There’s nothing to see here, folks, just Boeing possibly giving a million bucks to someone encouraging people to drive around the country, who also happens to be the regulator overseeing the certification of new aircraft.
In this post:
The economics & pitch deck of Sean Duffy’s road trip
Several days ago, I covered how United States Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy launched the “Great American Road Trip” series, whereby he and his family went on a road trip over the course of parts of seven months.
This is intended to be in celebration of the United States’ 250th birthday, and the concept behind this was “to love America is to see America.” Duffy also made this political, suggesting that “for decades our kids have been told they should be ashamed of our country & founders,” and he suggests the road trip is intended to “push back on those Marxist narratives.”
Some people are criticizing Duffy for taking the time for this road trip while in office. Personally, I don’t necessarily have an issue with that, since it’s not like he was filming this nonstop. However, what I do have an issue with is how this is being funded. Duffy is proudly exclaiming that no taxpayer dollars were used for this, and that it was funded through donations.
Well, those donations are largely coming from companies that Duffy is responsible for regulating, ranging from Boeing, to Toyota, to United Airlines.
So, what exactly was the pitch here, and how much are these companies paying? Politico’s Daniel Lippman has some interesting insights:
- There’s the pitch deck for sponsors, with four different partner levels — $1 million, $500K, $250K, or $100K — and each tier comes with different levels of recognition and networking opportunities (it’s not clear if those were the prices that ended up being paid)
- Then there’s the strategy overview, which hints at an initially broader vision for the series, including that it would have 10 episodes, and would have a major streaming partner; this also reveals the target audience, which includes “married moms (ages 28–54) with children,” “empty Nesters (aged 50-70), married with grown children and/or grandchildren,” and “patriotic Singles & Couples (ages 25–45) who are travel enthusiasts” (don’t ask me to explain the capitalization choices)
It’s all a fascinating read, so I’d highly recommend taking a look at those two documents, if you’re interested.
It’s also worth pointing out that the person running the non-profit that’s behind this show was previously a lobbyist for the US Travel Association, and before that, worked in government relations at General Motors.
Does anyone NOT see a conflict of interest here?
I know stuff is highly politically polarized. For some people, Trump can do no right, while for other people, Trump can do no wrong.
But let’s step back for a moment, and remove the individuals. If you’d like, pretend it was actually previous Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg doing this. Does anyone not think there’s a major conflict of interest when the person responsible for regulating the travel and transportation industry is seeking to fund a show that he’s the star of by accepting donations from the companies he’s supposed to oversee?
Literally what’s being pitched in exchange for a million bucks is “up to 6 VIP invitations to receptions, roundtables, or networking events.” Nice, spend enough money, and you get to “network” with the regulators!
The most concerning example here is Boeing:
- Why is Boeing sponsoring a series about a road trip?
- Boeing doesn’t even sell products directly to consumers
So it makes you wonder, does Boeing want to be one of the biggest sponsors because it thinks it’s good publicity, or because its entire business trajectory is based around getting aircraft certified by regulators, including the 777-9 and 737 MAX 10?
Seriously, does anyone not take issue with that? All of the sponsors in the transportation industry bother me, but Boeing as one of the primary sponsors, especially when the cozy relationship between the government and Boeing contributed to two fatal Boeing 737 MAX crashes several years back, really rubs me the wrong way.
Bottom line
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is proudly exclaiming how his “Great American Road Trip” isn’t funded by taxpayers. Instead, it’s funded largely by the companies he’s supposed to regulate, including Boeing. Yes, that Boeing, the one that had the two fatal 737 MAX crashes, which were largely blamed on there being too cozy of a relationship between regulators and the aircraft manufacturer.
Nothing to see here, folks…
We are way past the American govt, the White House P's and others accepting bribes for favours, or votes or what.
It is no longer a side, a Rep or a Dem, as they all are doing it. It has become a bit more transparent with Biden and now Trump now audaciously open the bribes are.
