Presidential Pardons Fuel Scandal: Justice for Sale in Biden’s America

Paul Riverbank, 12/22/2025Power, pardon, and policy collide as Washington drama neglects Americans' economic and healthcare struggles.

His words stung because for many, they ring true—or at least, uncomfortably close. The aftershocks of this year’s government shutdown still rattle households around the country, especially among federal workers. As politicians scrambled for leverage in Washington, people elsewhere juggled bills and called landlords, forced to choose which obligations could be delayed another month. “People got rent due. People got childcare to pay for, light bills, car notes…” Charlamagne ticked off the list, a reminder of how government decisions rarely pause for those caught in the crossfire.

Current surveys offer grim confirmation. Daily challenges—rising health care costs, shrinking subsidies—have shifted center stage for millions. Health care, in particular, now consistently ranks among the top worries for Americans, and even more so for those approaching retirement age. One glance at the numbers — nearly four in ten naming health care as a top issue — might actually understate the anxiety in living rooms from Arizona to Appalachia.

Alabama paints the picture in sharper relief. There, as Medicaid funding dries up and crucial Affordable Care Act subsidies near expiration, community anchors like hospitals and churches brace for the inevitable fallout. It’s a patchwork safety net that already shows signs of strain. Organizations warn the imminent surge in health care costs will hit the most vulnerable first, turning medical crises into financial ones almost overnight.

At the national level, Congress is preparing for another round of policy brinksmanship, with negotiations underway to extend some health subsidies. But legislative timelines rarely intersect neatly with household deadlines, and for many families, relief will arrive as too little, too late.

Yet, as those in need wait for answers, it can feel as if the pulse of Washington is set to an entirely different rhythm. Leadership crises, partisan feuds, philosophical debates — these grab the spotlight, while the people most affected by these struggles often watch from the sidelines, wondering if anyone in the capital is truly listening. The disconnect grows sharper when political gridlock halts public services. “Let’s stop playing politics with people’s lives,” Charlamagne concluded, but after the year we’ve had, it’s hard to shake the sense that the message was bounced right back.

This year didn’t just bring budget stalemates — it also revived an old debate about presidential pardons and the lines between public trust and private gain. Decisions once reserved as rare and solemn have become routine flashpoints. The pardon granted to Changpeng Zhao, founder of Binance, remains especially contentious. Zhao admitted to money laundering—high stakes enough given the charges that his company’s blind eye enabled extremist groups to shuffle hidden cash, compounding violence across borders. It didn’t matter. “No identifiable victims,” the administration claimed, as they cast it as part of a broader offensive against cryptocurrency. Not everyone, especially those who lost money, agreed. “We all got defrauded,” one victim’s family member shot back.

Zhao wasn’t alone. Former government officials convicted of corruption, a businessman from Virginia charged with stock fraud, even a former Honduran president serving time on drug trafficking offenses—all saw the heavy hand of justice quietly lifted by executive pen. Each time, those watching from the outside were left to puzzle over the logic: Was this restoration of fairness, or just another favor traded behind closed doors?

The upshot? Consumer watchdogs noted a troubling trend: Nearly a third of corporate investigations have been closed or left to languish since last year. Airline safety cases, pharmaceutical price-fixing, and regulatory action in murky financial markets have all been left on the shelf, particularly following contributions or well-timed business agreements with powerful players. If not for public records, much of this would read like rumor.

Why do some cases fizzle, while others are doggedly pursued? Some say the president sees white-collar prosecutions as political gamesmanship. Others point to the time-honored practice of rewarding loyalty — a kind of insurance policy for those still holding influence in the corridors of the capital. Whatever the calculus, critics fret about the ripple effects. When rules are set aside, they argue, the lesson is clear: accountability is flexible, and so are consequences.

For Americans facing higher medical bills, job insecurity, or fragile housing, these controversies are more than distant scandals. They are reminders — not just of policy failures, but of a system that too often seems to overlook those living at the margins. Whether the problem is rising costs or selective justice, the sense of distance between public officials and everyday citizens only widens.

To be clear, these are not challenges constrained to one ideology or party. Calls for accountability and effective leadership — the basics of responsive government — cross any political boundary you might care to draw. Voters aren’t asking for perfection, but they are still waiting for the kind of leadership that picks people over talking points.

So, as the country steps into another uncertain year, the outstanding question remains painfully simple: will those with power in Washington remember who sent them there? Or will the divide between policy and reality continue to grow, leaving millions to carry the cost of another round of political theater? The answer will matter—not just for political fortunes, but for the fabric of American life itself.

