# Inside Trump's Pardon Economy

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/kqed-s-forum-910728/inside-trump-s-pardon-economy
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/kqed-s-forum-910728/inside-trump-s-pardon-economy.md
Podcast: [KQED's Forum](https://stenobird.com/podcast/kqed-s-forum-910728)
Published: 2026-05-22T18:55:00+00:00
Episode link: https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/traffic.megaphone.fm/KQINC8500702578.mp3
Audio file: https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/traffic.megaphone.fm/KQINC8500702578.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/kqed-s-forum-910728/episodes/inside-trump-s-pardon-economy
Duration seconds: 3285

## Resource

Presidents have traditionally waited until their final months in office to give clemency, but just over a year into his second term, President Trump has issued a wave of pardons—including almost 1,600 for January 6th rioters. The New Yorker’s Ruth Marcus says Trump has created a quid-pro-quo “pardon economy,” where pardons are sold for political and personal gain. We’ll talk with Marcus and a former pardon attorney about why they think Trump is setting a dangerous precedent. Guests: Ruth Marcus, contributing writer, The New Yorker Larry Kupers, former pardon attorney, U.S. Department of Justice during the Obama and Trump Administrations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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## Transcript

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