Trump’s Big Tech Allies Face Blowback With Midterms Near
WHO:
Alternet - Silicon Valley technology companies, defense technology firms, and manufacturing and mining companies serving the military supply chain are among the businesses anticipating scrutiny.
Alternet - Jamie Bair, who leads the congressional investigations practice at Crowell & Moring, said Democrats would move faster to begin investigations.
Alternet - Companies with ties to Donald Trump Jr. that received Pentagon funds may be prioritized for investigations, according to four people familiar with lawmakers’ plans.
Alternet - Companies tied to Elon Musk and the U.S. DOGE Service may also face scrutiny, according to two people familiar with the plans.
Bloomberg Markets - The program’s hosts are David Gura, Christina Ruffini, and Lisa Mateo. Guests include Drew Matus of MetLife Investment Management; Rana Foroohar, Financial Times associate editor and “Sea Change” author; Ehud Olmert, former prime minister of Israel; Texas Rep. Dan Crenshaw; Daniel Shapiro, former U.S. ambassador to Israel; CBS News White House and political correspondent Ed O’Keefe; and Puck Washington author Abby Livingston.
WHAT:
Alternet - Democrats are widely anticipated to win back the House majority and increasingly likely to win the Senate in the midterm elections.
Alternet - A report by The Washington Post said companies, particularly tech firms, are bracing for investigations and other consequences after capitulating to and ingratiating themselves with President Trump.
Alternet - Democrats are preparing investigations into firms’ dealings with Trump and his administration, including whether companies benefited financially from information and relationships gained while running DOGE.
Alternet - Potential targets also include companies that received U.S. military noncompete contracts and equity stakes.
Alternet - Bair said, “It’s going to get pretty intense pretty quickly,” and predicted Democrats would not “burn anywhere near as much time on the ramp-up.”
Bloomberg Markets - The program promotes coverage of weekend headlines and includes discussion of Big Tech earnings.
WHERE:
Alternet - The report identifies Silicon Valley as a center for the technology firms anticipating scrutiny.
Bloomberg Markets - The program is broadcast live from New York.
WHY:
Alternet - The article says companies may be targets because of their close ties to the Trump administration and public anger over unregulated AI, autonomous weapons, and data centers.
Alternet - Congressional investigations may also help Democrats develop a message for the 2028 elections.
HOW:
Alternet - Jamie Bair said Democrats would approach investigations with lessons from their previous time leading the House, when following “polite” protocols cost time.
Alternet - The Washington Post report cited conversations with nearly a dozen congressional staffers, lobbyists, lawyers, investors, and executives; some spoke anonymously because they were not authorized to discuss pending plans publicly.
Alternet - The article says Democrats learned from their prior time leading the House after the 2018 midterms, when “polite” protocols cost time at the start of investigations.
Bloomberg Markets - The weekend program presents headlines with context and commentary, hosted by Gura, Ruffini, and Mateo.
(UPDATED October 26, 2026 14:47 UTC)
Democrats are preparing swift investigations into companies’ dealings with President Trump and his administration, as they are widely expected to win back the House and are increasingly likely to take the Senate. Potential targets include tech firms, military supply-chain businesses, and companies tied to Donald Trump Jr., Elon Musk, or the U.S. DOGE Service, with scrutiny focused on Pentagon funding, government contracts, and whether firms profited from information or relationships gained through DOGE. Jamie Bair says Democrats plan to avoid a slow ramp-up, while investigations could also address public concerns over unregulated AI, autonomous weapons, and data centers and help shape the party’s message for the 2028 elections.
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(UPDATED October 26, 2026 12:48 UTC)
Democrats are preparing investigations into companies that worked closely with President Trump’s administration, including whether firms profited from information or relationships gained while operating DOGE. Silicon Valley tech firms, defense contractors and military supply-chain businesses could face scrutiny, with companies linked to Trump’s son Donald Trump Jr. or Elon Musk among potential targets; investigators may also examine military contracts and equity stakes. Jamie Bair, who leads congressional investigations at Crowell & Moring, says Democrats are expected to move quickly, driven in part by public concerns over AI, autonomous weapons and data centers and by efforts to shape their message for the 2028 elections.