Only one guy got caught, Bernie Kirkurk, had his home renovated by NY contractors at a huge discount. Every one else no problem.
Transparent with Biden?
Preventing
Elected
Leaders from
Owning
Securities and
Investments Act
Is about transparency? Then Nancy is all in.
Didn't Bob Menendez also get convicted?
Him and Henry Cuellar. Dems are far better at cleaning up their own than Republicans.
I understand the last show of the series terminates in Seattle where Duffy and Boeing hold a joint press conference announcing the certification of the new MD-11 MAX.
GOP = Grift Our People
The regime has been extraordinarily corrupt. Something like this would have ended the career of any political appointee prior to the "IQ47" downfall of America.
Why you didn't mention the incompetentcy and massive corruption of the Transportation Dept. when Pete B. was in charge, the previous highly corrupt administration? Did everyone somehow forget about the 2023 airline disruptions, billions of Taxpayer money spent on bussing, flying and housing millions of illegals crossing the border, the East Palestine train derailment response, and supply chain problems that wreak havoc to the economy? This Great American Road project under Duffy is nothing compared...
Why you didn't mention the incompetentcy and massive corruption of the Transportation Dept. when Pete B. was in charge, the previous highly corrupt administration? Did everyone somehow forget about the 2023 airline disruptions, billions of Taxpayer money spent on bussing, flying and housing millions of illegals crossing the border, the East Palestine train derailment response, and supply chain problems that wreak havoc to the economy? This Great American Road project under Duffy is nothing compared to the massive corruption under the Biden administration.
Wow you might be the dumbest person on OMAAT today
You give new meaning to Dreamer. Someone that dreams up a false narrative to continue drinking that Kool aid. Slurp.
Do they still lead paint?
“sell”
Typical of most corrupt administration in US history. Only a MAGA idiot would say different.
Just because it wasn't well documented 250 years ago didn't mean nothing happened.
Investigative journalism wasn't a thing back then. And you could be hanged for exposing to much.
Just gotta love war time profiteering and draconian punishments.
The great American road trip!!!!
But the car is Japanese.
Gas is over $6 in CA.
OK let's fly.
Airfare are all time high.
OK then go on a cruise.
Hantavirus.
F*** this. Let's stay home.
The great American staying home.
What a way to celebrate 250 years of being free. If only debt is also free.
Your mortgage payments are behind, groceries are expensive, but your tax money is spent on war far far away.
God bless the USA.
Net fuel prices have doubled except for Delta,
Has anyone else also noticed the dip in cruise coverage on this blog over the past few weeks?
First off, how is this enriching Secretary Duffy at all? I thought it was reported he is not being compensated in any way. He is contributing his time to this project, and the various sponsors are contributing funding to make the production possible. But there is no enrichment for the Secretary.
Second, the non-political career ethics staff at DOT signed off on this. They have the expertise and judgment to evaluate this sort of...
First off, how is this enriching Secretary Duffy at all? I thought it was reported he is not being compensated in any way. He is contributing his time to this project, and the various sponsors are contributing funding to make the production possible. But there is no enrichment for the Secretary.
Second, the non-political career ethics staff at DOT signed off on this. They have the expertise and judgment to evaluate this sort of thing, and they can and do say no to political appointees when warranted. If it passed muster with them, I wouldn’t second guess their decision.
Yes, it presumably passed vetting but it's a blatant conflict of interest. Anyone who is remotely neutral can see that. Also, these are mega funds coming in and there is no way the trip(s) cost nearly that much. Where are the additional funds going?
Yes, it presumably passed vetting but it's a blatant conflict of interest. Anyone who is remotely neutral can see that. Also, these are mega funds coming in and there is no way the trip(s) cost nearly that much. Where are the additional funds going?
People who are not questioning any politician for conflicts of interest are clearly brainwashed.
Perfect time to advertise a road trip what with Trump's climate pricing pushing gas over $5. Enjoy all the winning MAGAts.
