Soft civil wars and big pharma bribes
The David Pakman Show - May 16, 2025
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Student: “Why is Trump so orange?” Republican: “Umm umm umm”
During a visit to the Capitol, a high school student asked Republican Congressman Brian Jack why Donald Trump is so orange, catching him off guard. Jack awkwardly replied that he didn’t know and dismissed it as a matter of "perspective." The moment, though unserious, highlighted how off-script questions—even humorous ones—can expose the discomfort in Trump’s allies who are scared to cross him.
What if Trump doesn’t need to finish his term?
Powerful interests may no longer need Donald Trump to remain in office, as they have already achieved key goals like deregulation, court appointments, and weakening federal oversight. Trump functioned as a disruptive tool to open the doors for a broader agenda, not as the end goal. With loyalists now in place and a clear blueprint established, the movement can continue without him.
From yesterday’s show:
WHINY Trump: Biden was MEAN and STUPID
Part two of Trump’s interview with Sean Hannity was a parade of childish insults—he called Biden “mean,” “dumb,” and “vicious,” and mocked George Stephanopoulos as “Slopidopoulos.” The interview ended with Trump praising Hannity for being “so wonderful,” highlighting the access-for-loyalty dynamic that defines Trump’s media bubble.
From yesterday’s show:
INSIDER TRADING: Pam Bondi sold $1M+ in stock on Trump tariff day
Pam Bondi, Donald Trump’s attorney general, is under scrutiny for selling up to $5 million in Trump Media stock on the same day Trump announced market-shaking tariffs—raising serious insider trading concerns. The sale came just hours before the stock dropped over 10%, and Bondi had received the shares through a questionable SPAC deal, despite having signed an ethics agreement to divest.
More on the show:
— Trump talks about suspending habeas corpus, a mayor is arrested for protesting, and much of the country shrugs. We explain how normalization is the point—and how authoritarianism doesn’t need shock, just your resignation.
— From judges being stalked to school boards under threat, we unpack what modern civil war actually looks like—and how the U.S. may already be in one.
— Trump’s team is openly considering prosecuting Democrats.
— RFK Jr. casually admits Trump took $100 million from Big Pharma—and Trump nods. Then the pharma stocks go up. But sure, he “can’t be bought.”
— MAGA civil war explodes as Trump names a new Surgeon General who’s too moderate for the fringe. Anti-vaxxers turn on Trump. RFK Jr. branded controlled opposition.
— Rand Paul goes rogue, saying Trump shouldn’t accept Qatar’s $400 million plane, and admitting tariffs hurt Americans. Somewhere, Jesse Watters faints.
— Friday Feedback returns: We respond to questions about the MAGA economy, Trump’s spiral, the illusion of civil discourse, and the future of this show.
-- On the Bonus Show: Right-wing reactions to Trump getting gifted a $400 million plane from Qatar, and much more...
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