Universities and Colleges Nationwide Faced a Looming Wednesday Deadline to Complete the Survey. He Extended that Deadline through 3/25/2026, to Provide Time to Hear the States' Case and Provide for an "orderly resolution of the issues."

The Data at Issue would be Gathered through the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System Surveys, which since 1986 have been Used by the Education Department's National Center for Education Statistics to Collect Information from Universities on Matters like Finances, Admissions and Outcomes.

The Ssurvey was Altered at the Direction of Trump, who in an 8/2025 Memorandum, cited a Lack-of-Data to Assess whether Race Remained an Admissions Factor after the Supreme Court's Decision given the "rampant use of 'diversity statements' and other overt and hidden racial proxies."

Following the Memo, Education Department Secretary Linda McMahon (R) Announced that Institutions of Higher Education would need to Report Data Disaggregated by Race and Sex Relating to the Undergraduate Applicant Pool and Enrollment.

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) subsequently in 12/2025 Finalized the New Requirements, which sought Data from the 2025-2026 Academic year and Six prior years.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

Selensky Slams Trump Dropping Oil Sanctions

Ukrainian Leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has Hit-Out at Trump’s (R) Decision to Drop Russian Oil Sanctions, after the the War on Iran sent Prices Soaring.

The Ukrainian Leader said the Move could Net Moscow as much as $10 billion to Support Vladimir Putin’s War on His Country.

Trump issued a 30-day Waiver for Countries to Buy sanctioned Russian Oil and Petroleum Products currently Stranded at Sea, in a Bid to Stabilise Global Energy Markets.

Earlier this week, Washington announced it would be releasing 172 million Barrels of Oil from the Strategic Petroleum Rreserve, in an Effort to Ccurb Skyrocketing Oil Prices.

Zelensky made the Remarks during a Press Conference with French President Emmanuel Macron, during a Visit to Paris on 3/3/2026y.

The Ukrainian President was Set to Discuss European Support for Kyiv, what Pressure Allies can Continue to Apply on Russia. including the Shadow Fleet as, well as Future Security Guarantees and Peace Negotiations.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

Trump Tries To KNEECAP AI Giant

In a Showdown over the Military's use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Trump (R) Administration Punished AI Firm Anthropic for Insisting on Safeguards against Mass Surveillance and Fullt Automatic Warfare.

Anthropic had a $200 Million Contract, that has been Canceled.

Ohe part of the System, that they would Not allow to be Turned-On, was Claude Sonnet 4. It chose to Press the Nuclear Button in 95% of Scemarios presented to it.

AI is still Too Powerful and to New, to Trust it with our Lives.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

Trump Deciding Over Defunding Civil Rights Election Observer Program

Trump's (R) White House is considering Ending Funding for a Longtime Civil Rights Election Program aimed at Protecting the Rights of Minority Populations to Vote.

The Federal Observer Program, Authorized under the Voting Rights Act and Launched in 1966, is an Office of Personnel Management Operation that Partners with the Justice Department (DOJ) to Send Neutral, Third-Party Observers Monitor Election Sites to Ensure Voters don't Experience Discrimination at the Ppolls, whether it's due to Race, Llanguage Barriers, or Disabilities.

The Observers, who are both Recruited and Trained by the Office of Personnel Management, are expected to Watch, Listen, and take Notes without Interfering in the Voting Process. Those Observers then turn over their Findings to the DOJ's Civil Rights Division. The White House is Exploring whether to Cut Spending for the Program, in a Discussion that comes as the Country Gears-Up for Crucial Midterm Elections in 2026, that will determine which Party Controls Congress.

As Republicans worry about the Prospect of Losing Control of the House, Senate, or Both, Trump is being Lobbied by Far-Right Activists Who are Encouraging Him to Declare a National Emergency, in Order to Assert Federal Control over Voting in America. At the same time, the DOJ's Civil Rights Division is Suing more than 24 States, in a Bid to Collect Sensitive Voter Roll Data that DHS wants to use for Criminal and Immigration Enforcement Effort.

The Federal Observer Program is Relatively Inexpensive, Congress allocates Several Million for it each year. An Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Official Confirmed the Program is being Evaluated, noting that it has only been used at a Handful of Locations since 2013, that are under a court Order to do so. The Cost to send Observers to those Locations has Risen from about $2.2 million to $2.5 million, the Official said.

The Voting Rights Act (VRA) was enacted in 1965 to Prevent States with a Long History of Discriminatory Election Practices from Disenfranchising primarily Black Voters. Originally the DOJ used a Formula to determine which States and Municipalities had a History of Discriminatory Practices. Those who Met the Criteria were then Required by the Law. to obtain Preclearance from the Justice Department before making Changes to any of its Voting Laws.

At one time, the DOJ sent OPM-trained Federal Observers to over 100 Counties across the Nation on Election Day. During the 2012 Elections, more than 1,000 Federal Observers were sent to Polling Sites across America. A large portion of the Law was Gutted by a 2013 Supreme Court Decision, Shelby County v. Holder, which found that the Formula used by the DOJ to Ascertain which States or Counties had a History of Discrimination was Outdated and Unconstitutional. That Decision in Turn has Substantially Hindered the Justice Department's Ability to Enforce its Provisions.

Without the Ability to Review Potentially Discriminatory New Voting Laws from going into Effect, the DOJ or Private Parties such as Legal Advocacy Groups must now Rrely on trying to Litigate them after they've been Passed. Now, Federal Observers may Only be Sent into Jurisdictions in which there is a Court Order.

There are Only a few Court Orders in Effect that Call for the use of Federal Observers: Two Areas in Rural Alaska, Pawtucket Rhode Island, and Union County, New Jersey. In 2016, more than 300 Federal Observers were Dispatched to Polling Places, while Approximately 250 were Used during Elections that took place in 2024.

Since that Court Decision, the DOJ has Heavily Relied on its Own Election-Monitoring Program, in which it sends Lawyers from the Civil Rights Division to Polling Places that are Not Eligible for the Assignment of Federal Observers. A DOJ Spokesperson said the Department has No Plans to End its Own Monitoring Program in the Civil Rights Division. "The Department of Justice is committed to ensuring our elections remain free, fair, and transparent, and has no plans to end its monitorship program which is integral to assessing compliance with federal voting rights laws across the country," the Spokesperson said.

If the White House Eliminates Funding for the Federal Observer Program, it will Strike another Blow to the Department's Ability to Protect Americans' Rights Under the VRA. Despite the Existence of the DOJ's own Election Monitoring Program, the Federal Observer Program has Historically been a Favored Approach for a Few Reasons. First, Federal Observers are Regarded as Neutral and do Not Work for the DOJ Section that also Litigates Against Counties and States over Voting Rights Issues. And by Law, Federal Observers are Allowed to be Located inside Polling Places.

In recent years, Republican-Controlled States, like Florida and Texas, have Refused to Permit DOJ Election Monitors to enter Polling Sites. Even when the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division was Fully Staffed, it often Lacked the Manpower to Cover All of its Election Monitoring, Forcing theDdepartment to Seek Volunteers elsewhere in the Department. At this point, the Civil Rights Division now has Lost more than 75% of its Staffing Levels.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker