The Qatar/Trump Super Special

<p>Welcome to the jetstream, where elite criminal impunity flies above laws and accountability. Russian mafia expert Olga Lautman joins Gaslit Nation to connect the global dots on oligarchy in the White House. </p> <p dir="ltr">We start with Qatar, a small but powerful gas station dictatorship, and a leading financier of terrorists. Once diplomatically isolated for its links to fellow terror-state Iran as well as groups linked to Al-Qaeda and ISIS, Qatar has been back in business, brokering nuclear talks with Russia and Iran, investing billions with the Kremlin, propping up Hamas, and gifting Trump a $400,000 luxury jet, dubbed a "flying palace." National security risk? Absolutely. Surveillance threat? Almost certainly. Bribery? Looks like it. But what is Qatar getting in return?</p> <p dir="ltr">Qatar, the second-largest buyer of U.S. weapons, after its nemesis Saudi Arabia, recently secured a $2B U.S. arms deal, thanks to Trump. It also invested $10 billion in a Texas-based natural gas venture that requires federal oversight, under Trump. Andrea and Olga go through all the ways Trump and Qatar enjoy kleptocratic quid-pro-quo, and years of Trump's Middle East-linked corruption that illegally helped him come to power in 2016, enriching him and his family, Kremlin-style. </p> <p dir="ltr">This week's bonus show, available for subscribers at the Truth-teller level ($5/month) and higher, looks at ways to stay grounded and fight back in the deliberately engineered chaos of oligarchy and its firehose of corruption. Be sure to sign up for a discounted annual subscription to get bonus shows, all shows ad-free, and more. To our subscribers at the Democracy Defender level ($10/month), look out for our Q&amp;A call for questions soon to help shape the show. Thank you to everyone who supports Gaslit Nation–we could not make the show without you.</p> <p dir="ltr">Want to enjoy Gaslit Nation ad-free? Join our community of listeners for bonus shows, ad-free episodes, exclusive Q&amp;A sessions, our group chat, invites to live events like our Monday political salons at 4pm ET over Zoom, and more! Sign up at <a href="http://patreon.com/Gaslit">Patreon.com/Gaslit</a>!</p> <p dir="ltr">Show Notes:</p> <p dir="ltr">Qatar, Russia sign agreement to jointly invest 2 billion euros into sovereign wealth funds <a href="https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20250423-qatar-russia-sign-agreement-to-jointly-invest-2-billion-euros-into-sovereign-wealth-funds/"> https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20250423-qatar-russia-sign-agreement-to-jointly-invest-2-billion-euros-into-sovereign-wealth-funds/</a></p> <p dir="ltr">Michael Flynn, Russia and a Grand Scheme to Build Nuclear Power Plants in Saudi Arabia and the Arab World <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/2017/06/23/flynn-russia-nuclear-energy-middle-east-iran-saudi-arabia-qatar-israel-donald-623396.html"> https://www.newsweek.com/2017/06/23/flynn-russia-nuclear-energy-middle-east-iran-saudi-arabia-qatar-israel-donald-623396.html</a></p> <p dir="ltr">Why Qatar is Bribing Trump <a href="https://open.substack.com/pub/popularinformation/p/why-qatar-is-bribing-trump?utm_source=share&amp;utm_medium=android&amp;r=2mrjsl"> https://open.substack.com/pub/popularinformation/p/why-qatar-is-bribing-trump?utm_source=share&amp;utm_medium=android&amp;r=2mrjsl</a></p> <p dir="ltr">House Democrats ask Trump for proof he did not take $10 million 'cash bribe' from Egypt <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/09/03/trump-egypt-democrats-letter.html"> https://www.cnbc.com/2024/09/03/trump-egypt-democrats-letter.html</a></p> <p dir="ltr">Trump touts Saudi relationship as "bedrock of security and prosperity" amid $600 billion investment deal <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/trump-speaking-us-saudi-investment-summit-riyadh/"> https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/trump-speaking-us-saudi-investment-summit-riyadh/</a></p> <p dir="ltr">2 Trump-aligned GOP operatives face foreign agent charges for helping Qatar <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2024/01/02/trump-gop-qatar-00133567"> https://www.politico.com/news/2024/01/02/trump-gop-qatar-00133567</a></p> <p dir="ltr">Trump Jr. and Other Aides Met With Gulf Emissary Offering Help to Win Election <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/19/us/politics/trump-jr-saudi-uae-nader-prince-zamel.html?unlocked_article_code=1.G08.dUBd.YVKXSVfgqo8i&amp;smid=url-share"> https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/19/us/politics/trump-jr-saudi-uae-nader-prince-zamel.html?unlocked_article_code=1.G08.dUBd.YVKXSVfgqo8i&amp;smid=url-share</a></p> <p dir="ltr">The Qatar bribery allegations featuring Trump, Michael Cohen, Michael Flynn, and the Steele dossier, explained <a href="https://theweek.com/speedreads/773479/qatar-bribery-allegations-featuring-trump-michael-cohen-michael-flynn-steele-dossier-explained"> https://theweek.com/speedreads/773479/qatar-bribery-allegations-featuring-trump-michael-cohen-michael-flynn-steele-dossier-explained</a></p> <p dir="ltr">Qatar pursues US-Iranian nuclear steps after detainee swap <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/qatar-pursues-us-iranian-nuclear-steps-after-detainee-swap-2023-09-20/"> https://www.reuters.com/world/qatar-pursues-us-iranian-nuclear-steps-after-detainee-swap-2023-09-20/</a></p> <p dir="ltr">Exclusive: Qatar held separate talks with US, Iran touching on nuclear, drones <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/qatar-held-separate-talks-with-us-iran-touching-nuclear-drones-2023-09-20/"> https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/qatar-held-separate-talks-with-us-iran-touching-nuclear-drones-2023-09-20/</a></p> <p dir="ltr">Iran seeks Russia's support for its nuclear talks with US <a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-russia-us-nuclear-negotiations-2bae3b073bcac464ad9b44a8d5a4c581"> https://apnews.com/article/iran-russia-us-nuclear-negotiations-2bae3b073bcac464ad9b44a8d5a4c581</a></p> <p dir="ltr">EVENTS AT GASLIT NATION:</p> <ul> <li dir="ltr"> <p dir="ltr">May 26 4pm ET – Book club discussion of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Stride Toward Freeom: The Montgomery Story</p> </li> <li dir="ltr"> <p dir="ltr">Indiana-based listeners launched a Signal group for others in the state to join, available on Patreon.</p> </li> <li dir="ltr"> <p dir="ltr">Florida-based listeners are going strong meeting in person. 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