No Kings vs CPAC did not go well

The David Pakman Show - March 30, 2026

Already a website member? Watch the show commercial-free here | Want to become a member? Sign up here

Over the same weekend in the United States, two very different political realities unfolded. CPAC showed a struggling Republican movement with low energy and thin attendance. The crowd even cheered at the idea of Trump’s impeachment, signaling disarray and declining enthusiasm. In contrast, the No Kings protests demonstrated a decentralized, grassroots leftist surge. An estimated eight million people participated across more than three thousand rallies nationwide.

Fox News and Donald Trump have been spinning the reality of rising gas prices, which have surged forty-five percent since mid-January due to Trump’s optional war with Iran. Fox has been manipulating averages of oil prices under different presidents to confuse viewers, ignoring context like global markets and recent spikes.

At a recent speech, Trump made concerning remarks, inviting the audience to ask questions about sex while showing clear signs of physical and cognitive decline. He had a swollen eye, struggled to speak coherently, and referred to unauthorized military actions in Iran as “special military operations,” openly admitting to sidestepping Congress to wage his war.

Donald Trump’s influence over the MAGA movement may be waning. Key figures like JD Vance, Peter Thiel, and Marco Rubio are building independent identities, cultivating donors, and shaping messaging outside Trump’s orbit. Policy think tanks are planning agendas for a future without him. If Republicans struggle in the midterms, Trump’s ability to designate a successor could be minimal.

Megyn Kelly criticized the handling of the Iran war but avoided holding Trump accountable. She blamed advisors, media figures, and influencers instead, implying he was merely persuaded into decisions. This protects Trump’s reputation, giving him credit for successes while blaming others for failures.

Joe Rogan, a major cultural influencer in the MAGA-adjacent space, openly mocked the movement, calling supporters “a lot of dorks.” Rogan’s critique is a potential crack in MAGA’s cultural foundation that could influence young voters and online communities in a way traditional messaging cannot.

Finally, Karen Bass, Mayor of Los Angeles, California, joins us to discuss her approach to reducing homelessness and crime in LA, as well as her concerns about Trump intervening in the 2028 Olympics.

On today’s bonus show:

TSA workers start getting back pay despite the DHS shutdown persisting, birthright citizenship goes to the Supreme Court, architects criticize Trump's ballroom's design flaws, and much more...

Already a website member? Watch the bonus show here | Want to become a member? Sign up here

---

Don’t miss the full show with these stories and others, plus all of our analysis.

This episode is available completely free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.