“The U.S. government is planning to participate in the planned ‘partnership’ between U.S. Steel and its Japanese rival Nippon Steel,” the New York Times reports.

“Golden shares typically refer to special stakes the government takes in companies that are ailing or in particular need of government attention, like General Motors during the 2008 financial crisis. The United States doesn’t typically take shares in publicly traded companies. When it does, it’s usually because it has provided some type of financial assistance, like a bailout, and wants to protect taxpayer money.”

“The U.S. Steel saga is entering its ludicrous era, more than 17 months after the Pittsburgh-based company agreed to be acquired by Japan’s Nippon Steel for around $15 billion,” Axios reports.

“None of this is working the way it’s supposed to, and the chaos has opened the door for potential impropriety.”

New York Times: “Mr. Walczak’s pardon application argued that his criminal prosecution was motivated more by his mother’s efforts for Mr. Trump than by his admitted use of money earmarked for employees’ taxes to fund an extravagant lifestyle.”

“Still, weeks went by and no pardon was forthcoming, even as Mr. Trump issued clemency grants to hundreds of other allies.”

“Then, Ms. Fago was invited to a $1-million-per-person fund-raising dinner last month that promised face-to-face access to Mr. Trump at his private Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Fla.”

“Less than three weeks after she attended the dinner, Mr. Trump signed a full and unconditional pardon.”