Leaked call exposes Trump as approval craters, Republicans raise alarm

The David Pakman Show - November 26, 2025

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A newly leaked phone call shows Trump’s Special Envoy, Steve Witkoff, coaching Russian officials on how to flatter Trump so he would back a Ukraine peace plan favorable to Russia. Trump fell for it and bragged publicly, exposing a pattern of decisions driven by ego rather than U.S. interests.

FBI Director Kash Patel may be on the chopping block despite public assurances he’s doing fine. Patel has been accused of misusing government resources, including giving his girlfriend travel and security perks, and reports say the administration has privately discussed possible successors such as Andrew Bailey. The White House denies any imminent firing, but the episode fits a familiar pattern in Trump world.

Trump’s approval is collapsing in 20 red states he carried in 2024. Even Republicans, independents, and moderates are turning away. Economic downturns, the recent government shutdown, and the Jeffrey Epstein scandal are eroding his support.

Turning Point USA is laying the groundwork for JD Vance as a 2028 GOP nominee. Vance is backed by the billionaire-technocratic wing of the Republican Party. If successful, the party could shift toward a more polished, authoritarian, tech-aligned MAGA.

Trump’s official schedule is down 40%, with fewer public appearances and golf outings. Episodes of falling asleep on camera and an unexplained MRI raise concerns about his alertness and cognitive health.

Trump’s Thanksgiving turkey pardon highlighted his disconnection from reality. He lied about crime, gas prices, and eggs, attacked Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, misrepresented Memphis crime stats, and struggled with the ceremonial pardon.

Kevin Hassett doubled down on the White House’s claim that Thanksgiving was “cheaper,” even after it became clear Walmart cut costs by swapping in generic products. When critics pointed that out, Hassett brushed it off as “elitist,” but that misses the point. The issue is not taste, it’s accuracy. Store brands are objectively cheaper, and lowering the price by downgrading the products is not the same as prices falling.

Gas prices remain flat at $3.05 per gallon, despite Trump promising $2. Fox News frames this as conflicting opinions, gaslighting viewers, as gas prices are not a matter of opinion.

Finally, Laura Ingraham warns Republicans could be headed for serious midterm losses, even as Katie Miller told her in an interview that Trump has already achieved all his policy goals. Trump’s low approval ratings and historical trends point to a potential wipeout, with Republicans at risk of losing 25 to 40 House seats in the 2026 midterms.

On today’s bonus show:

A congressional race in Tennessee is neck-and-neck, national parks will raise fees for international tourists, a Campbell Soup executive called its products food for “poor people,” and much more...

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