New York Times, New Yorker, MSNBC cited 1100 Pennsylvania’s reporting last week

Last week The New York Times (twice) and The New Yorker referenced 1100 Pennsylvania’s reporting on how Donald Trump is profiting from his presidency. Additionally, I joined MSNBC’s The Beat with Ari Melber on Wednesday and Friday to discuss the topic.

Update Sept. 13, 2019 6:20 p.m.: Yesterday, The Washington Post also cited 1100 Pennsylvania’s reporting in “A nonprofit paid to rent Trump’s D.C. hotel ballrooms. Its headliners: Pence and Pompeo” by David Fahrenthold

Cindy Yang’s boss at Asian GOP speaks with me for ‘Fast Company’

Cindy Yang’s boss at the Asian GOP, Cliff Zhonggang Li, told me he learned only last week that she was allegedly selling Chinese businessmen access to Trump World.

It’s an account that differs widely from what he told other outlets.

“Former boss sheds light on Cindy Yang’s work for Asian GOP, Communist Party ties”

Skullduggery podcast has me on to talk about the Trump Hotel D.C.

Last week I joined hosts Michael Isikoff and Hunter Walker on Yahoo News’s Skullduggery podcast to talk about the Trump Hotel D.C.:

Skullduggery, Feb, 22 2019, “Inside the Trump International Hotel”

Longtime readers of this site (of which I suspect there are none other than my family members) might recognize Hunter as my editor 12 or so years ago on Gawker’s travel site, Gridskipper.

Watch: Al Jazeera English’s ‘Fault Lines’ looks at the Trump Hotel D.C., chats with me

Recently I chatted with Al Jazeera English’s “Fault Lines'” about the Trump International Hotel Washington, D.C.’s legal issues. The episode, “Donald Trump: All the President’s Profits,” just debuted. You can find it on Al Jazeera English’s cable station or online at fine websites, like this one!

‘Fast Company’ publishes my look at Trump Organization customers who later became President Trump-backed candidates

Last month, President Trump signaled his support for Rep. Kevin McCarthy’s (R-Calif.) candidacy for Speaker of the House at a fundraiser at the Trump International Hotel in D.C., where McCarthy’s PAC spent $154,000 to host the reception and dinner for 300 guests. It’s just one of many instances where Trump Organizations customers later became President Trump-backed candidates. Read my latest article for Fast Company:

“Trump endorsements follow in the wake of candidates spending money at his properties”

‘Fast Company’ publishes my look at Amazon Web Services and other groups hosting events at the Trump Hotel D.C.

“Trump, who has attacked Amazon on Twitter at least six times so far this year, hasn’t shamed the company since April 5. That a company publicly assailed by the president subsequently sponsored an event at that same president’s hotel—from which he can still profit—concerns government-ethics authorities. The profits go to the Trump Organization, and though the president’s business empire is now held by a trust, it’s not a blind trust, and he’s allowed to withdraw money from his enterprises at any time.”

Red the entire article:

“How Trump’s D.C. hotel works to help swamp the drain”

The Daily Beast publishes my scoop on a pro-Cyprus group hoping to influence President Trump and booking the Trump Hotel D.C.

“A delegation from the country of Cyprus was looking for ways to influence the Trump administration when it came to Washington D.C. in late May. And so, it did what many savvy influence-peddlers in the nation’s capital would do. It booked its conference in the president’s hotel.”

Read the article at

“Delegation From Mueller-Scrutinized Cyprus Gets Sweet Deal at Trump’s D.C. Hotel”

 

‘Fast Company’ publishes my look at Trump World, through Instagram

Good news! Worried that Trump’s businesses allow for the potential for undue foreign influence, access for sale, and kickbacks? Well, you can see these possibilities for yourself on Instagram!

More good news: Fast Company just published my long-read on the subject. Perfect light reading for a long weekend. Enjoy!

“Why Instagram is the best window into Trump-era corruption”

The Daily Beast publishes my scoop on the Trump Hotel DC giving a sweetheart deal to a business ally of the president’s

Researching the Trump Hotel D.C. for my Condé Nast Traveler article, I came across a group rate for the hotel that seemed ridiculous low. I dug further, and the results were published today on The Daily Beast:

“Trump’s D.C. Hotel Gave a Sweetheart Rate to a Pro-Immigrant Worker Group”

‘Condé Nast Traveler’ publishes my deep dive into the Trump International Hotel Washington, D.C.

Today Condé Nast Traveler published my months-in-the-making 5,500-word article on the Trump International Hotel, Washington, D.C.

“Inside the World’s Most Controversial Hotel”

In New York City last spring, I met with Laura Redman, one of my editors at Condé Nast Traveler. In the magazine’s 33rd floor office in One World Trade Center with a brilliant view of Lower Manhattan, Laura asked what the buzz was travel-wise in D.C. My answer would’ve worked for just about any subject area though: Trump. Just a few months into the president’s term, the new Trump International Hotel Washington, D.C. had become a hot spot for like-minded political powerbrokers. And Trump’s ownership of it already had led to a watchdog group suing him for allegedly violating the Constitution’s emoluments clauses.

Also, Trump was engaged in two lawsuits with high-profile chefs who’d backed out of opening restaurants there after then-candidate Trump denigrated Mexicans on the campaign trail. While I’d covered the hotel’s opening for Fox News, I wanted to delve into those issues and research other ones that hadn’t received as much media attention—including security and what is it like to actually stay there. You know, because it’s a hotel.

A lot happened between when the piece was assigned and today. I saw Trump in the hotel. And the D.C. and Maryland attorneys general sued over emoluments concerns. And about 200 Senators and Congressmen sued over emoluments concerns. And and and…with so many issues surrounding it, many that haven’t yet been fully detailed, the Trump Hotel D.C. could merit its own vertical (hint, hint assigning editors).

Thanks to everyone at Condé Nast Traveler who worked on the article, especially Pilar Guzmán, Laura Redman, Brad Rickman, and Alex Postman for their insightful edits, and Luke Zaleski and Carey Dunne for helpful queries and a thorough fact check. Thanks also to everyone who made time to speak with me or pass along tips for the piece.

And if 5,550 words isn’t enough for you on the doings at the Trump Hotel DC, follow me on Twitter: I’ve found