Triggered Trump tantrums while Republicans admit he owns them

The David Pakman Show - July 3, 2025

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

Republicans are lining up behind the tax and spending bill not because it’s good policy, but because they fear Donald Trump. Despite lacking economic justification or credible analysis, lawmakers who were skeptical have flipped after private meetings with Trump—offering no new information, only promises of executive action. The message is clear: Trump doesn’t need to persuade on substance because he owns the party through fear, not respect.

J.D. Vance, now Trump’s vice president, once warned that Trump could lose support if voters began losing access to healthcare. That moment has arrived, yet Vance has abandoned his earlier convictions. Rather than opposing harmful policies, he now props them up—possibly to preserve his standing in the MAGA movement after Trump. But as the promises fail and people feel the impact, the real test will be whether MAGA collapses with Trump or mutates into something just as toxic under a new leader.

Mainstream media outlets like CNN continue to undercut themselves by pushing false balance. In a telling moment, CNN's John Berman pressed a Democratic lawmaker to praise minor aspects of a bill that slashes healthcare, raises energy costs, and deepens the deficit. Rather than reporting objectively on the bill’s impact, CNN tried to manufacture a bipartisan consensus where none exists.

In optimistic news, independent media is rising as traditional outlets falter. Reports from Pew, Reuters, and Columbia Journalism Review show that audiences are turning to creators like David and Brian Tyler Cohen for trusted news. That influence brings new responsibility: to remain transparent, fact-based, and avoid the traps of performative outrage or echo chambers.

Finally, Senator Elizabeth Warren appears on the show to discuss her strong opposition to the current tax bill, arguing it will hurt families while enriching billionaires and increasing debt. She urges investing in childcare and housing to support working people and the economy. Warren calls out Republicans for siding with wealthy donors and wants to close tax loopholes that let billionaires avoid taxes.

Prefer to listen to the show? 🎧

Find full episodes of The David Pakman Show on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

---

On today’s bonus show:

Congresswoman Nancy Mace grabbed attention by posting videos of her wearing pajamas on a staged luxury van trip to Washington after a canceled flight. A federal judge ruled that the Trump administration cannot block asylum seekers at the southern border. Finally, Denmark is leading the way by updating copyright laws to protect people from AI-generated deepfakes using their likeness and voice.

Already a website member? Watch the bonus show here | Want to become a member? Sign up here