Police state grows, Karoline crashes

The David Pakman Show - August 13, 2025

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The Trump administration is moving toward establishing a domestic police and surveillance state. Militarized federal forces, National Guard deployments, and advanced monitoring technologies are being used to track and control citizens. Even as crime rates continue to fall in cities like Washington, D.C., the administration has repeatedly declared emergencies, federalized local police, and overridden the authority of local leaders.

A new report estimates Trump and his family earned around $3.4 billion so far during his two terms as president. Major profits came from crypto ventures like Trump Coin and Melania Coin, plus financial deals, hospitality, and media. Trump’s properties, including Mar-a-Lago, have benefited from government events. Despite promises to separate from his business empire, he’s profited directly, turning the presidency into a lucrative enterprise.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has struggled recently in briefings. She offered vague answers on Trump’s health, defended controversial D.C. policies, and downplayed concerns over partisan manipulation of economic data. Leavitt also faced unusual questions, such as whether Trump would award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to a staffer nicknamed “Big Balls.” Guest Benny Johnson shared dramatic crime anecdotes in D.C., though crime statistics show declines.

Trump’s approach to crime and governance prioritizes punishment over prevention. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro dismissed addressing root causes like poverty or truancy, focusing solely on prosecuting offenders. Analysts argue that social programs and community development would reduce crime more effectively, but such measures are politically less appealing.

Finally, California Governor Gavin Newsom mocked Donald Trump’s communication style on Twitter, using all caps, exaggerated language, and third-person references to parody Trump’s typical posts. His tweets warned Trump about gerrymandering in red states and highlighted California’s lower crime rates, exposing the absurdity of Trump’s style while making a pointed political response to Texas’s redistricting efforts.

On today’s bonus show:

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is suing Beto O’Rourke and his political group for allegedly deceptive fundraising related to the Texas Democrats’ walkout over gerrymandering. The Supreme Court may end up considering a case from former Kentucky clerk Kim Davis challenging same-sex marriage protections, signaling ongoing Republican efforts to roll back social rights. And Senator Mike Lee is pushing a federal ban on pornography through the Interstate Obscenity Definition Act.

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