This is a really strange way to "win" a war

The David Pakman Show - April 13, 2026

Already a website member? Watch the show commercial-free here | Want to become a member? Sign up here

Donald Trump ordered a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz immediately after claiming the waterway was already open. The sudden shift to a blockade strategy caused immediate instability in global oil markets and created confusion among international allies.

Hungarian voters removed longtime leader Viktor Orbán from power in a landslide electoral defeat. Péter Magyar successfully challenged the established illiberal system by focusing on corruption and quality of life issues rather than cultural fear.

During an interaction with the press, Donald Trump made a series of unsubstantiated accusations against Pope Leo by claiming the religious leader supports nuclear weapons and is doing a poor job. He asserted that the Pope is an advocate for criminal activity despite providing no evidence to support the claim.

The President spent several hours between 9 p.m. and 4 a.m. last night dumping videos and rapid-fire text posts on Truth Social. This pattern of sleep-deprived activity raises serious concerns regarding his emotional regulation and the stability of his decision-making process.

Pete Buttigieg systematically dismantled talking points regarding inflation and historical economic mismanagement on the Squawk Box set. While Joe Kernen became increasingly emotional and frantic, the former Transportation Secretary relied on specific details and a steady demeanor to maintain control of the narrative.

During a Fox News interview with Maria Bartiromo, Donald Trump made contradictory claims about the necessity of the Strait of Hormuz while dismissing the impact of a blockade on domestic gas prices. His fragmented responses and repetitive phrasing lead to visible confusion from Bartiromo.

Finally, Donald Trump asserted that the outcome of negotiations with Iran is irrelevant because he has already declared victory. By stating that a deal makes no difference to him, Donald Trump is effectively removing all leverage from his own negotiating team currently in Pakistan.

On today’s bonus show:

David shares stories from his trip to Argentina, Eric Swalwell drops out of the California governor's race over sexual misconduct allegations, 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.