The dark spiral of power, panic and collapse
The David Pakman Show - February 23, 2026
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Donald Trump reacted angrily after a 6-3 Supreme Court majority struck down his global tariffs. He called the majority unpatriotic and disloyal and implied foreign influence over the court. The reaction is part of a pattern in which he treats institutional limits as corruption when they constrain him, casting courts and other institutions as illegitimate.
The ruling also exposed a shift among Republicans. After the Court blocked the tariffs, Trump tried to impose a new 10 percent global tariff under a different legal theory. Republican lawmakers including Don Bacon, Mitch McConnell, and Rand Paul signaled they would resist, emphasizing that trade authority belongs to Congress.
Trump has also shown uncertainty about the Republican Party’s 2028 direction. Reports say he is repeatedly asking aides whether JD Vance or Marco Rubio would be more likely to win. Rather than projecting confidence, he appears focused on avoiding an endorsement that could damage his standing.
After the tariff decision, Trump posted a lengthy statement on Truth Social reframing the loss as a form of victory. The post shifted between tariffs, licensing fees, birthright citizenship, and China, while attacking the Court’s legitimacy. Instead of acknowledging limits, he portrayed the ruling as expanding his power.
New polling places Trump at about 36 percent approval, with a sharply negative net rating and severe weakness among independents, where he is reportedly 47 points underwater. Because independents often decide elections, this signals immense vulnerability.
A viral C-SPAN call from someone claiming to be John Barron, a pseudonym Trump previously used, featured a voice resembling his attacking the Supreme Court. It was an impersonation, and C-SPAN confirmed it was not Trump, but the clip spread widely before verification. The episode is an example of confirmation bias and the rapid spread of misinformation.
Trump also publicly pressured Netflix over board member Susan Rice after she warned corporations about aligning too closely with him. He demanded she be fired, which is clear political pressure on a private company.
Finally, Michael Wolff, journalist and best-selling author, joins us to discuss Trump's return to power, the Epstein scandal, and his latest book "All or Nothing: How Trump Recaptured America."
On today’s bonus show:
Winter weather disrupts production of The David Pakman Show, and much more...
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To donnie dumbass, aka Benedict Donald: The court's loyalty is supposed to be to the Constitution, not to YOU or any other president. This is the first actual loyal and patriotic decision they've made for years.
There isn't foreign influence over the Supreme Court, there's billionaire influence over it.