1/ I have a gnawing fear that after Trump leaves office, a lot of people will tune out, feeling like the end of a presidency defined by corruption solves the corruption problem itself.

That would be a mistake. Trump is a symptom of problems that will continue after he leaves.

2/ Don't get me wrong. Trump is certainly a uniquely corrupt politician, but he was enabled by a system that was already broken.

Just as with Watergate, the work of installing guardrails and creating a less corrupt, more equitable system will go on for years after he is gone.

3/ Trump didn't break the system. The system was broken when he came in.

His recent formation of a leadership PAC is a perfect example of that. Leadership PACs have been around for decades and, long ago, devolved into slush funds for politicians https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/12/01/what-trump-familys-new-political-committees-can-cant-do/

4/ Massive loopholes allow politicians to use leadership PACs for things like luxury hotel stays, private jet flights, rounds of golf, and exclusive club memberships.

This isn't new. It's been happening for years. https://www.issueone.org/congressional-leadership-pacs-continue-to-subsidize-lavish-lifestyles/

5/ It's certainly abnormal for a former president to have a leadership PAC, but Trump isn't even the first former politician to form one.

For years, one of the top-grossing leadership PACs in the country was SarahPAC, Sarah Palin's leadership PAC.

6/ SarahPAC raised massive amounts of money from small donors and spent most of it on two things:

1) More fundraising

2) Lavish travel and lodging, presumably for Sarah Palin

It only spent a tiny amount on contributions to political allies.

7/ This is just one example, the point being that there are systemic problems that predate Trump, many of which he has made worse, and they will continue after he is gone if we don't put in the legwork to turn things around.

8/ Whether it is the corrosive influence of dark money and wealthy donors, the ability of corporations to lobby heavily for sweetheart policies, or politicians using their office for personal gain, the corruption of the system that made Trump possible will outlast him.

9/ But after Trump, it's not going to be as flagrant and absurd. We won't see things like the president trying to hold the G-7 at his private luxury resort or payday lenders spending $1 million at his properties while they try to get favorable policies.

It'll be much more boring

10/ Those of us who were working on these issues before Trump took office will be here when he's gone, and we'll still need your attention and support when he's gone, even if the stories aren't as salacious and insane as they have been for the last four years.

11/ A big part of that is through donations. So, if you appreciate the work we do -- and I don't just mean @CREWcrew's work, but any number of amazing groups like @OpenSecretsDC, @Public_Citizen, @POGOBlog, @IssueOneReform, etc. -- please consider donating, if and when you can.

12/ That is by no means an exhaustive list. Find a good government group that does work you respect and appreciate and let them know. We're in this for the long haul.

13/ And if that group is CREW, our Giving Tuesday page is here: https://actionnetwork.org/fundraising/donate-to-crew-for-giving-tuesday-2020?source=rmtw