π§© BND Motif Index Β· M1797
The fish rots from the head
The leader's own corruption is said to set the tone for everyone under him, so his circle grafts the way he does: corruption trickles down from the top.
π΅οΈ TheoriesποΈ CorruptionποΈ Money and power
- 3claims filed under it
- 9left shows it came up on
- 4center shows it came up on
- 2right shows it came up on
β οΈ A story people tell, not a claim that it's true.
A motif is the shape of a story as its tellers tell it, named the way a folklorist names a tale type, so the same story told about other people, by the other side or in another year lands in the same place. Some of the claims below are true, many are false. Arguing against a story is often a story of its own, its answer (Voter fraud is answered by Voter suppression, Lawfare by No one is above the law), and we file it there; where no answer has a motif yet, the arguments against a story sit with its tellings.
πͺ Its family
what it rests on, what rests on it, and the motifs that answer it
πͺ rests on π§© Kleptocracy
ποΈ Who it came up with
the shows we follow where its claims came up (9 left-leaning, 4 center, 2 right-leaning so far), colored by the show's lean; the bar is how many of its claims each one heard
- π« David Pakman Show (podcast) 2 claims
- π« HasanAbi (podcast) 2 claims
- π« The Adam Mockler Show 2 claims
- π« The Kyle Kulinski Show 2 claims
- π« The MeidasTouch Podcast 2 claims
- π« The Young Turks (podcast) 2 claims
- βοΈ 1A (WAMU/NPR) 1 claim
- βοΈ Breaking Points 1 claim
- π Candace (podcast) 1 claim
- βοΈ Left, Right & Center 1 claim
- π« Pod Save America 1 claim
- π Surrounded (Jubilee) 1 claim
- left-leaning
- center
- right-leaning
- crossover
β 5 more shows
ποΈ 5 more shows
"Came up on" means one of its claims was heard on the show: told, reported or argued against. We don't yet mark which. Show leans are our own grouping of the shows we transcribe.
π§Ά Its claims
what's been told in this shape, in our words, by who told it: newest first in each; a claim's dots are the shows it came up on, in their lean's color (point at them for their names)
Told on the left 2
claims heard on left-leaning shows, and no right-leaning one
- 2026-10-18 βThe Trump administration is the most corrupt administration in history.β 9
- 2026-10-15 βTrump's associates engage in corruption because they believe they can get money through false promises.β 2
Told on the right 0
claims heard on right-leaning shows, and no left-leaning one
π¦ No claim heard only on the right so far.
Told on both sides 1
claims heard on left- and right-leaning shows alike
- 2026-10-21 βThe Trump family and administration engage in widespread corruption and enrich themselves through deals.β 12
M1797 Β· first seen 2026-11-09 Β· what this is Β· how the index works