Media & platforms (lawsuit settlements feeding the library fund)

• ABC News (Disney) — Paid $15M toward Trump’s presidential library to settle a Stephanopoulos defamation fight. That’s not just a correction; that’s a contribution. Then suspended Kimmel for a bad joke on late night comedy. https://www.cnn.com/2025/09/17/media/jimmy-kimmel-charlie-kirk-trump-fcc-brendan-carr  

• Meta (Facebook/Instagram) — ~$25M to settle Trump’s 2021 suit, with most routed to the library. A platform fee—literally. https://www.wsj.com/us-news/law/trump-signs-agreement-calling-for-meta-to-pay-25-million-to-settle-suit-6f734c8c

• Paramount / CBS (“60 Minutes”) — $16M settlement over a 2024 interview dispute, plus editorial transparency concessions. Journalism with training wheels. Announced The Late Show with Stephen Colbert will end in May 2026 as coincidental timing of Paramount being sold to Skydance Media. https://www.axios.com/2025/07/18/stephen-colbert-late-show-skydance 

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Law firms (big “pro bono” checks under threat)

• Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom — Pledged $100M in “pro bono legal concessions” aligned with presidential priorities after White House pressure/E.O. chatter. That’s not charity; that’s tribute. https://www.politico.com/news/2025/03/28/skadden-arps-trump-law-deal-028324 

• Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison — Cut a $40M pro bono deal to sidestep an executive order; their pro bono head quit weeks later. If that’s not a white flag, what is? https://www.reuters.com/legal/trumps-deal-with-law-firm-paul-weiss-sparks-alarm-among-lawyers-2025-03-21/

• Latham & Watkins — Reported $125M pro bono pledge + outside-counsel oversight on hiring to end federal scrutiny. “Independent” until the invoice arrives. https://www.politico.com/news/2025/04/11/trump-big-law-deals-033630

• Kirkland & Ellis; Milbank; Simpson Thacher; A&O Shearman; Willkie Farr; Cadwalader — Part of the nine-firm bloc that collectively promised about $940M in pro bono to mollify the administration. Strength in numbers… to capitulate. https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/law-firms-defend-trump-deals-letters-democratic-lawmakers-2025-05-06/

 

Universities & colleges (cash + policy concessions to unfreeze funds)

• Columbia University — Handed back its backbone along with nearly $400M in frozen federal funds, agreeing to Trump's demands including, oversight of its Middle East & Palestine studies programs just to get Trump’s administration off its back. https://www.axios.com/2025/03/21/columbia-trump-federal-funding-protests

• Brown University — Struck a $50M “voluntary agreement” framed as preserving academic freedom while restoring funding—after intense federal pressure. Academic freedom… with a price tag. https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/30/politics/brown-university-trump-administration-agreement

• University of Pennsylvania (Penn) — Entered a Title IX resolution agreement as the feds moved to suspend $175M in contracts tied to athletics policy; funding risk eased once Penn toed the line. Compliance cosplay, but real money. https://www.phillymag.com/news/2025/07/02/penn-transgender-athletes-trump/