The David Pakman Show

-- On the Show -- Ruth Ben-Ghiat joins us on Substack Live to discuss how Donald Trump’s escalating rhetoric, institutional pressure, and personality cult dynamics fit into historical patterns of authoritarianism -- Republican senators warn that Donald Trump’s controversies and economic anxiety threaten to cost the Republican Party control of both the House and the Senate in the midterms -- Donald Trump forgets that he already endorsed Clay Fuller, claims total exoneration in the Jeffrey Epstein matter, and appears disconnected from key details surrounding his own allies -- Marjorie Taylor Greene publicly blames Donald Trump for fostering a bullying political culture that she warns could damage Republican chances in the midterms and deepen internal fractures within the movement -- New polling shows Donald Trump’s approval rating at 34 percent, with economic frustration and cost of living concerns driving sharp erosion among financially struggling voters -- Dan Bongino reverses years of claims about hidden Jeffrey Epstein evidence after leaving the FBI, now saying the agency lacks the explosive material once promised -- Donald Trump posts a series of aggressive Truth Social messages attacking Democrats, threatening executive action on voter identification, and lashing out at critics including Bill Maher -- On the Bonus Show: Rev. Jesse Jackson dies at 84, Stephen Colbert says CBS blocked his James Talarico interview, Colorado could remove all penalties for prostitution, and much more... 🥐 Wildgrain: Use code DAVID for $30 off & free croissants FOR LIFE at https://wildgrain.com/david 🛌 Helix Sleep mattresses: Get 27% OFF sitewide at https://helixsleep.com/pakman 💪 AG1 is offering you $126 in FREE gifts at https://drinkag1.com/pakman -- Become a Member: https://davidpakman.com/membership -- Subscribe to our (FREE) Substack newsletter: https://davidpakman.substack.com -- Get David's Books: https://davidpakman.com/echo -- TDPS Subreddit: http://www.reddit.com/r/thedavidpakmanshow -- David on Bluesky: https://davidpakman.com/bluesky -- David on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/davidpakmanshow (00:00) Start(01:19) GOP fears midterm losses(07:52) Trump forgets endorsement chaos(18:18) MTG blames Trump culture(25:24) Trump approval hits 34%(32:41) Ruth Ben-Ghiat interview(58:21) Bongino reverses Epstein claims(1:05:45) Trump Truth Social rant   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

-- On the Show -- Dan Koh, Former White House Deputy Cabinet Secretary and former Deputy Director of Intergovernmental Affairs under President Biden, joins us to discuss his candidacy for Congress to represent Massachusetts' 6th district -- Forensic pathologist Michael Baden repeats his long standing claim that Jeffrey Epstein was strangled, while existing medical research shows hyoid bone fractures can occur in suicides -- House Democrats announce a shadow hearing in Palm Beach featuring survivor testimony that increases scrutiny of Donald Trump’s past relationship with Jeffrey Epstein -- David announces his new book Pay Attention and argues that algorithms and the attention economy are reshaping how people think, consume media, and understand politics -- Donald Trump and his allies advance proposals and rhetoric that critics argue could restrict voting access and challenge unfavorable 2026 midterm election results -- Kristi Noem says officials must ensure the right people vote, reinforcing concerns that Trump aligned policies aim to narrow who participates in elections -- Marjorie Taylor Greene claims Donald Trump personally pushed hardest to block the release of Epstein related files, contradicting his public calls for transparency -- Peter Navarro incorrectly describes the Dow Jones Industrial Average in dollar terms, raising concerns about the economic competence of Donald Trump’s advisers -- On the Bonus Show: Gallup to stop tracking presidential approval polling, European countries confirm Alexei Navalny was poisoned, Oatly banned from using "milk" in UK marketing, and much more... 🤖 Sponsored by Venice: Use code PAKMAN for 20% off a Pro Account at https://venice.ai/pakman -- Become a Member: https://davidpakman.com/membership -- Subscribe to our (FREE) Substack newsletter: https://davidpakman.substack.com -- Get David's Books: https://davidpakman.com/echo -- TDPS Subreddit: http://www.reddit.com/r/thedavidpakmanshow -- David on Bluesky: https://davidpakman.com/bluesky -- David on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/davidpakmanshow (00:00) Start(01:23) Baden repeats strangulation claim(08:57) Democrats launch Epstein shadow hearing(15:54) David discusses new book(20:30) Trump allies float voting restrictions(27:28) Noem backs limiting voter access(33:56) Dan Koh interview(48:34) Greene contradicts Trump on files(54:37) Navarro fumbles Dow explanation   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

