By John Q. Hosedrinker 
Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene’s investment in Palantir Technologies surged 142% since April, shortly before ICE awarded the company a $30 million contract. Greene, a member of the House Homeland Security Committee, clarified that her financial advisor controls her investments. This occurred around the same time that White House Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino sold Trump Media stock the day before tariffs were announced, causing markets to plummet. These events have led to increasing public support for banning stock trading by members of Congress.
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Marjorie Taylor Greene up 142% in stocks she bought days before ICE awarded a company a massive contract: ‘Laughable’. Well, this is a pretty straightforward situation, isn’t it? We’re talking about a public servant, a member of Congress no less, making a significant profit on a stock purchase just before a government agency she’s connected to – ICE – awarded a huge contract to that very company. It’s the kind of thing that sets off alarm bells for anyone with even a passing interest in ethics, transparency, and, you know, not being completely screwed over by the people supposedly representing us.
Now, the details here are that Marjorie Taylor Greene saw a 142% increase in her stock holdings. The connection is clear: she bought the stock, and then, shortly after, ICE, an agency of the government, gave a massive contract to the company whose stock she was holding. Regardless of whether it’s “just” $30 million, that’s still a substantial amount of money, and the timing raises serious questions. It’s the kind of situation that reeks of insider trading, even if it hasn’t yet been definitively proven as such. It’s the appearance of impropriety that’s concerning.
The general sentiment here is pretty obvious – trading by public servants should be banned. Period. The idea is that those in positions of power shouldn’t be able to profit personally from decisions they make or have influence over. The system is set up, and so it seems, designed to be rigged in their favor. It just screams of a system where the elites are lining their own pockets while the rest of us are left to pay the bills.
The common thought seems to be, “How is this not illegal?” We’re talking about people with access to information that the average person just doesn’t have. They’re privy to inside information about government contracts, policy changes, and other factors that can dramatically affect the value of a company’s stock. It’s a huge advantage, and it’s incredibly unfair to everyone else.
The lack of action from regulatory bodies like the SEC, even with concerns over Donald Trump, is also pretty telling. If the agency feels too afraid to act, what does that say about the state of our institutions? It suggests that the system is broken and that those in power are protected, regardless of their actions.
This kind of stuff is demoralizing. It breeds cynicism and apathy. It’s a clear demonstration of a government that serves itself first. We can see a lot of these folks trading stocks like it’s a hobby, while their constituents are struggling with rising costs of living. It makes it difficult to have faith in the system when it looks like the game is rigged in favor of those already at the top.
It is important to acknowledge it’s definitely a bipartisan issue. While Marjorie Taylor Greene might be the focus of this particular situation, the sentiment is that this happens on both sides of the aisle. It’s a problem that needs to be addressed across the board, not just when it involves specific individuals or parties.
And what are the solutions? Well, a few key areas are being pointed out. The need to ban stock trading for lawmakers, for instance, and to get money out of politics. That means repealing Citizens United and reigning in super PACs. It means full transparency of political funding so we know who’s pulling the strings. A multi-pronged approach is clearly needed to fix what seems to be a deeply entrenched problem.
It’s important to remember that we can’t allow ourselves to be worn down by this. As individuals, we can actively try to make a change. These are all worthy causes to put your energy into.