I'm with you, but 'climate pricing'... I think you mean 'the war'... I mean, 'special military operation' that's totally over, and we 'won,' but also, may go on 'just two more weeks,' and we need $1.5 trillion for our military budget, and... 'I don't think about Americans' financial situation' when negotiating with Iran, Trump says. *deep sigh*
It's just a tongue-in-cheek reference to the fact that the oil is now above the price that, under Biden, the EPA calculated would be high enough to start changing consumer and business behavior to reduce usage and emissions. Something that never went into effect, but conservatives were apoplectic over.
why is it not fully on United, Boeing and others for playing this game which Ben thinks is so wrong?
What does it say that those companies actually think that they benefit from this kind of funding?
Why isn't American, Alaska, Delta and Southwest listed?
Why not Piper and Cessna aircraft companies?
Why no blame for the regulator that asked for this? You know, the regulator that regulates Boeing and United? Why are Boeing and United solely at fault in your mind? Just because they're wrong to fund it doesn't mean Duffy isn't also in the wrong for asking them to when he has the ability to impose real harm to their businesses.
again, why is it solely the regulator's fault if there are companies gullible enough to believe that this is all wrong - or maybe it isn't and those that incessantly try to find fault are the real problem.
it can't be both wrong for such a system of paid favoritism to exist and for the companies that engage in it to without fault... but some people aren't smart enough to see the logical fallacy of their positions.
Are those all just rhetorical questions, like, 'why is Delta really not that different from United?' or...
Tim suddenly runs out of fluff.
AA AS DL WN are not aggressively trying to do some M&A.
Piper and Cessna didn't crash their CitationMAX and trying to get the behind schedule CherokeeX certified.
Why are United and Boeing funding a ROAD trip. I guess Shell and Toyota kinda make sense. lol
This is just so dumb. These fools are constantly going on vacation.
Who cares Ben. Stop whining and find something important and of interest to FFs to write about. The only one being political here is you! Your hated for this country is coming out since you have to pick apart this patriotic celebration of our nations 250th birthday. What’s next who’s funding the ballroom? Getting on that funding bandwagon????
Boo hoo, Fran. Facts don't care about your feelings. Politics is inherent in travel. The free movement of people matters. Accountability of our public officials matter.
And, since you brought it up, how did an unauthorized ballroom that was supposed to be funded by donations-only (an ethical nightmare to begin with) become $1 billion taxpayer liability?
Economy isn't looking too good. Gas is getting really expensive. Happy 250th, regardless!
Review and use of a critical eye equals hatred? Sure, Jan. Only if you're in a cult. Is it grape today?
The grift that keeps on grifting.
The whole year long, Clark.
Why is this an issue? Our government is run by the smartest people who have given their time and dedication to the country. They would have otherwise earned millions in salary had they not dedicated their time to us. To take a bit of benefits back is nothing but fair. This is no different from the Trump family, had they not dedicated their time to run the country and make it great again, they would've made billions, the sacrifice should be acknowledged.
Very cute tongue in cheek response.
That's hilarious. Well done.
Are you 100% sure that Pete Buttigieg never did something like this when he’s at office?
Are we sure Pete Buttigieg never starred in a reality TV series about himself, funded by the industries he regulated?
Yeah. Yeah, we're 100% sure about that.
You’d be complaining if he used taxpayer dollars, you complain when he doesn’t.
Typical double talk by a liberal.
You kind of miss the point that both complaints aren’t valid for separate reasons.
Honestly, it would be far less concerning if the administration just took the position that this project furthered government objectives and funded it with government tax dollars. I’d personally disagree, but it’s not beyond the pale.
This poorly disguised bribe, however, is utterly appalling. The entire Trump administration thinks it’s above the law and that government service is a means...
You kind of miss the point that both complaints aren’t valid for separate reasons.