-- On the Show -- Senator Chris Murphy questions Donald Trump nominee Jeremy Carl under oath, exposing incoherent defenses of white identitarian ideology and prompting Republican backlash over his antisemitic remarks -- Donald Trump delivers rambling and false responses to questions about Jeffrey Epstein, windmills, and mail-in ballots, raising renewed concerns about his mental clarity -- Two public incidents in which Donald Trump struggles to speak and appears to fall asleep during Lee Zeldin's remarks intensify viral speculation about his cognitive stamina and physical durability -- Karoline Leavitt defends federal immigration raids in Minnesota that involved masked agents, arrests, and clashes with local authorities, while dismissing criticism -- Fox News personalities criticize Pam Bondi after her contentious House hearing performance, amplifying speculation about internal frustration and her standing within the Trump administration -- Joe Rogan publicly questions Donald Trump's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files, signaling potential cracks within a key segment of the Trump coalition -- The Friday Feedback segment -- On the Bonus Show: DHS on track to shut down over ICE funding dispute, MAGA turns on MAGA in the race to replace Marjorie Taylor Greene, Kim Jong Un names his teen daughter as his heir, and much more... 🛍️ Shopify: Sign up for $1/month trial and start selling today at https://shopify.com/pakman 📜 Trust & Will: Save 20% on your estate planning at https://trustandwill.com/pakman 🧠 Try Brain.fm totally free for a month at https://brain.fm/pakman 😁 Zippix Toothpicks: Code PAKMAN10 saves you 10% at https://zippixtoothpicks.com 🥐 Wildgrain: Use code DAVID for $30 off & free croissants FOR LIFE at https://wildgrain.com/david -- Become a Member: https://davidpakman.com/membership -- Subscribe to our (FREE) Substack newsletter: https://davidpakman.substack.com -- Get David's Books: https://davidpakman.com/echo -- TDPS Subreddit: http://www.reddit.com/r/thedavidpakmanshow -- David on Bluesky: https://davidpakman.com/bluesky -- David on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/davidpakmanshow (00:00) Start(01:19) Murphy Grills Jeremy Carl(09:04) Trump Rambling Epstein Answers(20:01) Trump Speech and Sleep Moments(28:40) Leavitt Defends Minnesota ICE Raids(37:17) Fox Turns on Pam Bondi(44:22) Rogan Questions Trump Epstein Handling(50:54) Friday Feedback Segment Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

-- On the Show -- Pam Bondi erupts during a House hearing, redirects questions about Jeffrey Epstein to stock market numbers, clashes with Ted Lieu, and refuses to engage directly with Democratic members -- Jim Jordan says protesters cannot enter the Capitol and disrupt Congress, unintentionally describing the criminal conduct of January 6 rioters whom Donald Trump later pardons -- Donald Trump delivers rambling remarks about wind turbines in China and Europe, praises tariffs as his favorite word, and abruptly ends an event without taking questions after scrutiny of Pam Bondi intensifies -- Donald Trump accepts a “Champion of Beautiful, Clean Coal” trophy amid exaggerated praise, highlighting how flattery and branding around clean coal substitute for substantive energy policy debate -- Six House Republicans including Thomas Massie and Brian Fitzpatrick join Democrats in a 219 to 211 vote to end tariffs on Canadian imports, prompting Donald Trump to threaten primary consequences -- Trump’s central promises on immigration, trade, and the economy are facing broad resistance and failing to deliver the stability he promised -- Speaker Mike Johnson dismisses the Pam Bondi hearing as a circus while projecting midterm confidence, reinforcing party loyalty messaging as scrutiny and internal pressure grow -- Joe Rogan and Andrew Schulz criticize the Trump administration’s handling of Jeffrey Epstein narratives, signaling potential erosion within culturally influential podcast audiences -- On the Bonus Show: The House passes new voting rules, free speech lawsuits grow over Charlie Kirk commentary, the US military temporarily closed the El Paso airport, and much more... 🤖 Sponsored by Venice: Use code PAKMAN for 20% off a Pro Account at https://venice.ai/pakman 🛡️ Incogni lets you control your personal data! Get 60% off their annual plan: http://incogni.com/pakman -- Become a Member: https://davidpakman.com/membership -- Subscribe to our (FREE) Substack newsletter: https://davidpakman.substack.com -- Get David's Books: https://davidpakman.com/echo -- TDPS Subreddit: http://www.reddit.com/r/thedavidpakmanshow -- David on Bluesky: https://davidpakman.com/bluesky -- David on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/davidpakmanshow (00:00) Start(01:21) Pam Bondi Deflects Epstein Questions(09:40) Jim Jordan’s January 6 Irony(16:34) Trump Rambles on Tariffs(22:18) Clean Coal Trophy Moment(30:09) GOP Rebels on Canada Tariffs(34:25) Trump Agenda Facing Resistance(40:46) Mike Johnson Downplays Hearing(48:18) Rogan, Schulz Break with Trump Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

