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Keeping Up With the Korruption in Kazakhstan

Explore episode Jul 1, 2026

Business

The Kazakhstan Corruption Playbook: Trump Kids, Lutnick Kids, $1.6B in Federal Cash

Keeping Up With the Korruption in Kazakhstan · Jul 1, 2026 Business

The Kazakhstan tungsten story isn't a one-off scandal — it's the template. Trump pressures Kazakhstan to open the world's largest untapped tungsten reserve to a US company; Trump sons' firm takes a 20% stake; Lutnick's kids raise $210M in fees; the Trump administration then approves $1.6B in federal financing for the project. The New York Times found at least 14 similar deals.

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