Honestly, it would be far less concerning if the administration just took the position that this project furthered government objectives and funded it with government tax dollars. I’d personally disagree, but it’s not beyond the pale.
This poorly disguised bribe, however, is utterly appalling. The entire Trump administration thinks it’s above the law and that government service is a means for self-enrichment.
Or he could just, you know, not do this useless escapade...
Or if it absolutely must be done, give up his government job and go continue his worthless reality TV stardom.
Why are you even on this site then if it's run by a lib?
And reading comprehension is hard for magats, but he's pointing out the conflict of interest for a transportation secretary to be receiving donations to fund an OPTIONAL vacation road trip for him and his family.
good lord people - TDS is a horrible disease - get some help - a guy actually tries to highlight the natural beauty and greatness of this country and also emphasize a message of family and to get kids away from screens - and this is the best you can do? - get help - you'll be happier
MAGAs will excuse anything. Trump wasn’t joking when he said he could shoot someone and you would stay in line. Drink up that Kool-Aid.
Yup. The so-called Fifth Avenue voters... sheesh!
1) None of those "noble" goals is the remit of the US Secretary of Transportation. The guy has a real job to do.
2) Those things can be (and are) advanced without taking corporate "donations" from the companies regulated by USDOT.
3) Corruption is corruption, no matter how big the guy's smile might be.
The people who bring up TDS are usually the ones suffering it. Deluded by the grifter in chief. Pop your head out of the cult view and you will see how much your TDS has had you cheering for T who is doing so much damage to our country. As former GOP strategist Rick Wilson points out, there may not be evidence that DJT is a Russian agent or asset, but all he does is what such an agent would do.
"Patriotic Singles" sounds like a filter to click on a dating app to exclude said population.
To be fair, anyone that cares too much about anything that involves scolding other people is annoying. Militant vegans, "patriots" (ie MAGA), extreme environmentalists, pearl clutching legalistic religious types - they all walk around with these massive exposed psychic wounds that they've tried to cover with the little band-aid of fanaticism. Very off-putting.
"Patriotic singles in your area..." Bah!
I try really hard to not yuck anyone's yum, but... oof, this whole Mar-a-Lago-face trend. Yikes.
Is being Secretary of Transportation a side gig for reality TV work?
Yes. We're not fully in the world where people are chosen for top jobs in government because Donny saw them on the teevee and they said nice things about him. Or if they're smokeshows.
What a time to be alive.
Since when does any politician ever pay for anything ? All politicians depart much richer than when they boarded the flight . King Farouk , for example .
No, Alert, its not both sides, all sides, etc. Duffy did a corrupt thing. If anyone else did the same, we should hold them accountable, too.
Most people in Washington DC grift. And it's both parties. If they're getting something tangible done then it can be chalked up to the cost of doing business. But DC gets nothing done. It can't even do the most basic of functions like keep the public safe. We descend into a third world.
There it is. Both sides. Move on. Yet… if the other side did this… J6 2.0.
Politicians are not the brightest bulbs in the room because they have no real-world experience .
NYC is run by a 34-year-old who has Never held any job . If people serve in the military for 2 years , they will have good experience .
As an actual NYC resident and voter, I can attest, Mayor Mamdani is doing an excellent job in NYC. Dealt a difficult hand by the failures of the prior corrupt mayor (Adams, foreign agent of Turkey/Albania it seems), actual patriot and servant leader Mamdani recently balanced the city budget, something critics thought impossible mere months ago. (Alert, I'm starting to think that you know nothing about which you speak...)
I've spent my entire career working for Fortune 500 companies. Each company required it's employees to perform annual Ethics training that clearly spelled out what we could and could not do. And it also included specific information on dealing with government agencies. I sincerely doubt that what these "corporate sponsors" are doing with the DOT would be in the spirit of the ethics training we received. This is just another example of when the rules...
