Alec Hogg: US gets its own ‘Gupta Leaks’ – Biden’s pain has just begun

It's exactly 20 years ago that SA cricket captain Hansie Cronje was banned for life after the late sportman admitting to manipulating matches for personal gain. But when the news first broke, most of South Africa dismissed Indian police allegations as fantasy. Led by local media cheerleaders, myself among them, because Hansie was a national hero. He'd never stoop so low….Read also: Biden Jr may be Joe's downfall, with reports of financial infidelity – Wall Street Journal.There's a sense of déjà vu with the US mainstream media's reaction to this week's disclosures in the New York Post of what is increasingly looking like the US's equivalent of SA's transformative Gupta Leaks. First came the dismissals. Then denials. As evidence mounts, the next stage will be realisation. And when acceptance dawns, expect the reaction of a scorned mistress..___STEADY_PAYWALL___.In 2016, when Donald Trump became the 45th US president, he promised to "drain the swamp" of political influence peddling. As there are 30 000 lobbyists in Washington, Trump effectively declared war on an entire industry of professional manipulators whose targets are not just politicians, but also media personalities. Trump blunders haven't helped, but given the opponent, it's hardly surprising the man's media reputation sucks..Read also: Alec Hogg: The webinar mania – and why corporates are blowing it. Again..There's an interesting local parallel on the disclosures that could change the outcome of the US presidential election. Gupta Leaks emerged after a Malawian tinkerer worked some magic on a hard drive his second-hand peddling boss had discarded as broken. The Biden emails came a similar route – via Hunter's apparently water damaged laptop. With tech, assumption really is the mother of all major muck-ups..For your attention today….FOR DOWNLOADING….* The latest episode of the BizNews Digest PDF is now available for download. Included are some nuggets from last week's Mining Indaba. Here's the link: https://bit.ly/3dvM9gr.* Also just published is Episode Five of Inside Investing, my weekly podcast on moneycraft. This one features Sanlam CEO Paul Hanratty's perspectives on his much debated pay package. Download the podcast here: https://www.biznews.com/sponsored/2020/10/15/sanlam-ceo.* Episode ten of The Alec Hogg Show features David Scott, aka The Kiffness. If you've not yet discovered the local YouTube superstar whose political parodies are downloaded by millions, you're in for a real treat. Here's the link: https://www.biznews.com/business-unusual/2020/10/15/the-kiffness.WEBINAR ALERT….* In Finance Friday at noon today, Jackie Cameron's guests are Craig Gradidge of award-winning financial advice company Gradidge Mahura Investments and global financial markets specialist Fred Razak, of CM Trading. Register here: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6646694434270030861..* And in my Rational Radio webinar on Monday at noon, our CEO in focus is Neal Froneman of Sibanye Stillwater – with veteran money managers David Shapiro and Peter Major helping me ping the questions. It's only for BizNews Premium members. Here's the link to register: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6730147365502274830.DOWNLOAD THE FREE BIZNEWS.COM APP.Click on the links below to download your own BizNews.com App:.Apple: https://apps.apple.com/za/app/biznews-com/id1517392839.Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.goodbarber.biznews&hl=en

Alec Hogg: US gets its own ‘Gupta Leaks’ – Biden’s pain has just begun

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