This installment of The David Pakman Show newsletter is free for everyone. I send these daily. If you’d like to receive it, join the newsletter today.
Note: This is totally separate from website Membership and does not affect your website Membership in any way.
FURIOUS Trump MELTS DOWN at MAGA convention
At the 2025 CPAC conference, Donald Trump had a furious meltdown, expressing anger over various issues. He proposed investigating Fort Knox with Elon Musk to see if the gold is still there. Trump also made unfounded claims about Social Security fraud involving millions over 100 receiving benefits, without evidence. He further confused political asylum with mental health facilities, highlighting his ongoing misunderstandings.
Trump THREATENS Governor, Governor GIVES NO F&CKS
During a governors' meeting, Donald Trump threatened Maine Governor Janet Mills, insisting she comply with his directives or risk losing federal funding. Mills responded, "We'll see you in court," affirming her commitment to follow state and federal laws. This exchange underscores the tension between state authority and Trump's assertions of federal power.
From over the weekend:
Will Democrats EVER win again?
Democrats face challenges in the Trump era, but history shows political power is cyclical, and Republicans aren’t invincible. While some believe GOP overreach will trigger a backlash, structural issues and weak messaging make that risky. Democrats must unify, engage locally, and present a clear vision on key issues. Waiting for Republicans to implode isn’t enough—they’ll need an offensive strategy.
From over the weekend:
Bernie TELLS THE TRUTH about Trump's authoritarianism & oligarchy
Bernie Sanders warned on CNN about rising oligarchy and Elon Musk’s influence over Washington, D.C. He stressed that the U.S. is rapidly shifting toward authoritarianism, with billionaires funding extremism. Sanders argued that the fight must be won through mass mobilization, not just in Congress.
More on the show:
-- Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA) joins David to discuss the aftermath of Trump's first month, the outlook for Democrats into 2026 and 2028, whether Schiff believes he will be personally targeted by the Trump Justice Department and much more
-- A review of the economic indicators of Donald Trump's first month in office for his second term
-- MAGA loyalists will not even admit that Russia under Vladimir Putin started the war with Ukraine by invading it
-- Blue states are threatened with being removed from the map by Donald Trump during a dangerous and unhinged meeting
-- Podcaster Dan Bongino is chosen to be Deputy Director of the FBI by Donald Trump
-- Despite MSNBC ratings collapses and CNN continuing to decline, The David Pakman Show and other independent progressive media are rapidly growing
-- On the Bonus Show: Elon emails every federal employee asking them to justify their jobs, Pope Francis in critical condition, Associated Press sues 3 Trump administration officials over freedom of speech, much more...
-- Become a Member: https://davidpakman.com/membership
When will commentators stop describing Trump’s regime as “an oligarchy”? It is not.
An oligarchy means government by the few. It refers to the power that a small group yields, and that alone.
The reason for this confusion appears to arise from the fact that the small group of influencers that surrounds Trump is largely made up of billionaires, amongst whom Trump is himself one. But wealth is not an essential characteristic of an oligarchy. It only occurs in the case of Trump’s polity because billionaires are relatively thin on the ground.
Trump’s form of government is better described as ‘a plutocracy’, where wealth is a required criterion. And in Trump’s case, of course, the acquisition of personal wealth is a top concern.