MAGA’s Texas nightmare begins, prices spiking hard
The David Pakman Show - March 4, 2026
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Texas is showing signs of political change. Democratic State Representative James Talarico won his Senate primary in a grassroots campaign that energized young and first-time voters. The Republican Senate race is headed to a runoff between incumbent John Cornyn and challenger Ken Paxton. Shifts in suburban demographics and rising progressive engagement suggest Texas could become more competitive.
Democrats have flipped 27 seats nationwide since Trump’s 2024 election, while Republicans have not flipped any. High Democratic turnout, declining Trump approval, and swings in states like Arkansas, Texas, and Louisiana suggest a possible midterm blue wave. Betting markets now give Democrats an 80 percent chance of winning the House and 43 percent for the Senate.
Donald Trump has shown serious lapses in judgment and cognitive function. He seemed unprepared for the consequences of his actions in Iran, admitted he had not planned for worst-case scenarios, and made erratic statements about Spain and his father’s birthplace.
Trump has reversed his campaign promise to lower the cost of living. He once ran as the affordability president, pledging lower gas, grocery, and energy prices. Now he accepts that his actions in Iran will raise costs on American families.
The handling of Americans in the Middle East has been chaotic. Thousands were stranded because military action against Iran began before any evacuation plan. Trump blamed the speed of events, and Marco Rubio admitted evacuations are only happening now.
Senator Thom Tillis criticized Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, calling for her resignation over repeated mismanagement and stonewalling. Tillis’s critique was rare Republican pushback against actions taken by the Trump administration.
Marco Rubio struggled under pressure over the Iran operation. He justified the strike because Iran was “at its weakest” but failed to explain timing, Israeli involvement, and the lack of preemptive evacuations. His answers confirmed no plan existed beforehand, showing how Trump’s impulsive decisions leave officials floundering.
Finally, Trump lashed out on Truth Social, blaming Obama and Biden for the Iran crisis and claiming tearing up the Iran nuclear deal was necessary. In reality, the deal largely prevented nuclear development.
On today’s bonus show:
Minnesota launches investigations into ICE officers, SCOTUS considers a law barring marijuana smokers from owning guns, Elon says Tesla robotaxis are coming to California despite doing nothing to get permits, and much more...
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Texas politics are changing whether people want to admit it or not. The state is younger, more urban, and more diverse every year. The old assumption that Texas is permanently red is getting harder to defend.