A dark weekend as reality collides with denial
The David Pakman Show - December 15, 2025
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This past weekend was marked by tragedy. In the U.S., a mass shooting at Brown University killed two students and injured nine more. In Sydney, Australia, an antisemitic attack at a Hanukkah celebration left 15 dead and 42 wounded. The murders of Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele, in Los Angeles were another devastating loss. These events underscore the pervasive nature of violence, reminding us of the need for vigilance.
The recent release of Jeffrey Epstein-related images has sparked discussion online, but many claims are misleading. Items like a novelty condom, a cropped Getty photo, or a Hawaiian Tropic contest image of Trump have been misrepresented as evidence. While Epstein’s crimes are real and accountability is crucial, jumping to conclusions risks undermining the investigation.
The Federal Reserve recently acted to protect its independence, reappointing 11 of its 12 regional bank presidents months ahead of schedule. This move limits Trump’s influence on interest rates and will serve to reassure markets.
Recent NBC News polling shows Trump remains unpopular at 42% approval, but the real story is within the GOP. Half of Republicans no longer identify as MAGA, including figures like Marjorie Taylor Greene, reflecting frustration with inflation and rising costs. This slow disengagement suggests that Trump’s influence over the party is weakening, potentially leaving him politically isolated heading into 2026.
Kevin Hassett revealed that Trump is shown cherry-picked data, like small declines in gas or prescription drug prices, while ignoring the overall inflation rate. This selective reporting creates a bubble, disconnecting him from voters’ real struggles and contributing to his declining approval.
At the White House holiday party, Trump jumped from incoherent stories about snakes to fixating on a woman resembling Ivanka, boasted about a “triumphal arc” near Arlington Cemetery, and repeated election conspiracies while falsely claiming prices are falling.
Talk of “Trump 2028” ignores the president’s ailing health. He frequently falls asleep in public, works limited hours, and posts late-night social media rants. Even setting aside the constitutional ban on a third term, Trump appears physically and mentally unable to sustain another presidency.
Finally, CBS’s Erika Kirk town hall was a confusing and unnewsworthy event. Erika avoided condemning violent rhetoric from Trump, and pivoted to parenting and morality as solutions. CBS heavily promoted the event, but it aired in a low-viewership slot and largely failed to engage an audience.
On today’s bonus show:
Australia moves to strengthen gun laws after the Bondi Beach shooting, The Washington Post launches an AI-personalized podcast, a JetBlue flight narrowly avoids a collision with a US military aircraft near Venezuela, and much more...
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How is it even conceivably possible at this stage that he's got a 42% approval rating? 🤯 I know he loves his uneducated kool-aid drinkers, but I didn't realize there was so many of them without an education, common decency or a moral compass. SMH ... It's like we're living in The Twilight Zone.
For taking advantage of an ailing president and doing disservice to our country, Hassett should be one of the first criminals to go to jail.