The authoritarian presidency cannot sustain itself
The David Pakman Show - July 27, 2026
Already a website member? Watch the show commercial-free here | Want to become a member? Sign up here
Donald Trump originally promised the military operation against Iran would last only weeks. Five months later, administration officials are avoiding setting a victory deadline or confirming if more American troops will die.
At the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, Donald Trump falsely claimed he won three elections and teased running for a fourth term. He also insulted journalist Kaitlan Collins, while attendees laughed along.
Representative Yassamin Ansari called for an investigation into ties between the Trump orbit and the Tate brothers, who face severe sexual assault charges. Lawmakers want Barron Trump’s testimony to determine if government access was used to shield them.
Senator Mitch McConnell has not voted since June following a severe fall and pneumonia recovery. His prolonged absence deprives Republicans of a crucial vote in a divided Senate and halts key committee business.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt blamed current economic troubles on the Biden administration despite the Iran war and global tariffs under Donald Trump. Rather than addressing high costs, she dismissed core Democratic social initiatives as state-controlled communism.
David’s new book is available for pre-order!
In Pay Attention, David breaks down how modern outrage algorithms hijack our focus and how we can reclaim it. Pre-orders are huge for helping independent authors hit bestseller lists, so secure your copy early!
Get your copy here: 👉 Pre-order Pay Attention
By announcing plans to target Iranian power plants and bridges, Donald Trump threatened to violate international combat laws. When asked if hitting civilian infrastructure constitutes a war crime, Trump refused to answer and attacked the reporting outlet instead.
Facing poor midterm polling numbers, Donald Trump is pressing Congress to restrict mail-in voting and require strict citizenship documentation. The SAVE America Act faces heavy opposition, leading many to suspect Trump is preparing excuses to challenge losses in November.
Finally, over a six-hour span, Donald Trump’s Truth Social account published dozens of AI images. The posts featured images mocking journalists and depicting Trump as historical figures, doctors, and planetary guardians.
On today’s bonus show:
Democrats choose South Carolina as their first primary state, Massie wants to cut police funding for departments that use Flock cameras, Trump wants to make it easier to revoke citizenship, 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.
We, all of us, need to really hammer on his corruption. That’s what finally brought down Orban in Hungary, even after being in power for 16 or 18 years. When the average citizen realizes the government cannot help them with their struggles because it is robbing them to enrich themselves, that’s when they say enough and vote the bums out.
Trump version 1 was obnoxious. Trump version 2 is the worst of any President I have ever seen. Adding his increasing delusions and dimensia is 100% unacceptable. I look forward to the midterms. It is sad that Republican politicians cannot be trusted to support their constituents vs Trump so I won't be voting for any Republican candidates.