-- On the Show -- Members of Congress say partially unredacted Jeffrey Epstein files reveal concealed names, very young victims, and possible contradictions involving Donald Trump’s past claims -- Senator Chris Van Hollen confronts Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and Lutnick admits he visited Jeffrey Epstein’s island after previously saying he cut ties -- Karoline Leavitt says the White House is moving on from Jeffrey Epstein questions, defends Howard Lutnick, and declines to rule out a pardon for Ghislaine Maxwell -- Donald Trump says he cut hundreds of thousands of jobs, raises tariffs over personal disputes, and claims the economy and affordability are strong -- Prediction markets assign elevated odds that Donald Trump leaves office early amid political and health uncertainty -- Jessica Tarlov says Donald Trump faces an Epstein files problem, and Greg Gutfeld pivots to attacking the Clintons instead of addressing the claims -- A Rasmussen poll shows more voters say Joe Biden did a better job as president than Donald Trump, signaling weakness with independents -- Megyn Kelly criticizes Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show performance as anti-American, even though Spanish speakers and Puerto Ricans are part of the United States -- On the Bonus Show: More stories from David’s trip to Portugal, updates on the abduction of Savannah Guthrie’s mom, New York officials re-raise the LGBTQ flag at Stonewall after Trump took it down, and much more... -- Become a Member: https://davidpakman.com/membership -- Subscribe to our (FREE) Substack newsletter: https://davidpakman.substack.com -- Get David's Books: https://davidpakman.com/echo -- TDPS Subreddit: http://www.reddit.com/r/thedavidpakmanshow -- David on Bluesky: https://davidpakman.com/bluesky -- David on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/davidpakmanshow (00:00) Start(01:30) Lawmakers Allege Hidden Epstein Details(07:39) Lutnick Admits Epstein Island Visit(19:37) White House Moves On Epstein(26:33) Trump Brags Jobs Tariffs Economy(36:36) Markets Predict Early Trump Exit(43:16) Fox Panel Deflects Epstein Issue(49:56) Poll Shows Biden Rated Higher(56:02) Megyn Kelly Slams Bad Bunny   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

-- On the Show -- Dr. Mehmet Oz is urging Americans to get vaccinated against measles amid growing outbreaks, a predictable consequence of vaccine skepticism pushed by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the MAHA movement -- Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick is facing bipartisan calls to resign after newly released Jeffrey Epstein records contradict his claims about cutting ties with the convicted sex offender -- Donald Trump rants on Truth Social that he will block a new Canada-U.S. bridge unless the U.S. is compensated, accusing Canada of unfair trade, and even absurdly claiming China would eliminate Canadian hockey -- Trump has imposed sweeping tariffs that amount to the largest U.S. tax increase since 1993, raising household costs by over $1,000 a year, driving tariffs to their highest levels since 1946, and cutting GDP -- The Trump administration is drawing a hard line against Democrats’ demand that ICE obtain judicial warrants to enter private property as a government shutdown deadline approaches -- In secret, the Trump administration dismantles key nuclear safety safeguards to accelerate new reactor construction -- Amazon’s Ring is deepening its ties to police by partnering with Flock Safety and Axon to let users opt in to sharing doorbell footage directly with ICE and other law enforcement -- The Justice Department is moving to dismiss Steve Bannon’s Jan. 6 contempt conviction, signaling a broader Trump administration effort to unwind prosecutions of the president’s allies -- On the Bonus Show: American optimism plummets, more members of Congress leaving office, Trump deregulates environmental protections, and much more... 🛌 Helix Sleep mattresses: Get 27% OFF sitewide at https://helixsleep.com/pakman 🛡️ Incogni lets you control your personal data! Get 60% off their annual plan: http://incogni.com/pakman -- Become a Member: https://davidpakman.com/membership -- Subscribe to our (FREE) Substack newsletter: https://davidpakman.substack.com -- Get David's Books: https://davidpakman.com/echo -- TDPS Subreddit: http://www.reddit.com/r/thedavidpakmanshow -- David on Bluesky: https://davidpakman.com/bluesky -- David on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/davidpakmanshow (00:00) Start(00:48) Oz warns on measles vaccines(09:13) Lutnick Epstein fallout(18:03) Trump bridge trade rant(25:46) Trump tariffs hit households(33:19) ICE warrants shutdown fight(40:42) Trump deregulates nuclear(47:14) Ring expands police sharing(54:31) DOJ drops Bannon conviction   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Olympians publicly criticizing Trump while competing for Team USA challenges claims that dissent is unpatriotic. Pro-Trump symbolism fades across sports and pop culture, signaling a rapid cultural shift. Trump’s evasive press exchanges and chaotic messaging heighten GOP panic. Internal polling shows Senate races tightening as Republicans scramble to contain fallout.

A fill-in host dissects a politicized prayer breakfast speech and what it reveals about performative religion in politics. Dangerous health claims pushing keto for serious mental illness are called out. Viral racist posts and alleged vanity-driven infrastructure moves get examined. Crypto turmoil and a spike in layoffs tied to political and AI-driven instability are discussed.

Softball TV interviews that rebrand extreme MAGA ideas as reasonable. A combative NBC sit-down where Trump sidesteps Epstein questions and fantasizes about seizing taxpayer money. A Cato study upends immigration myths by showing massive immigrant fiscal contributions. Courtroom chaos as DOJ lawyers warn the immigration system is overwhelmed. Signs that young men’s support for Trump is slipping.

Discussion of proposals to place armed federal agents at polling places and how that could intimidate voters. Coverage of escalating legal pressure around Trump and related Georgia conspiracies. Examination of allegations from Epstein files and the distinction between claims and evidence. Recounting a heated live TV clash and warnings about threats to nationalize elections.