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."
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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.
I don’t think the members of the power elite, you know, the real deep state that isn’t so deep and not so much in the shadows anymore str worrying about anything. They know they’re not going to prison. If they were in England maybe they would be going to prison because foreign pedophiles are getting in trouble for more than just raping kids. Two of them are very likely going to face charges of treason. The former Prince Andrew and former big shot and three different administrations in the UK maybe charged with treason.
https://lowee2855.substack.com/p/the-crisis-of-trust?r=1s9t44&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
In this post I explained to the lemmings who are fantasizing about the United States becoming a Democratic republic again by the action of the courts just how naïve they are. The courts cannot repair a crisis of trust. The enemies of truth and humanity within our government and in our corporate shadow government are not going to be brought to justice. The only way to end this crisis of trust is by locking up practically every billionaire and corporate executive.
I don’t monetize my substack because I will not take money simply for telling the truth. If you really wanna learn what’s going on read the stuff I post. If you agree, re-stack what I write. I’m not in it for the money. I’m in it for America and the rule of law.