I've spent my entire career working for Fortune 500 companies. Each company required it's employees to perform annual Ethics training that clearly spelled out what we could and could not do. And it also included specific information on dealing with government agencies. I sincerely doubt that what these "corporate sponsors" are doing with the DOT would be in the spirit of the ethics training we received. This is just another example of when the rules do not apply to specific people.
Ethics "training" does not translate to ethics "inherently having" . I've never attended a company training when the trainer knew more than his script . On the other hand , every military training is conducted by a trainer with actual experience . Ethics training ought to be conducted by whistleblowers .
Alert would prefer everyone do nothing, not even try. That's a horrible approach.
@Alert That's a smart idea - perhaps widen from actual whistleblowers to those who have resigned for ethical reasons, and this be a way of providing pensions for us.
I'll be offended when the unions and NGOs stop contributing to the government officials that create policies that benefit them but are detrimental to the public i.e. the teachers unions homeless industrial complex, big education etc. Both sides do it. It's been that way for decades. At least this is private money that is being expended and not tax payer funded donations to politicians.
It's not 'bot sides' ... Duffy is being corrupt here. If either side did tis, hold them accountable.
If you're serious about a Constitutional Amendment to undo Citizens United, and stop Super PACs filled with undisclosed, unlimited, often foreign campaign contributions, then, yes, please.
But, it seems you just hate teachers and unions. It seems you just hate your perceived enemies and do not want to actually solve or improve anything for anyone. Prove me wrong.
It's just another day in the most corrupt maladministration in the history of the USA. Everything about the fat orange Nazi is predicated on greed, self-enrichment, and harming the citizenry of the country; the effluvia of his mid-stage dementia and bottomless greed flows downhill from the Trump crime family (a RICO organization if ever there was one) to his unqualified cabinet, all with their hands in the till, to the right-wing activist "Supreme" Court "justices"...
It's just another day in the most corrupt maladministration in the history of the USA. Everything about the fat orange Nazi is predicated on greed, self-enrichment, and harming the citizenry of the country; the effluvia of his mid-stage dementia and bottomless greed flows downhill from the Trump crime family (a RICO organization if ever there was one) to his unqualified cabinet, all with their hands in the till, to the right-wing activist "Supreme" Court "justices" captured by bribes and special interests.
Shackles were invented for these kinds of people, and they'll be wearing them in two-and-a-half years, if not sooner. They should enjoy the looting while they can.
Sec. Duffy accuses the “radical, miserable left” of finding his production “too wholesome,” “too patriotic,” and “too joyful.” Oof, I wish this big, bad, mythical boogeyman ‘left’ existed, but sadly it does not in the USA. If they did, they’d actually enforce the rules against such corruption, rather than just being a weak group of corporate Democrats who merely act as a controlled opposition.
A Trump cabinet official abusing his position to personally enrich himself (or in this case get free vacations for himself and his family)? I am shocked. Shocked I say!
There's the final question as to why this should cost so much. If you exclude the large secret service bill this isn't a series that should take a significant sum of money to produce.
The usual business model for a producer is to raise funds and then make the movie/TV series with the difference between the budget and actual production costs (plus some money from the actual viewership) being the profit margin. The question...
There's the final question as to why this should cost so much. If you exclude the large secret service bill this isn't a series that should take a significant sum of money to produce.
The usual business model for a producer is to raise funds and then make the movie/TV series with the difference between the budget and actual production costs (plus some money from the actual viewership) being the profit margin. The question here is who owns the production company and what happens to those excess funds
My first thought too. This shouldn't be all that expensive of a trip, even with security and staying at decent hotels. Not cheap given he has 45 kids and likely stays at good hotels, needs security, and production costs, but NOWEHERE near the contribution package levels. Where are the extra funds going....?
Ben, are you surprised? Donald Trump and his cabinet are all a bunch of grifters. As long as they're in power, they'll enrich themselves by robbing the federal government and the people blind, while accepting bribes from their sycophants. This is just a tiny, tiny example.
And this is indeed just a "tiny" example. Imagine the "big" ones.