It’s easy to get lost in big headlines and partisan shouting, but if you step back for a moment, a different America comes into focus: one where the pressure to keep the lights on and the rent paid is a daily, grinding reality. This isn’t something you can fully grasp by scanning polling numbers or listening to campaign speeches. Instead, it echoes in the resignation and restlessness of folks like Charlamagne tha God. Recently, when he addressed America’s working class on his program, it wasn’t a polished monologue, but rather a blunt, weary admission. “America doesn’t give a damn about poor people,” he said, before catching himself and adding, “or about people just trying to survive.”His words stung because for many, they ring true—or at least, uncomfortably close. The aftershocks of this year’s government shutdown still rattle households around the country, especially among federal workers. As politicians scrambled for leverage in Washington, people elsewhere juggled bills and called landlords, forced to choose which obligations could be delayed another month. “People got rent due. People got childcare to pay for, light bills, car notes…” Charlamagne ticked off the list, a reminder of how government decisions rarely pause for those caught in the crossfire.Current surveys offer grim confirmation. Daily challenges—rising health care costs, shrinking subsidies—have shifted center stage for millions. Health care, in particular, now consistently ranks among the top worries for Americans, and even more so for those approaching retirement age. One glance at the numbers — nearly four in ten naming health care as a top issue — might actually understate the anxiety in living rooms from Arizona to Appalachia.Alabama paints the picture in sharper relief. There, as Medicaid funding dries up and crucial Affordable Care Act subsidies near expiration, community anchors like hospitals and churches brace for the inevitable fallout. It’s a patchwork safety net that already shows signs of strain. Organizations warn the imminent surge in health care costs will hit the most vulnerable first, turning medical crises into financial ones almost overnight.At the national level, Congress is preparing for another round of policy brinksmanship, with negotiations underway to extend some health subsidies. But legislative timelines rarely intersect neatly with household deadlines, and for many families, relief will arrive as too little, too late.Yet, as those in need wait for answers, it can feel as if the pulse of Washington is set to an entirely different rhythm. Leadership crises, partisan feuds, philosophical debates — these grab the spotlight, while the people most affected by these struggles often watch from the sidelines, wondering if anyone in the capital is truly listening. The disconnect grows sharper when political gridlock halts public services. “Let’s stop playing politics with people’s lives,” Charlamagne concluded, but after the year we’ve had, it’s hard to shake the sense that the message was bounced right back.This year didn’t just bring budget stalemates — it also revived an old debate about presidential pardons and the lines between public trust and private gain. Decisions once reserved as rare and solemn have become routine flashpoints. The pardon granted to Changpeng Zhao, founder of Binance, remains especially contentious. Zhao admitted to money laundering—high stakes enough given the charges that his company’s blind eye enabled extremist groups to shuffle hidden cash, compounding violence across borders. It didn’t matter. “No identifiable victims,” the administration claimed, as they cast it as part of a broader offensive against cryptocurrency. Not everyone, especially those who lost money, agreed. “We all got defrauded,” one victim’s family member shot back.Zhao wasn’t alone. Former government officials convicted of corruption, a businessman from Virginia charged with stock fraud, even a former Honduran president serving time on drug trafficking offenses—all saw the heavy hand of justice quietly lifted by executive pen. Each time, those watching from the outside were left to puzzle over the logic: Was this restoration of fairness, or just another favor traded behind closed doors?The upshot? Consumer watchdogs noted a troubling trend: Nearly a third of corporate investigations have been closed or left to languish since last year. Airline safety cases, pharmaceutical price-fixing, and regulatory action in murky financial markets have all been left on the shelf, particularly following contributions or well-timed business agreements with powerful players. If not for public records, much of this would read like rumor.Why do some cases fizzle, while others are doggedly pursued? Some say the president sees white-collar prosecutions as political gamesmanship. Others point to the time-honored practice of rewarding loyalty — a kind of insurance policy for those still holding influence in the corridors of the capital. Whatever the calculus, critics fret about the ripple effects. When rules are set aside, they argue, the lesson is clear: accountability is flexible, and so are consequences.For Americans facing higher medical bills, job insecurity, or fragile housing, these controversies are more than distant scandals. They are reminders — not just of policy failures, but of a system that too often seems to overlook those living at the margins. Whether the problem is rising costs or selective justice, the sense of distance between public officials and everyday citizens only widens.To be clear, these are not challenges constrained to one ideology or party. Calls for accountability and effective leadership — the basics of responsive government — cross any political boundary you might care to draw. Voters aren’t asking for perfection, but they are still waiting for the kind of leadership that picks people over talking points.So, as the country steps into another uncertain year, the outstanding question remains painfully simple: will those with power in Washington remember who sent them there? Or will the divide between policy and reality continue to grow, leaving millions to carry the cost of another round of political theater? The answer will matter—not just for political fortunes, but for the fabric of American life itself.